Neuromuscular Physiology of Human Movement Laboratory

 Our Mission

The Neuromuscular Physiology of Human Movement Laboratory conducts studies to understand the mechanisms for 1) neuromuscular fatigue and muscle function with aging, and in clinical populations such as diabetes and COVID-19 survivors, 2) the protective effects of exercise training in healthy and clinical populations, and 3) the sex differences in athletic performance. 

By integrating cutting-edge technology and methodologies, our research aims to inform evidence-based approaches to training, rehabilitation, and health promotion across diverse populations.

Laboratory Director

Sandra Hunter, PhD, FACSM

Dr. Sandra Hunter is a professor and Program Chair of Movement Science at the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology (University of Sydney, Australia), and a postdoctoral fellowship (University of Colorado, Boulder, 1999-2003) researching sex and age differences in motor control, muscle fatigue, and strength training. Prior to her position at the University of Michigan, Dr. Hunter was a professor in the Exercise Science Program in the Department of Physical Therapy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI where she directed the Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory. She also served as the director of the Marquette Athletic and Human Performance Research Center (AHPRC) where she oversaw programs of innovative research on human performance of all ages and abilities that are conducted by Marquette researchers, athletics, and external partners.   

Dr. Hunter has been honored with the several Marquette University awards for teaching and research.

Dr. Hunter has over 130 peer review papers in impactful journals and she serves as Editor-In-Chief for Exercise and Sport Science Reviews (starting January 2023) and serves as an associate editor for Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. Dr. Hunter’s most recent NIH R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health with a $3 million grant (2015-2025) examines the fatiguability of limb muscle in old adults and the protective effects of exercise. She regularly receives national and international media attention for her research on sex differences in exercise performance, aging, and COVID-19.

Where to Find Us