I received my PhD in physiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2001. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in integrative cardiovascular physiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, I established my laboratory in the Department of Kinesiology at UW–Madison. My scientific interests have evolved from vascular adaptations to exercise training in animal models, to animal models of prolonged bedrest, to impacts of aging in humans, to today where our focus is primarily on vascular function in obesity-related conditions. This focus has also evolved to study adolescents as well.
I am married with two daughters, who talked me into two dogs and two cats. In my free time, I am paddler, a runner, biker and telemark skier serving as a member of the National Ski Patrol at local ski hill.
Research Staff and Graduate Students
Nile Banks, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Originally, I planned on becoming a strength and conditioning coach, however, while working on my master’s degree at the University of South Dakota I developed an interest in research. I then received my PhD in 2023 with Dr. Nathaniel Jenkins at the University of Iowa studying the impact of exercise and nutritional supplements on muscle blood flow and cardiometabolic health in various populations. Now in my new home here in the Schrage Lab, I hope to extend my knowledge of brain blood flow and to better understand the mechanisms governing brain blood flow. Ultimately, I would like to understand how we could potentially improve brain blood flow to decrease the incidence of cognitive disease.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy exercising, paddle-boarding, watching football, camping, reading, and I am currently learning how to speak Irish. While new to Madison, I enjoy that bike paths link almost the entire city together, as well as the fact that you are always a few blocks away from a lake.
.
Shawn Bolin, MS
Research Study Coordinator
I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and my master’s degree in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Since 1999, I have been working in academic research in a variety of roles and research areas, but I have always, in some way, been involved with human subject research. In October of 2018, I became the lab study coordinator for the Schrage lab at the Department of Kinesiology. I love being involved with all the different parts of a research study, from recruitment to study completion.
In my personal life, I am married to my beautiful wife Jen. We have 3 children together Joshua, Cayden, and Sophie. Our favorite thing to do as a family is Tae Kwon Do. It is how my wife and I met, and it is how we keep active as a family.
Kaylin D. Didier, PhD, MS
Postdoctoral Fellow
I received my Masters in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oklahoma and my PhD in Kinesiology from Kansas State University in 2020. My dissertation focused on increasing oxygen delivery to the muscle and exercise tolerance with passive heat therapy. I moved to Madison, WI as a postdoctoral fellow to work with Dr. Schrage and study cerebral blood flow regulation.
I am currently working on a NASA project investigating the impact of sex on immune cells exposed to radiation. I am also interested in the impact that insulin resistance plays on adolescent brain blood flow and cognition.
In my free time, I enjoy exploring Madison and the surrounding areas, trivia/game nights, reading something non-scientific, watching Formula 1, and listening to podcasts. My favorite thing about Madison is the Dane County Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
Travis Haley, BS
Master’s Degree Student
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in the fields of Kinesiology and Anthropology at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2003. After that, I held a multitude of different positions across the country, and across the world, within the medical and fitness sector. Ever a believer in lifelong learning, in 2021 I decided that it was finally time to return to higher education to advance my knowledge of exercise physiology. It was then that I enrolled at UW–Madison and was fortunate enough to join the Schrage Lab team. My research interests are vast, however my current focus is on the effect of hyperoxia on acute cerebrovascular function. For fun, I like to travel, go to punk rock shows, try new foods, watch movies, and participate in recreational fitness activities like CrossFit and trail running. My favorite thing about Madison is that it has nearly everything that a big city has to offer, but with better traffic and parking. (Don’t get me wrong… I still get frustrated with our traffic and parking sometimes, but it could be a lot worse!).
Logan Heenan, MS
Master’s Degree Student
In my undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University, I was involved in research investigating the determination and disruption of exercise intensity domains during cycling. After graduation, I worked briefly in the Nike Sports Research Lab studying the combined effects of the environment, exercise intensity, and apparel ensemble on human thermoregulation. During my time at UW, I hope to investigate the mechanisms governing blood flow and exercise duration in health and disease while also assisting with the current research surrounding environmental stressors on cerebral blood flow.
Outside of the lab, I am often rock climbing, practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu, or participating in the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path 5k. My favorite thing about Madison is the safe, small-town feel in a large, populated city.
Hedyeh Khademi Motlagh, MS, MS
Doctoral Student
I have followed a fairly non-traditional path to our program. I earned a BS and MS in petroleum engineering in Iran and worked for years in that field. Then I followed my passion for exercise physiology by getting an MS in my home country Iran and pursuing a PhD in exercise physiology in the US. I am in my second year of PhD, a teacher assistant for a physiology course and am currently involved in a project investigating brain blood flow response to stress.
The research program I am currently involved in aims to investigate the mechanisms governing cerebral blood flow (CBF) control in humans, emphasizing sex differences across different brain regions, and potentially investigating the pathophysiology of diseases like stroke and Alzheimer’s. However, for my dissertation, I am planning on working specifically on a subproject which investigates the effects of high oxygen exposure, known as hyperoxia, which is common in clinical settings and military applications, particularly for jet pilots. While hyperoxia is employed to promote organ health and prevent crises, it is also associated with potential negative consequences, including the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that can lead to cellular damage. Sex differences in antioxidant responses to ROS have been observed, with females and higher estrogen levels often linked to better ROS management. This sub-project aims to directly investigate the CBF response to hyperoxia in both males and females.
Outside of academic life, I am adapting to American culture, Madison’s cold winters, still trying new restaurants and bars, new sports and finding new friends which is super exciting! People here are very friendly and nice, and I am crazy about the scenery in Spring and Fall!
Andres Ortiz, BS
Master’s Degree Student
I got my BS in Physiological Sciences from Marquette University, then I moved to Boston to do a Post-Baccalaureate at Northeastern University. During my time in Boston, I worked in a genetics research lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. I’m very interested in space physiology and high-altitude research. During my free time, I like to go for a run, play pickleball, tennis, and spend time with my 1-year-old dachshund.
Emily Rogers, PhD, MS
Postdoctoral Fellow
I completed my B.Sc. in Sports Science and Health at Dublin City University, Ireland, in 2017. I moved to the United States in 2017 to compete for the Oklahoma State University (OSU) track & field team. While competing, I did a M.Sc. in Applied Exercise Science and graduated in 2018. I then began my Ph.D. in Health and Human Physiology under Dr. Nathaniel Jenkins’s mentorship and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2023. My Ph.D. research focused on the effects of exercise, physical activity, and sedentary behavior on cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes. For example, we conducted several 8-16-week exercise training studies where participants lifted weights and/or performed aerobic exercise 3-5 days/week. Before and after the training interventions, we examined how quickly participants could clear triglycerides or glucose out of their blood after eating a high-fat meal (e.g., chocolate pie or pizza), as faster clearance is predictive of lower cardiometabolic disease development. We also examined the effects of daily step-count and breaking up sedentary behavior with 3-minute exercises on vascular and metabolic health. During my postdoc at the University of Wisconsin in Dr. Bill Schrage’s lab, I am working on projects assessing the effects of sex and sex hormones (e.g., estrogen and testosterone) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in young healthy adults as it appears that young premenopausal females have greater CBF than young males. As well as having greater CBF, premenopausal females tend to get less cerebrovascular disease than males. We aim to determine why baseline CBF is different between sexes, to provide a knowledge foundation for future researchers to create disease prevention and treatment strategies for cerebrovascular disease. I love how easy it is to commute almost everywhere by bike.
Jenna Seidl
Undergraduate Student – Research Assistant
I have been an undergraduate assistant in the lab since 2022. I am enjoying learning about the different ongoing projects in the lab and about the university research process. My academic goal is to attend medical school. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being on the water, and skiing. My favorite things to do in Madison are going to Badger hockey and football games, biking, and going to the farmer’s market.
Brett Wannebo, BS
Master’s Degree Student
I started working in the Schrage lab as an undergraduate student. As a Kinesiology and Neurobiology double major, the Schrage lab allowed me to pursue my interest in exercise physiology and neuroscience. My ultimate goal is to become a physician in an academic hospital. Through treadmill testing, MRI visits, and data processing/analysis, working in the Schrage lab has helped me develop the skills needed to become successful clinically and academically. As a research intern in the Schrage lab, I am interested in studying the neurovascular complications associated with metabolic syndrome in adolescents. Improving and studying pediatric health and wellness is especially important to me. As adolescence represents a critical period for growth and development, I would like to further explore the cardiovascular implications of early-onset conditions such as insulin resistance and diabetes. Outside of the lab, I also work as an ECG technician at the UW Health University Hospital and American Family Children’s Hospital. In this role, I perform ECG tests, apply arrhythmia monitors, and assist in cardiac stress testing. When I’m not working, I like to stay active with running, outdoor walks, and weightlifting. As a recent graduate with more time on my hands, I have even started to read for fun, not just for school! Growing up in Madison, I have many favorite things. But if I had to pick one, it would definitely be the food trucks. When I’m not talking science with my lab mates, it is more than likely that I am raving about a new food truck that I recently heard about or ordered from.
Alumni
• Jacqueline K. Limberg, PhD, 2012. Postdoctoral fellow at Mayo Clinic, followed by Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, 2017
• Rebecca E. Johansson, MS, 2013. Doctoral student at University of Cape Town, South Africa, 2015-2019. Postdoctoral fellow at University of North Carolina
• John W. Harrell, PhD 2014, Research Physiologist, US Navy, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
• Garrett L. Peltonen, PhD, 2017. Assistant Professor & Co-Coordinator for Kinesiology Program, Department of Western New Mexico University, Silverton, NM
• J. Mikhail Kellawan, PhD, 2017. Associate professor, Department of Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma
• Katrina J Carter, PhD, 2021 Postdoctoral fellow University of Oregon, followed by Integrative Physiologist at KBR, Inc. at Johnson Space Center, Houston TX. 2023
• Aaron T. Ward, Data Engineer, Center for Health Disparities Research, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
• Justin Brubaker, MS 202?
• Jessica Muer, PhD 2023, Assistant Professor-Exercise Physiology, The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, 2023
Key Collaborators at UW–Madison
⦁ Marlowe W Eldridge, MD, Department of Critical Care. UW School of Medicine and Public Health, (UWSMPH). Marlowe provides unparalleled medical oversight.
⦁ Aaron Carrel, MD, Department of Pediatrics. Collaborates on our adolescent studies
⦁ Awni Al Subu, MD, Department of Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology
⦁ Jeffrey Lee, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
⦁ Scott Hagen, MD, Department of Critical Care
⦁ Benjamin J Walker, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
⦁ Ron Serlin, PhD, Biostatistician in UW Educational Psychology
⦁ Dawn B Davis, MD, PhD, Department of Endocrinology
⦁ Oliver Wieben, PhD, Depts of Radiology and Medical Physics
University Affiliations
⦁ UW Cardiovascular Research Center
⦁ Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR)
⦁ Aaron Ward received an American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship, for his work on insulin resistance and brain blood flow. Congratulations, Aaron!⦁ Katrina Carter won a UW Rankin/Skatrud Travel award, and will present a poster and oral presentation at Experimental Biology in San Diego, CA April 2020. Way to go, Katrina!
⦁ Jessica Muer joined the lab for her PhD fall 2019, coming in with a 4-year fellowship focused on optimizing teaching preparation and mentorship. Welcome Jess!
⦁ Justin Brubaker received special funding from the US Air Force to continue his education by earning a MS in exercise physiology in our lab. Welcome Justin!
⦁ The lab was awarded and NIH grant (R21) to study brain blood flow responses in adolescents. Fun times for the lab and new collaborations.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduates play an vital role in our research and gain valuable perspectives and skills that are unobtainable through university courses alone. We like to expose fresh enthusiastic minds to what human research is all about. To really get the most from your research experience, we require a serious investment in safety and ethics training prior to interacting with subjects, plus digging into past and current literature. Thus, we look for longer-term relationships with undergraduates that last at least two semesters.
Requirements for undergraduate students who want to participate in research in our laboratory are:
⦁ Health sciences or biomedical sciences major
⦁ Demonstrate independence, enthusiasm and professionalism
⦁ Participate in journal club at least 1x/month, which may require reading outside of time in the lab
⦁ Willingness to participate and develop laboratory skills in the following areas: 1) set-up for laboratory procedures; 2) processing human blood samples; 3) measuring vital signs and anthropometrics; 4) telephone screens; 5) assistance with in-person screens and 6) working with data collection and data analysis software.
⦁ Please submit a resume, transcript, and statement of interest (less than 1 page) to Dr. Schrage.
⦁ Upon acceptance, must complete all human subjects research training.
⦁ All accepted undergraduates will undergo a 2-4 month trial period prior to becoming an undergraduate research assistant
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
If interested in joining the Schrage lab, please first contact Dr. Schrage directly to talk about your research interests.
Students will have exceptional resources to facilitate their research including access to the UW Cardiovascular Research Center, world-class imaging facilities, collegial experts in complimentary areas, and other opportunities in a rich research environment.
Graduate students and fellows will be involved in experimental design; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; preparation of oral and written scientific reports, composition of scientific manuscripts for submission to journals and writing personal (fellowship) and lab grant applications.
Medical Students
Medical Students should connect with Dr. Schrage in relation to the Shapiro Summer Research Program offered at the end of 1st year of medical school.
