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Testing the Limits of Human Performance
Brian J. Friesen, MSC CSEP-CEP
Brian J. Friesen is a PhD student at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit at the University of Ottawa. He earned his Master of Science degree and Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. He is a Certified Exercise Physiologist® with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP-CEP). Brian was the winner of the Environmental and Occupational Physiology Interest Group Master’s Student Research Award of the American College of Sports Medicine in 2013. Brian is currently funded by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. His doctoral research is focused on defining exposure limits for older adults and vulnerable populations during prolonged heat stress. Brian has published research on the mechanisms and controllers governing the modulation of self-paced exercise in the heat. He has also conducted research on the effects of biophysical differences on core cooling rates in the treatment of exertional heat stoke by cold water immersion. In addition to his academic work, Brian enjoys playing baseball, hockey, skiing, golf and being in the great outdoors.
Robert D. Meade, MSC
Robert D. Meade is currently pursuing his doctorate with the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit. His research is directed at understanding how the environment and dehydration impact the control of body temperature in the context of aging. In his Masters studies, Robert evaluated the mechanisms underpinning the age-related changes in the control of cutaneous vasodilation and sweating during exercise. Throughout his time with HEPRU, Robert has published a combined total of over 60 full-length manuscripts, peer-reviewed abstracts and editorial articles, in top-tier journals including Acta Physiologica, the Journal of Physiology, the Journal of Applied Physiology and Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. He has presented his research at multiple national and international meetings and is currently a reviewer for Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism. In support of both his masters and doctoral research, he has been awarded Alexander Graham Bell graduate scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.