Dr. David P. Ferguson earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Masters Degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, PhD from Texas A&M University and has postdoctoral training in cardiovascular physiology, nutrition and pediatrics from Baylor College of Medicine. He has worked in racing for over ten years with the top teams in NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, and IMSA.
Annabella Akouri
Annabella Akouri is completing the last year of her Bachelors degree at Michigan State University majoring in Human Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant and has a passion for motor sports. Annabella has been assisting the lab since September 2019 contributing to projects examining hydration strategies for race car drivers to maximize driver performance and assisting with data analysis on core temperature and hydration study.
Julia Castrucci
Julia is in her Junior year at Michigan State University as a kinesiology major and health promotion minor. She has a passion for sports medicine and sports product design. She plans on pursuing graduate studies in sports product design and one day a career working with the sports industry developing technology that serves to quantify and improve athletes’ athletic performance. She has been assisting in the Motorsport lab since June of 2019. Julia has contributed to in-lab research and data analysis on core temperature and hydration strategies to help improve race car driver’s athletic performance.Interest in kinesiology and sports product design. She plans on pursuing graduate studies in sports product design and one day a career working with the sports industry developing technology that serves to quantify and improve athletes’ athletic performance.
Gaby Januszewski
Gaby Januszewski is a senior at Michigan State University with a kinesiology major and a health promotion minor. She plans on pursuing a doctorate degree in occupational therapy and one day hope to help vulnerable populations live to their fullest potential.
Lindsey Ammons
Lindsey is currently a sophomore at Michigan State University studying kinesiology. After graduation she is looking to attend a physician assistant program and is interested in pursuing a career in sports medicine after receiving her degrees. In her free time she enjoys working out, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Sam Barthel – Alumni
Sam earned his Bachelor’s degree from Hope College and Masters degree from Michigan State University. He is a first year PhD student investigating the fitness differences between professional and amature race car drivers in the IMSA sports car series.
Dan Colvin – Alumni
Dan earned Masters degree from Michigan State University focusing on methods to improve safety in race car design in order to maximize driver performance.
He currently works at Fiat-Chrysler.
Montana Pruett – Alumni
Montana earned her Masters degree from Michigan State University focusing on comparing male and female race car drivers’ physiological responses to racing.
She currently works at Ford Motor Company.
Peyton Waaso – Alumni
Peyton is a third year Kinesiology student with a cognate in Exercise Physiology and plans on pursuing graduate school in Exercise Physiology and one day hope to work clinically in cardiac rehabilitation. Furthermore, she would like to pursue my PhD and research the effects exercise and nutrition have on mental health, specifically those populations with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Peyton has contributed to projects examining female race car driver performance as well as hydration strategies for race car drivers.
Bhumi Patel – Alumni
Bhumi is currently in her last year undergrad. She will be earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology with a minor in bioethics and health promotions. She hopes to go onto medical school after her gap year. She helps with data coding and some data collection in the lab. She is currently working on her UURAF presentation.
Anthony Curvey – Alumni
Anthony is completing the last year of his Bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University. He has been assisting in the lab since September 2018 with data analysis, in-lab research, and the creation of a health and fitness regimen for drivers.
Megan Davis – Alumni
Megan is a junior at MSU majoring in kinesiology with a health promotion minor. She plans to attend physician’s assistant school and interested in specializing in a cardiovascular, pediatrics, or surgery related field. She is currently helping evaluate the differences in driver performance in dyslexic race car drivers.
Keegan Coles – Alumni
Keegan Coles is a senior majoring in Kinesiology and this is his first year in the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab. He has been involved in research looking into how drivers with dyslexia may have a competitive advantage. After graduation he plans on continuing his career in medical school where he aspires to work in a field related to sports medicine. In his free time he enjoys skiing, spending time on the lake or cheering on the Spartans.