Dr. Zack Gillen

Dr. Zack Gillen is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology in the Department of Kinesiology and the Director of the Resistance Exercise Performance Lab. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology & Nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction, Certified Performance and Sport Scientist, and a USA Weightlifting Certified Sports Performance Coach.

Zack started off in the field as a strength and conditioning coach, before diving into the behind-the-scenes research of how to maximize human performance, specifically with resistance training. Part of his specialty is linking the physiology of what is happening within the body to the outcome mechanical movement of these processes. His research publications have examined neuromuscular and morphological changes in muscle, changes in muscle across growth and development, the aging of muscle, muscle metabolism, and kinetic assessments in youth, adults, and elderly individuals. The overarching goal of his research is to answer this question: what are the best practices to maximize human performance?