Graduate Research Assistantship Announcement
Dr. Andrew Pitchford of the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University is currently seeking PhD level graduate students. Dr. Pitchford conducts research on health disparities among individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He is affiliated with the Applied Motor Development Laboratory and the Physical Activity and Health Promotion Laboratory at Iowa State.
Research areas of interest include:
- Motor Development
- Physical Activity
- Nutrition
- Body Composition
- Health Promotion
- Physical Fitness
Current projects include:
- Examining the relationships between fundamental movement skill proficiency, dynamic balance, and physical activity in elementary-school age children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. This work will lead to developing and testing new physical activity interventions.
- Examining diet and physical activity education needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. We are currently working with an interdisciplinary team to adapt SNAP-ED programming to include adults with intellectual disabilities in Iowa.
- Examining factors related to osteosarcopenic obesity (a condition of low bone mass, low muscle mass/function, and high adiposity) in adults with Down syndrome. This preliminary work will be used to refine measurement practices, but will also lead to larger studies of health disparities.
The current projects offer flexible opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines and for future students to incorporate their own research interests.
Graduate Assistantships:
Research assistantships include a competitive monthly stipend, full tuition waiver, and health benefits. Additional teaching assistantships may also be available pending departmental support.
Application:
Please contact Dr. Pitchford for more information and/or to express interest in the assistantship. The formal application will include a personal statement of your research interests, CV/resume, academic transcripts, GRE scores, and three letters of reference. International students will also need to show evidence of English-language proficiency via TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. Additional details on the application process can be found on the Department of Kinesiology website.
Contact:
Dr. Andrew Pitchford
Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology
Iowa State University
Email: eapitch@iastate.edu
