State Kinesiology Group Recognizes UTEP Students

Last Updated on May 16, 2017 at 12:00 AM

Originally published May 16, 2017

By University Communications

UTEP Communications

Four UTEP kinesiology students, to include graduate students Cesar Meza and Manuel Amador, were recognized at the Texas chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM) conference this spring in Waco, Texas.

Sudip Bajpeyi, Ph.D., assistant professor of kinesiology, center, celebrates the accomplishments of his students at the recent conference of the Texas chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. With him are, from left, Cesar Meza, Catalina De La Pena, Cynthia Montenegro and Manuel Amador.

Meza and Amador earned second and third place finishes, respectively, in the master’s student research category. Seniors Catalina De La Peña and Cynthia Montenegro were among the eight finalists in the undergraduate student research category. Montenegro also received the 2017 TACSM Major of the Year Award.

Meza, De La Peña and Montenegro presented posters about the effects of different high fat diets on skeletal muscle metabolism. Amador shared data from his thesis work that investigated the effects of a family history of type 2 diabetes on exercise-mediated improvements in insulin-sensitivity.

The four are members of the Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise Research (MiNER) Laboratory led by Sudip Bajpeyi, Ph.D., assistant professor of kinesiology. Bajpeyi, an invited speaker at the conference, shared his research on understanding the effects of exercise and diet on fat accumulation in muscle, which is evident in obesity and type 2 diabetes.