Samuel Buckner

Samuel Buckner, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor of Exercise Science in the College of Education at the University of South Florida (USF), where he has been a faculty member since 2018. He directs the USF Muscle Laboratory, focusing on skeletal muscle adaptations to resistance exercise and their implications for human performance.

His academic credentials include:

• Bachelor's degree from Temple University (2012)
• Master's degree from Florida Atlantic University (2014)
• Doctorate from the University of Mississippi (2018)

Dr. Buckner's research centers on skeletal muscle physiology, with particular emphasis on blood flow restriction training, muscle hypertrophy mechanisms, and the relationship between muscle size and strength adaptations. His laboratory investigates low-load resistance exercise alternatives and their applications across clinical, aging, and athletic populations, utilizing advanced imaging techniques to track muscle growth dynamics. This work bridges fundamental physiological principles with practical training methodologies.

Analysis of his 60+ publications reveals consistent focus on blood flow restriction methodology, resistance training volume effects, and acute physiological responses. His recent work challenges conventional periodization models while advancing understanding of muscle adaptation thresholds across diverse training protocols.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Guinness World Record holder for most consecutive 90-degree pushups (2012)

As director of the USF Muscle Laboratory, Dr. Buckner leads investigations into skeletal muscle responses to varied resistance training stimuli. The lab's work spans basic mechanistic studies to applied research on training optimization, with particular attention to blood flow restriction applications and muscle imaging techniques for tracking adaptation.