UF Applied Physiology & Kinesiology (APK) doctoral program
At the University of Florida APK doctoral program students are supported by generous departmental research, teaching assistantships, and NIH training grants.
Our Ph.D. graduates move on to positions in academia, industry and healthcare, driving innovation to enhance health and wellness.
We’d love to help you take the next step toward your future. Fill out the form below to receive more information and guidance on applying to the Applied Physiology & Kinesiology (APK) doctoral program at UF. We’re excited to connect with you and support you on this important step in your academic journey.
When you join the APK doctoral program, you’ll be trained for research in:
Our students present their work at national and international conferences and publish in high-profile journals.
We ensure that our exemplary graduates are imminently qualified to transition to positions in academia or industry.
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Including funds from the National Institute of Health, the Department of Defense, and NASA.
With an average Impact Factor of 6
Work alongside
50 Ph.D. students
13 postdoctorals, and
47 residential masters students.
You will join a Research 1 University.
Our program leverages funding to pay for tuition and stipends.
Learn, grow, and innovate with our world-class faculty.
Graduates of the University of Florida APK doctoral program are set up for future success. Regardless of whether you want to remain within academia or make the transition into the private sector, your experience in this program will make you an attractive hire with the highest level of professionalism and expertise.
Our program opens doors to impactful academic careers. With a focus on cutting-edge research in biobehavioral science and exercise physiology, you'll gain expertise and credentials to lead in higher education by becoming a professor or research scientist, shaping future scholars and advancing the science of human movement.
If you’re interested in entering the private sector, our program will allow you to thrive with career paths working with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and military contractors. You will lead the industry in driving innovation and enhancing health outcomes.
You will be equipped for a dynamic career in the world of healthcare. Graduates excel as clinical exercise physiologists, sports performance specialists, or rehabilitation specialists, leveraging advanced research to improve patient outcomes and drive innovations in health, wellness, and athletic performance across diverse populations.
Our program attracts intellectually curious, driven individuals who are not only seeking academic excellence but are also determined to shape the future of biobehavioral science and exercise physiology. Like our world class faculty, our ideal candidates thrive on challenge, demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, and possess a global perspective. They are innovators, leaders, and problem solvers, eager to apply critical thinking and collaboration to real-world challenges.
Graduates from our program go into their field with the tools, insights, and networks to lead transformational change. They will master cutting-edge concepts and develop a strategic mindset, enabling them to adapt in an evolving global landscape. Through hands-on experiences, leadership development, and access to a robust alumni network, our students emerge as thought leaders equipped to drive innovation, lead with confidence, and make an impact on a global scale.
Our graduates consistently leverage the program's world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and unparalleled industry connections to achieve career advancement and professional distinction. Our goal is that you won’t just learn here—you’ll grow, innovate, and lead.
Candidates that are aligned for success in our program typically are an undergraduate or are about to finish your master’s studies in:
We seek candidates with a strong foundation in research writing; while prior experience in composing research papers is preferred, it is not required. Our program is designed to cultivate these critical skills, equipping you to make meaningful contributions to the field and excel in academic and professional research endeavors.
The APK department is housed in the College of Health & Human Performance. We collaborate as an academic community to enrich lives, influence healthy living, and enhance human performance. Since the college was founded in 1946, our faculty have consistently been at the forefront of important and emerging health-related issues.
Professor, Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs
Molecular Physiology of Muscle Laboratory
Associate Professor; Vice Chair
Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab
BK and Betty Stevens Professor
Muscle Stress Physiology Lab
Assistant Professor
Laboratory of Muscle and Environmental Physiology
Assistant Professor
Molecular Metabolism Laboratory
Assistant Professor
Molecular Cardiology and Myology Laboratory
Assistant Professor
Laboratory for Neuromuscular Physiology
Assistant Professor
Sports Medicine Research Lab
Assistant Professor
Locomotion Neuromechanics Lab
Professor
Neuromuscular Physiology Lab
Professor, Associate Dean of Research
Motor Behavior Lab
Professor; Graduate Coordinator
Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience
Assistant Professor
Movement Estimation and Assessment Laboratory
Professor
Applied Neuromechanics Lab
Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Performance Psychology Lab
Professor
Neuromotor Behavior Laboratory
Professor and Chair
Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience
Assistant Professor
Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory
The University of Florida stands among the nation’s top-ranked institutions, recognized by Forbes as the #4 public university. Our commitment to academic excellence is reflected in a 17:1 faculty-to-student ratio, ensuring personalized mentorship from distinguished faculty. With a 97.3% retention rate, UF fosters a dynamic learning environment in a sunny and vibrant location in the U.S., where students thrive both academically and personally. Our graduates emerge as leaders across diverse fields, prepared for success on a global scale. We unite artists and engineers, physicians and philosophers, entrepreneurs and educators. We distill practical solutions from pure science and apply the lessons of history to contemporary problems. We embrace a diversity of experiences and ideas as the core of our strength.
At UF, we’re feeding communities, healing coastlines, exploring space, curing diseases, powering cities, building industries, and imagining wonders.
UF is among the nation’s leaders in technology transfer, turning discoveries into companies, products and jobs.
Come join us—let’s see where we can go together.