Biography

Dr. Zidong Li was originally from Dalian, China. Driven by his enthusiasm for sports, he went to Beijing Sport University and earned a bachelor degree in exercise science. Li has extensive experiences in research. As an undergraduate student, he worked as a research assistant in the Body Composition Lab and administered DEXA testing. In his senior year, he conducted his first research project investigating the effects of hypoxic (i.e., low oxygen) training on iron ions metabolism in human. To further pursue his goals in understanding exercise physiology, Li came to the United States for graduate schools and earned a terminal degree in exercise physiology from the University of New Mexico. 

In leisure time, Dr. Li enjoys watching English Premier League soccer and playing video games. He also likes playing soccer, tennis, pickleball, hiking and playing fetch with his dog. 

 

Education:

Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, University of New Mexico, 2020

MS in Kinesiology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2015

B.Ed in Exercise Science, Beijing Sport University, 2012 

 

Research interests:

Exercise-induced muscle damage and its relationship with heat strain and acute kidney stress

Obesity and insulin resistance

Heat acclimation and hypoxic training

 

Featured publications:

• Zidong Li, Zachary J. McKenna, Matthew R. Kuennen, Flavio de Castro Magalhaes, Christine M. Mermier, Fabiano T. Amorim. (2021) “The potential role of exercise-induced muscle damage in exertional heat stroke”. Sports Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01427-8

• Kurt A. Escobar, Anna M. Welch, Andrew Wells, Zac Fennel, Roberto Nava, Zidong Li, Terence A. Moriarty, Carlos H. Nitta, Micah N. Zuhl, Trisha A. VanDusseldorp, Christine M. Mermier, Fabiano T. Amorim (2021). “Autophagy response to acute high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training is dissimilar in skeletal muscle and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and is influenced by sex”. Human Nutrition & Metabolism. Volume 23, 200118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hnm.2020.200118.

• Fabiano T. Amorim, Roberto C. Nava, Kurt A. Escobar, Zidong Li, Anna M. Welch, Zachary J. Fennel, Zachary J. McKenna, Ann L. Gibson (2021). “Autophagy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with body fat percentage” Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2021.1887267

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