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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.
June 3, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Alexa Chandler’s career path has been clear ever since she discovered a passion for exercise science as a high school student in Maryland. By the time she was a sophomore, she knew that weight training and other forms of physical activity were more than just ways to improve fitness.
“I realized I really enjoyed learning about the anatomical and physiological aspects of exercise and started looking into colleges with exercise science programs,” says Chandler, who ended up at Ithaca College for her bachelor’s degree.
I gained experience working with top-tier athletic teams, the United States military, and private companies through my research assistantship and collaborations with various entities.
As an undergrad, she got involved in research and even presented at a national conference – leading Chandler to enroll in a master’s program in kinesiology and applied physiology the field at Rutgers University. It was there that she met Shawn Arent, a sports scientist and exercise physiologist with more than two decades of human performance research experience.
When Arent made the move to USC to lead the Arnold School’s Department of Exercise Science in 2019, Chandler was one of the first people he asked to come with him, and she decided to make the move as well. She had just wrapped up her master’s degree and was thrilled to join one of the top doctoral programs in the nation.
“I wanted to continue studying under Dr. Arent as I knew he would support my efforts to become an independent researcher while providing me with immense opportunities and resources,” Chandler says.
Working in her mentor’s Sport Science Laboratory, Chandler conducted research for several Department of Defense- and industry-funded projects – amassing extensive hands-on training in various laboratory techniques with access to top tier equipment. She also pursued her own research interests (mostly centered around women’s health and performance and athlete monitoring) and served as a sport scientist with Gamecock Athletics.
“I gained experience working with top-tier athletic teams, the United States military, and private companies through my research assistantship and collaborations with various entities,” Chandler says. “It’s important to take the initiative to get involved in the projects you want to be part of. Spend time in the lab to familiarize yourself with various equipment and seek out USC-sponsored events where you can present your research.”
After graduating in August, Chandler will begin a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Idaho. There, she’ll study dietary, exercise, and lifestyle behaviors of premenopausal women living in a rural area of the United States.
“USC is a great community to be a part of,” Chandler reflects. “I will miss the Gamecock Athletics environment the most.”
