Aaron was funded by Purdue Military Research Institute to complete his thesis project in PANCH lab from Fall of 2024 to the Fall of 2025. His research focused on the fluctuations of inhibitory control performance and performance-related brain functioning during the exercise versus recovery intervals within a single session of high-intensity interval training.

Salim Ibrahim was a member of the PANCH lab from summer of 2023 to the spring of 2025. He was funded by Turkish fellowship to pursue a MS degree in HK. His thesis project was to determine the potential additive effect of aerobic exercise and mindfulness on self-reported affect and emotional reactivity.

Nick was a member of the PANCH lab from Fall of 2019 to the Winter of 2023. During his time, Nick's main research focused on muscle strength, acute resistance exercise, and the mechanisms (BDNF, lactate, & ERPs) involved in facilitating executive function and memory.  Additionally, Nick studied the effects of HIIT and moderate-intensity exercise - as well as repeated bouts of aerobic exercise -  on creativity, executive functioning, and memory in children between 8-10 years old.  Nick was a member of the Purdue Association for Magnetic Resonance (PAMR), the Center for Research on Brain, Behavior, and NeuroRehabilitation (CEREBBRAL), and served as the HK graduate student ambassador to the HHS Grad Student Council. He also received the 2022 A.A. Annarino Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching in Health & Kinesiology Award and the 2023 Carol J. Widule Outstanding Graduate Scholarship in Health & Kinesiology Award in recognition of his teaching and research accomplishments. Nick is currently a postdoctoral fellow investigating the relationships between fitness, exercise, physical activity, strength, and cognitive function in those with Alzheimer’s Disease at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Rush University.

Chris Nagy was a member of the PANCH lab from Fall of 2019 to the Spring of 2021. During his time, Chris' main research focused on the intersection of sports and cognition. Specifically with regard to sport involvement in children and young adults and the benefits derived in creativity, executive functioning, and memory. Additionally, Chris studied neurofeedback in high-performing athletes during pressure situations and the differences in team versus individual sports.  Chris was a member of the Sports Analytics Group at Purdue, a group on campus that analyzes sports through mathematical and statistical methods.