Jenna YentesView profile
Associate Professor
Dr. Jenna Yentes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on functional resiliency in aging populations, biomechanics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and nonlinear analysis of human movement. She leads studies on gait stability, respiratory-gait coupling, and exoskeleton-assisted walking. Notable contributions include quantifying locomotor reserve and exploring firefighter performance in protective gear. Education: Ph.D. in Biomechanics (University of Nebraska, 2013), M.S. in Kinesiology (California State University Fullerton, 2006), B.A. in Kinesiology (University of Northern Colorado, 2000). Research Interests: Reserve capacity in older adults' mobility and cognition Biomechanical adaptations in COPD patients Methodological rigor in nonlinear data analysis (e.g., entropy metrics) Firefighter physical performance under protective gear Recent Articles Trends: Focus on entropy-based gait analysis, COPD biomechanics, dual-task interference in aging, and exoskeleton effects on interlimb coordination. Methodological rigor in parameter selection for nonlinear algorithms is a recurring theme. Awards: 2023 Faculty Climate Award (Texas A&M), 2019 Promising Scientist Award (International Society of Posture and Gait Research), and 2019 Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women Award (University of Nebraska). Advising & Grants: Mentors graduate students (noted in publications) and collaborates with TEEX Fire Academy and multiple Texas A&M research centers including the Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and the Center for Population Health and Aging. Research supported by institutional and federal grants. Labs/Teams: Active in Texas A&M's Human Movement and Aging Lab, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in sports medicine, rehabilitation engineering, and pulmonary research.







