613-562-5800 ext. 4270
Testing the Limits of Human Performance
Dr. Sean R. Notley, PhD
Dr. Sean Notley is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow within the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Before arriving at HEPRU, Sean completed graduate training in the areas of work and thermal physiology at the University of Wollongong, Australia. His current research focuses on understanding the inter- and intra-individual factors that modulate human thermoregulatory function during heat stress. To date, Sean has published a combined total of >70 full-length manuscripts, book chapters, technical reports, conference abstracts and non-scientific publications (blog and magazine articles). Sean has received >$1 million in research funding and presented his work at five invited symposia at national / international scientific meetings. He is currently a reviewer for nine publications in Physiology including Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, among others, and serves as a social media ambassador for the European Journal of Applied Physiology.
613-562-5800 ext. 7083
Dr. Gregory W. McGarr, PhD
Dr. Gregory McGarr is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit at the University of Ottawa, ON, Canada. He completed his Masters degree in Medical Biophysics at the University of Western Ontario in London, ON, Canada. There he conducted studies in rodents examining inflammation and microcirculatory responses in skeletal muscle and liver following hind-limb compartment syndrome. He also gained clinical research experience at London Health Sciences Centre studying the microcirculatory responses of cardiac surgical patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and valve repair. Greg then completed his PhD in Applied Health Sciences at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON, Canada. His doctoral thesis examined the role of sensory nerves in mediating cutaneous microvascular reactivity in the human forearm following ischaemia-reperfusion injury. During this time he was also involved in several laboratory and field-based research projects examining cardiorespiratory, immune, metabolic, and thermoregulatory responses to heat and cold stress in humans. His current research focus is the pharmacology and physiology of skin blood flow and sweating in healthy and clinical populations.
613-562-5800 ext. 4270
Dr. Ashley AKERMAN, PHD
Dr. Ashley Akerman is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Ashley previously completed his undergraduate training in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology at Liverpool John Moores University (UK) before completing graduate training in Exercise and Environmental Physiology at the University of Otago (New Zealand). His recent research has focused on understanding acute and chronic responses to synergistic, inter-related stressors – such as exercise, heat, and hydration - and their impact on healthy individuals (e.g., adaptation for sport performance) and individuals with chronic diseases (particularly cardiovascular and metabolic disease). He is currently investigating integrative physiological responses to stress in vulnerable populations, and factors that exacerbate and mitigate these outcomes.
613-562-5800 ext. 1899
Dr. JEREMY McCORMICK, PHD
Dr. James Jeremy McCormick is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow within the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Jeremy completed his graduate work in Exercise Physiology at the University of New Mexico Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Science where he studied physiological responses to exercise and various dietary supplemental interventions during heat and hypoxic exposure. He also gained experience in techniques in molecular biology working with the University of New Mexico Department of Internal Medicine studying cellular stress responses in the elderly and people with chronic disease. Jeremy’s doctoral thesis examined the cellular mechanisms of autophagy and heat shock proteins in prediabetic individuals in response to exercise and simulated cellular starvation. His current research focus is the cellular stress response mechanisms to heat exposure in vulnerable populations.
613-562-5800 ext. 1112
Dr. Martin Poirier, PHD
Martin P. Poirier recently completed his Doctorate in Human Kinetics, with a specialization in exercise physiology. Prior to his PhD, Martin completed a Master's degree in Human Kinetics and a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Over the past eight years, Martin's research has focused on how the body responds to exercise or work in adverse environments in the elderly and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and chronic hypertension. Specifically, his thesis work has been directed at understanding how aging and type 2 diabetes affects the body’s ability to adapt to the heat. His current work is aimed at developing thresholds for ‘high-risk’ work conditions based on ambient temperature and work duration in young and older adults with and without type 2 diabetes or hypertension. He currently holds a Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellowship.
In addition to his academic work, Martin has worked with over 150 individual clients (aged 15 to 80 years) as well as for well over 500 athletes (aged between 12 and 25 years) with diverse training goals: weight loss, athletic development, strength, flexibility, injury rehabilitation and chronic disease management (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.). He is currently a Certified Exercise Physiologist® with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
613-562-5800 ext. 4270