Hayden W. Hess

Hayden W. Hess is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the University at Buffalo's School of Public Health and Health Professions. He leads research in environmental and occupational physiology, focusing on thermal stress, renal physiology, and diving/hyperbaric medicine. Hess is Principal Investigator at the Center for Research and Education in Special Environments (CRESE), investigating acute kidney injury risks during heat stress exposure and physiological adaptations in extreme environments. He holds a PhD from UB (2020) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Indiana University.

Education:

• PhD, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo (2020)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Integrative Physiology, Indiana University–Bloomington (2020–2023)
• MS, Exercise and Sports Studies, Boise State University
• BS, Athletic Training, Washington State University

Research interests emphasize occupational heat stress physiology, thermal strain mitigation, and physiological responses to extreme environments. His work bridges clinical nephrology with environmental occupational safety, particularly in high-risk professions like firefighting and diving. Recent studies examine fluid intake strategies to prevent dehydration and AKI during heat exposure, and the role of spleen dynamics in immersion physiology.

His 2025–2020 articles focus on:

• Heat stress-induced kidney injury mechanisms
• Fluid replacement strategies in extreme environments
• Spleen volume changes during water immersion
• Apnea/hypoxia training effects on hemoglobin
• Cold water immersion impacts on recovery

Scientific recognition includes the 2023 ACSM Hernández Award and 2022 Gatorade Postdoctoral Award. Hess collaborates with organizations like the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society. His lab integrates fieldwork and controlled experiments to address real-world occupational health challenges, with ongoing studies on climate change impacts on worker safety and hyperbaric medicine innovations.