Donna H. Korzick

Dr. Donna H. Korzick is a Professor of Physiology and Kinesiology at The Pennsylvania State University, with a joint appointment in the College of Health and Human Development. She also serves as the Director of Graduate Training Initiatives at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, where she leads the development and implementation of training programs for graduate students. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary life science graduate training, raising Penn State's recruiting profile nationally and validating excellence in graduate education.

Dr. Korzick received her educational credentials from The Pennsylvania State University, earning a Ph.D. in Physiology in 1994, an M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science in 1986, and a B.S. (Honors) in Physical Education from Southern Connecticut State University in 1984.

Dr. Korzick's research centers on aging and cardiovascular disease risk using animal models, with particular emphasis on the effects of estrogen deficiency on mitochondrial regulation of cell survival during myocardial infarction. Her work explores PKC-dependent mechanisms and oxidant stress pathways. Her laboratory employs various animal models including rodent aging, estrogen deficiency, ischemia-reperfusion injury, chronic ethanol ingestion, and exercise interventions. She investigates how estrogen receptors and PKC-dependent signaling contribute to cardioprotection, especially in the context of aging and post-menopausal conditions.

Dr. Korzick has secured significant funding from multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) centers, including the National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Her current active project, "Research Training in Physiological Adaptations to Stress," is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences through 2026. She has successfully led multiple T32 training grants that have supported dozens of graduate researchers at Penn State through funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

As Director of Graduate Training Initiatives, Dr. Korzick guides faculty in developing and submitting training grant proposals and assists training faculty mentors in implementing program features and best mentoring practices. She provides career-development and mentoring trainings available to all life-sciences students and faculty at Penn State. Her leadership has helped Penn State secure over $2.75 million in renewed funding for graduate training programs.

Dr. Korzick's laboratory is part of the Integrative and Biomedical Physiology program at Penn State. Her research team employs sophisticated techniques to study cardiac physiology, mitochondrial function, and immune responses in aged female rat models. The lab's work has important implications for understanding and treating cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women, who face significantly higher risks of heart disease after menopause.