Doctoral student targets better health through hypertension research

Erica Morley, a doctoral student in the Kinesiology department at ASU, has had a lifelong interest in health and well being. She completed her undergraduate degree at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, with a major in Biology, and two minors, one in Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics, and another in Sports Medicine, and then earned her Masters degree in Kinesiology at ASU in 2004.

Her current research focuses on the physiology and biochemistry of smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, and will contribute to the understanding of hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, which afflicts an estimated 33% of Americans, is known as the silent killer because approximately 1/3 of the individuals with hypertension do not know they are afflicted. Erica is part of the research team in The Center for Metabolic Biology at ASU, where the focus of study is the metabolic syndrome, which includes diabetes and hypertension.

"I decided to come here because the ASU Kinesiology department has an excellent reputation in the field," says Erica. "It has a strong biology and biochemistry emphasis in the exercise physiology graduate degree." A new national assessment of faculty scholarly productivity ranks ASU's doctoral programs in the top 10 U.S. research universities in three disciplines, including kinesiology.
During her graduate studies at ASU, Erica has taught courses in basic and applied exercise science and physiology at ASU, Mesa Community College and Argosy University. This is where Erica discovered her passion for teaching. "While instilling a curiosity about the human body and how it works, I strive to teach critical thinking," says Erica. "It is extremely important for students in this discipline to be able to critically analyze and interpret the wide range of research and popular media sources to arrive at an educated evaluation."

After receiving her Ph.D., Erica wants to continue doing research and teaching. "Through my graduate work at ASU, I have gained experience in a wide variety of teaching and research settings. My mentor, Dr. Colleen Brophy, through her blend of impeccable laboratory research and innovative real world application has shown me a model for my career. Improving quality of life and health is my goal." In preparation for her future career, she also joined the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program at ASU. Erica says, "It's been a great opportunity to discover career options."

Bottom Right: Measuring fuel metabolism and exertion during stair climbing with student Genevieve Moyer.