Jimmy Bagley

Dr. Jimmy Bagley is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San Francisco State University (SFSU), serving as Director/Founder of the Muscle Physiology Lab (MPL), Co-Director of the Exercise Physiology Lab, and Research Director of the Strength and Conditioning Lab. His research focuses on muscle physiology (hypertrophy/atrophy mechanisms), gut microbiome effects on athletic performance, and health technologies like VR exercise systems. He holds a PhD in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University, with MS and BS degrees in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Dr. Bagley is an active member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and American Physiological Society (APS), and has trained with NASA’s STAR program.

His research spans three key areas: 1) muscle fiber adaptations using confocal microscopy, 2) gut microbiota’s role in exercise capacity, and 3) validating new health technologies. Recent work includes studies on ultra-marathoners’ microbiomes and VR gaming’s physiological effects. Dr. Bagley teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in exercise physiology, muscle physiology, and fitness testing. The Muscle Physiology Lab, led by Dr. Bagley, actively recruits graduate students through SFSU’s MS in Kinesiology program.

Professional activities include textbook authorship (e.g., Lab Experiences in Exercise Physiology), peer-reviewed publications in Journal of Physiology and Experimental Physiology, and collaborations with institutions like NASA’s STAR program. His work bridges basic science (cellular mechanisms) with applied research (technology validation and athlete performance optimization).