AMP Lab Staff

Knowledge gained from our team is directly disseminated through educational courses in Kinesiology and Health as well as the community. Together, we strive to provide information that helps people achieve their personal and/or academic goals.

Steve Malin

Steve Malin is the Director of the Applied Metabolism & Physiology Laboratory (AMP Lab). He has appointments in medicine and is affiliated with the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health as well as the Institute for Translational Medicine and Science. Dr. Malin is interested in understanding how exercise can be used as a “drug” to combat obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Considering how nutrition, medication/dietary supplements and/or bariatric surgery work with exercise is an important element in the group for improving health and well-being. The working hypothesis in the lab is that insulin resistance is a key pathologic factor in chronic disease that relates to altered substrate metabolism, endothelial function, appetite, and inflammation. Apprenticeship with graduate and undergraduate students is an important approach used to advance these understandings. Dr. Malin is actively involved in various professional organizations, including American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association, and enjoys spending time with his family, going to the beach, and cycling/hiking.

Daniel Battilo

Daniel Battillo received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Virginia in 2021. Daniel is a Master’s/PhD student in the Kinesiology and Applied Physiology graduate program. His research interests are in beta-cell function and the gut microbiome, particularly the influence of diet and exercise on gut-derived factors affecting cardiovascular disease risk. Daniel plans to be a university professor in the future, conducting research in the areas of cardiovascular and metabolic medicine. He is also a teaching assistant in courses such as Exercise Physiology and enjoys working with students in health and wellness. In his free time, Daniel enjoys exercising with friends and learning new baking techniques.

Jaclyn Dosik

Jaclyn Dosik received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan in 2018. Interested in deepening understanding of exercise physiology, she earned a Master’s in Kinesiology from the University of Virginia in 2020. Jaclyn is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Applied Metabolism and Physiology lab of the Department of Kinesiology and Health. She is engaged in the American College of Sports Medicine and working on certification as an Exercise Physiologist so she can improve the patient experience. Her research interests include the role of traditional and non-traditional risk factors in cardiovascular disease, as well as examining the effects of exercise in treatment of chronic disease, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. In her free time, Jaclyn enjoys trying new exercise classes, finding new recipes, and exploring New York City.

 Habiba Faiz 

Habiba Faiz received her Bachelor of Science in Applied Bioscience from NUST, Pakistan in 2020. She did an internship in both a Nutrition Department of a Cardiology Hospital and in the Public Health Department of National Institute of Health, Pakistan to expand her interests in health. Habiba always wanted to go abroad though for advanced studies, and it was her passion for the health sciences that helped her receive a Fulbright scholarship at Rutgers University. Currently, she is working towards her Master’s in Nutritional Sciences and looks to integrate exercise physiology in her work to maximize health. Her interest is to conduct research on the role that nutrition and exercise play in maintaining cardiometabolic health in people at risk for chronic disease. In her leisure time, Habiba enjoys going outdoors with friends, listening to music, exploring new places, baking, and trying out new restaurants.

Tristan Ragland

Tristan Ragland received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Performance Management from Weber State University. He went on to receive a Master of Science degree in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science from Marywood University and his doctorate in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University in 2021. Dr. Ragland is currently working as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Applied Metabolism and Physiology Lab. He is interested in optimizing nutrition and exercise interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease Particularly, Dr. Ragland is interested in understanding how dysregulation of fat storage relates to these conditions and how these communication signals relate to insulin resistance, vascular function, and inflammation. Dr. Ragland has a great passion for teaching, specifically topics relating to exercise physiology, weight management, sports nutrition and exercise testing and prescription. He enjoys interacting with students and helping them accomplish their educational/career goals. Dr. Ragland is a member of the Obesity Society and the American College of Sport Medicine. During his leisure time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing racquetball, snowboarding, and exercising.

Mary Remchak

Mary Remchak received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University in 2017. She expanded these studies by obtaining a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology from East Carolina University in 2020. Mary has her certification as an Exercise Physiologist from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-EP), and is a member of ACSM Nutrition, and Pregnancy and Postpartum interest groups. She is currently working on her doctorate in the Department of Kinesiology and Health with research interests in endocrinology, substrate oxidation, insulin sensitivity, atherosclerosis, chronotype, and exercise intervention. Mary has aspirations to help educate the public system on the importance of metabolic health and treat underlying causes to reduce obesity related CVD. In her free time, Mary enjoys exploring New Brunswick and local towns through running trails, participating in CrossFit classes, and roommate bonding bonfires.

Afsheen Syeda

Afsheen Syeda is a PhD student in the Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology program. She received her Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems from University of Kentucky in 2019, during and after which she worked in community nutrition research with the UK Nutrition Education Program. Prior to moving to the United States, she worked as a lecturer at Osmania University College for Women in Hyderabad, India, where she also got her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. Afsheen is interested in researching and developing diet and exercise interventions for chronic metabolic diseases, particularly in populations battling insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation. Afsheen works as a teaching assistant in the Biology Department and likes to connect with and mentor students. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and serves as the Communication Co-Chair for Indians in Nutrition and Dietetics. In her free time, Afsheen enjoys traveling with her husband, trying out new cuisines, and hiking.