Biography
Jacob R. Sorensen, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Exercise Sciences at Brigham Young University. Dr. Sorensen received his bachelor and doctoral degrees in exercise science and exercise physiology from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. His dissertation work looked at the altered response of immune cells in young and old individuals following acute skeletal muscle damage. Prior to his doctoral work, he completed a masters degree in coaching performance from the University of Utah and worked as a strength and conditioning coach for elite and college athletes. During that time, he also served as a research assistant at the VA hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, studying the impact of lifestyle factors such as aging and disease on cardiovascular health. He received further training in a Department of Defense-funded post-doctoral associateship at the University of Minnesota, in the Department of Kinesiology, where he worked to understand the impact of volumetric muscle loss injuries on innervation, whole body metabolism and muscle function. He transitioned to a National Institutes of Health-funded laboratory in the School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology to develop novel therapies for cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle injuries, which included the development of humanized tissues and organs in pigs. His current research focus is aimed at improving functional outcomes for individuals following traumatic injuries. This approach is done by studying the underlying pathology of volumetric muscle loss injuries and developing targeted therapies that focus on regeneration, rejuvenation, and rehabilitation.
Research Interests
Skeletal muscle is a highly adaptive and regenerative tissue. However, following combat blast injuries, motor vehicle accidents and even invasive surgeries where large portions of the muscle tissue are abruptly removed, regeneration fails, leading to long-term disability and decreased quality of life. The pathophysiology of these traumatic injuries, referred to as volumetric muscle loss, are poorly understood and no clinical standard of care exists to help patients. Thus, the current research interests and long-term scientific goals of the laboratory revolve around understanding the adaptability and regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle following volumetric muscle loss injuries, with a focus on developing novel therapies that restore muscle function by using targeted regeneration, rejuvenation, and rehabilitation strategies.Teaching Interests
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Clinical Physiology, Exercise Physiology, and Advanced Theory and Techniques of Exercise Sciences ResearchEducation
- Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise Physiology , Skeletal Muscle Physiology, Brigham Young University (2018)
- Masters of Science, Exercise Science , Coaching Performance, University of Utah (2010)
- Bachelors of Science, Exercise Science , Brigham Young University (2006)
Licenses and Certifications
- National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (2010 - Present)
- American Red Cross, CPR, First Aid, AED (2010 - Present)
Honors and Awards
- Minnesota Muscle Training Grant, National Institutes of Health T-32 (2022 - 2023)
- Oral Presentation Award, Integrative Physiology of Exercise Conference (2020 - 2020)
- Robert K. Conlee ACSM Travel Award, Brigham Young University, Department of Exercise Sciences (2017 - 2018)
- Douglas Pierce Smith Memorial Scholarship, Brigham Young University, Department of Exercise Sciences (2015 - 2018)
Professional Citizenship
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Orthopaedic Research (2022 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Skeletal Muscle (2022 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2021 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Cell Biology International (2021 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, International Journal of Sports Medicine (2021 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Scientific Reports (2021 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (2020 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Connective Tissue Research (2020 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (2020 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Applied Physiology (2020 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Frontiers in Physiology (2019 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Applied Physiology (2019 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Sport Science (2018 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Cells Tissues Organs (2023 - 2023)