Colleen M. Novak

Colleen M. Novak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University. Her research focuses on obesity, metabolism, circadian rhythms, and energy expenditure. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. Novak has received grants, including NIH funding, to study calorie-burning processes and thermogenesis's role in weight loss. She teaches courses such as Endocrinology, Mechanisms of Disease in Obesity, and Physiology Seminars. Her work contributes to the Healthy Communities Research Initiative.

Education:

• Ph.D., Michigan State University

Research Interests: Obesity mechanisms, energy expenditure dynamics, circadian influences on metabolism, and skeletal muscle thermogenesis. She investigates how physical activity and sympathetic nervous system activity interplay with these processes.

Grants & Awards: NIH grants for thermogenesis research, highlighted in news stories about combating obesity through calorie-burning studies.

Teaching: Courses include BSCI 40151, BSCI 50151, BSCI 60491, and thesis/dissertation supervision.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Healthy Communities Research Initiative, addressing obesity and health through interdisciplinary approaches.