Meet the Lab

Faculty

Dr. Collier received his PhD from Syracuse University and completed Post Doctoral training at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Collier is a Full Professor within the Donald C. Beaver College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State. Dr. Collier directs the Vascular Biology and Autonomic Studies Laboratory (VBASL), located at Charleston Forge. The primary research of this lab investigates vascular remodeling and blood flow control associated with aerobic and resistance exercise training, along with acute and chronic alterations in the autonomic nervous system due to environmental (e.g. orthostatic challenges) challenges and pathological (e.g. hypertension) conditions. Also, the laboratory is equipped to study the effects of sleep following interventions such as exercise or heat therapy change, nocturnal hemodynamics and sleep architecture. The VBASL has held funding from the State of North Carolina and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Collier serves as an external grant reviewer for the American Heart Association and is on the editorial board for IJERPH. Dr. Collier’s research has been cited in the American Heart Association, Position Stand for Alternative Therapies to Lower Blood Pressure. Several students have received grant funding both internally and externally (American Physiological Society Summer Research Fellowship, ZeoTM sleep monitoring system equipment grant , Glaxo Smith Kline research grant, Honors College Research Grant) to complete research in the laboratory. Students receive hands-on training in this lab and over 80 students from High-school to PhD students have their names on peer-reviewed manuscripts and over 100 students are published on peer-reviewed published abstracts.

Lainey Hunnicutt, PhDc

Current Students

Caitlin Earp

I am from Clayton, North Carolina, which is about 30 minutes east of Raleigh. I came to Appalachian State for my undergrad and stuck around to get my Master's. For my undergrad I got my degree in Exercise Science with a clinical concentration and a minor in Gerontology. For my graduate degree I am studying Exercise Science with a clinical concentration as well. I currently work as a graduate assistant in the lab. After school I will most likely do something in the clinic rehab setting.

Les Meares

I am currenlty a sophomore in the Honors College, majoring in psychology. I am new to the VBASL Lab, as such, I don’t have a defined role. As a fledgling researcher, I try to learn from the more experienced students around me about how the research process works. I plan to be a professional mental health counselor one day focusing on adolescence struggling with anxiety. I am from Concord, NC.

Natalie Thulien

Alyssa Nygaard

Cember Beilhartz

Past Students

Makenzie Corgan

I am a senior Honors student at Appalachian State University, graduating this May with a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Chemistry. I began working in the VBASL lab as an undergraduate research assistant my freshman year, the spring of 2020. My role involves subject recruitment, data collection & analysis, literature review, and manuscript preparation. In addition to this, I will be publishing a thesis, "Detrimental Sleep Patterns in Firefighters: Full-time vs. Volunteer" this spring, 2023. My future plans are to attend PA school with the hopes of giving back to medically underserved communities.

Sarah Brown

I am a senior exercise science major at Appalachian State University, and I've been working in the VBASL lab with Dr. Collier since my freshman year. I've worked on a variety of projects, ranging from psychological stress assessments in police officers to carcinogen testing in firefighters. However, a lot of my focus in the lab is on acclimating new members and helping to teach all of the tech we have access to. After graduating from App, I plan to continue working in research settings, and eventually pursuing my Masters and/or PhD in a health-sciences field. I am originally from Raleigh, NC, and when I am not in the lab I'm probably doing something outside (skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, you name it).

Sadie Sharpe

I am from Boone, North Carolina. I recently graduated from Watauga High School and plan to attend the University of Alabama Birmingham to pursue Cancer Biology. I am new to the lab, so I am currently observing the lab environment and learning all that I can about how it functions. I hope to pursue some field of research in Birmingham.

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