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Get Involved

Opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Virginia.

Undergraduate research assistants

I love working with undergraduates who are curious about mitochondrial physiology, exercise science, and how to measure human performance. I am committed to supporting your future career — graduate school, medical school, physical therapy, or industry — with meaningful, hands-on research experience.

Positions are available on a rolling basis. Applications are especially welcome from students who can commit to multiple semesters and are interested in graduate or professional training.

Email Dr. Irving

What you might do

Assist with human-subjects testing (V̇O₂peak, NIRS, dynamometry, body composition)

Participate in wet-lab work involving mitochondrial isolation and respirometry

Contribute to data analysis using R and other statistical tools

Attend lab meetings, journal clubs, and — for advanced students — national conferences

Author or co-author conference abstracts and, where appropriate, peer-reviewed papers

What we look for

Enrollment in Kinesiology, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline

Willingness to commit at least one semester (preferably two) at 6–10 hours per week

Comfort with laboratory safety protocols and human-subjects research ethics

Curiosity, care, and a willingness to learn

How to apply

Email Dr. Irving (bi9n@virginia.edu) with a short note (1–2 paragraphs) about your interests and career goals; your major, year, and expected graduation date; any prior research or laboratory experience; and your availability for the current and upcoming semesters.

Graduate students (MS & PhD)

The TEMPO@UVA Lab is actively recruiting MS and PhD students in Kinesiology at the University of Virginia. Prospective students are encouraged to reach out well before the application deadline to discuss research fit and fellowship opportunities.

Fall 2027 cycle

Ideal background

Strong training in exercise physiology, molecular metabolism, biomedical engineering, or a related quantitative discipline

Prior research experience, particularly with human-subjects testing or wet-lab bioenergetics

Comfort with statistical analysis and ideally some programming - including R, SAS, and/or MATLAB

Clear scientific questions you would like to explore

How to apply

Review the UVA Kinesiology graduate programs for formal requirements, then send Dr. Irving a brief inquiry (2–3 paragraphs) covering your research interests and their alignment with the TEMPO@UVA program, your prior training and research experience, the degree you are seeking (MS thesis, MS non-thesis, or PhD), and your anticipated timeline.

Postdoctoral fellows

Inquiries are welcome from individuals with strong training in mitochondrial physiology, bioenergetics, immunometabolism, exercise physiology, or clinical translational research.

Prospective postdocs are encouraged to develop an application for external funding (NIH F32, K99/R00; AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship) in collaboration with Dr. Irving. Please email a CV, a short research statement, and contact information for three references.

Send an inquiry