The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently awarded University of Massachusetts Amherst Kinesiology doctoral candidate Mr. Liam Fitzgerald with a Doctoral Student Research Grant. The award will be used for experimental subjects, supplies, and small equipment needs.

[Photo: Mr. Liam Fitzgerald (left) and Dr. Katie Becofsky]

“I was very excited to have been selected as a grant recipient,” says Mr. Fitzgerald. “This grant is a prestigious award in our field and has been on my radar since beginning my doctoral studies,” he adds.

Mr. Fitzgerald, who works closely with faculty mentor Professor Jane Kent, will use his $5,000 grant for his dissertation research titled “Can Bioenergetics Explain Age-Related Differences in Muscle Fatigue.” The study examines if there is a biochemical basis for the greater muscle fatigue older women experience compared to younger women during high-speed muscular work. During Mr. Fitzgerald’s research eight younger and eight older women will complete a series of high-speed muscle contractions while laying inside a Magnetic Resonance (MRI) scanner.

“The findings from this study will help clarify our understanding of the causes of age-related differences in muscle fatigue, which will be necessary to inform future studies aimed at improving physical function in older adults,” he says.

“The new Human Magnetic Resonance Center located in The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) is an exceptional facility and I cannot wait to begin my dissertation studies,” Mr. Fitzgerald adds.