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The Exercise Science department’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is a mentor-based program that has consistently been ranked among the top programs in the United States by the National Academy of Kinesiology.
October 15, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“There are certain high-demand professions for which enhancing health and operational readiness is not just a goal, but a necessity," says exercise science doctoral candidate Gianna Mastrofini. “My work aims to improve physical and cognitive performance, particularly in tactical personnel such as military and first responders.”
With family ties to academia and the military, the Virginia native grew up around conversations about optimizing performance and well-being among high-stress populations. Her grandfather was a chemist in the Navy, and her mother works with military service members as a psychologist.
A middle school science project helped Mastrofini identify her own interests in the field when she examined the pH responses to aerobic versus resistance-based exercise. She studied kinesiology and human performance at the University of Alabama before enrolling in a master’s program at the University of South Florida.
My experience at USC has been incredibly rewarding, and both the faculty and my fellow students have been exceptionally supportive, creating a collaborative and encouraging environment. The sense of community here is strong, and it’s clear that everyone genuinely cares about your success – both academically and personally.
As a graduate student, she contributed to research on optimizing exercise variables to enhance exercise adherence and physique enhancement and developed a passion for science communication. She had already been following the work of Arnold School Exercise Science chair Shawn Arent when it was time to apply to doctoral programs.
“I was particularly impressed by his work with military personnel and athletes, and when I had the opportunity to interview with him, it became clear that working under his mentorship would be the perfect environment to grow as a researcher,” says Mastrofini, who was offered a Behavioral Biomedical Interface Program T-32 Predoctoral Fellowship and a graduate research position in Arent’s Sport Science Lab. “His approach to performance optimization through cutting-edge research aligned perfectly with my own interests, and the reputation of USC’s exercise science program as one of the top in the nation made it an ideal place for me to further my education and contribute to groundbreaking studies in both athletic and tactical populations.”
Earlier this year, Mastrofini was selected by the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation to receive the organization’s Women’s Scholarship. More recently, they awarded her a $15,000 Graduate Research Grant to support her dissertation research. Specifically, the grant will fund a study investigating the effects of various training programs on physical performance and sustained readiness in tactical personnel.
“Gianna is, without a doubt, one of the most dedicated Ph.D. students I have ever mentored," says Arent, who is pictured above with Mastrofini at a research conference. "Her excitement for what we do is just part of why I love having her in the lab. Only about eight percent of applicants were awarded this grant from NSCA, so it’s clearly a competitive process. It’s gratifying to see Gianna recognized and be able to obtain funding to help her pursue a topic that is so important to her.”
As she progresses through the final stages of her program, Mastrofini is looking forward to additional training as a postdoctoral researcher. But she’s already reflecting on the positives of her five years at the Arnold School.
“My experience at USC has been incredibly rewarding, and both the faculty and my fellow students have been exceptionally supportive, creating a collaborative and encouraging environment,” Mastrofini says. “The sense of community here is strong, and it’s clear that everyone genuinely cares about your success – both academically and personally. Overall, USC has offered an ideal environment for my academic growth and personal well-being.”