Ph.D. in Kinesiology - New Mexico Tech

Collaboration with other institutions
The focus of the proposed PhD program in Kinesiology, being one of translational research,
will facilitate collaboration with a number of state and local agencies as well as academic
institutes, research centers, and universities. However, rather than recreating a “collaborative
wheel” the department sees itself as a potentially valuable participant in certain already
existing collaborative initiatives. Of particular relevance are the Southwest Institute for
Health Disparities Research, the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension
Service, and the New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NM-INBRE).
The department has already forged a number of collaborative relationships and is
participating in the work of inter-institutional centers. Among the collaborative relationships
that the department is pursuing are:
a. The NMSU Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: The department
of HPDR is currently collaborating with the Dr. Ou Ma in the Departmetn of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering. The investigators have received an intramural grant to
pursue analysis of gait and human movement in older adults with a history of falls. The
investigative team is in the process of developing NIH proposals to further support this
line of inquiry. Moreover, these investigators are collaborating with other institutions in
the region with the hope of one day securing funding for the development for a Center
on Aging.
b. The Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research: The overarching purpose of
the Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research is:
“to address the substantial health disparities that exist in Southern New
Mexico and the U.S./Mexican Border Region,”
The department of HPDR plans to play an important role in fulfilling this mission, and
the development of graduate programs is critical to the infusion of the faculty member’s
expertise into the activity of the institute. While still in its infancy, this Institute is
largely comprised of New Mexico State Faculty and Researchers; however, the mission
of the Institute is to bring collaborating investigators and practitioners together from
throughout the region to address a number of public health issues that span from teen
pregnancy to elder health-care concerns. Because of the unique interest of the
department of HPDR and the translational focus of the proposed PhD program, this
positions the department and the faculty as potentially critical elements in the fulfillment
of the mission of the Institute. As evidence of the collaborative potential, the School of
Health and Social Services, together with the department of HPDR recently submitted a
federal initiative to Senators Bingaman and Udall outlining planned work in a number of
public health areas, including prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, which is an
important border health issue.
c. The NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The
Mission of this college is to "Bring science to life through academics, research, and New
Mexico's Cooperative Extension Service.” The department of HPDR has been actively
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