Kevin Boldt

PhD, MSc, BSc, CSEP-CEP, CSEP-HPS, NSCA-CSCS

As a researcher and educator in exercise physiology and biomechanics, I am passionate about helping people reach their health, fitness, and performance goals. I live my passion through conducting high quality research, educating students, and as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and High-Performance Specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

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About

I am currently a Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Jaime Burr and a Course Instructor at Trent University

I previously completed a PhD in Kinesiology (Muscle Physiology) under the supervision of Dr. Walter Herzog, a MSc (Biomechanics) in Kinesiology under the supervision of Dr. Walter Herzog, and a BSc Hons (Mind Sciences) at the University of Calgary. Following my graduate training, I completed a limited-term appointment as an Assistant Professor at Trent University teaching in the Kinesiology Department.

My research is focused on understanding how the body adapts to diet and exercise and how those effects can be enhanced to promote an individual’s health, fitness, or performance goals.  My research program has been recognized by >$580,000 in research funding and through >45 national and international awards and recognitions.

In the classroom, I am passionate about inspiring students to find their own passions and reach their career goals. I have taught courses across kinesiology including biomechanics, exercise testing and prescription, ergonomics, and professional practice.

Currently, I serve on the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Board of Directors (2021-2023), the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Certified Personal Trainer Subcommittee (2020-2022), and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee (2022-2024). Further, I am an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (2021-2024).

Research

VISION

A complete understanding of the mechanisms of human movement and strategies for optimizing its benefits for health and performance.

MISSION

I am committed to using basic and applied science approaches to understand how muscle functions and adapts, developing techniques to enhance muscle function to improve human health and performance, and translating those findings into clinical and professional practice

VALUES

Rigor, integrity, innovation, inclusion, translation, and education

My research program focuses on understanding how the body adapts in response to a range of lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, etc.) and conditions (cancer, aging, obesity, muscular weakness, etc.), and ways to enhance both physical performance and overall health. My primary focus has been on enhancing cardiac and muscular function through exercise and dietary intervention. I have utilized a range of reduced preparations in laboratory animal and human models to provide mechanistic insight into how the body adapts to different acute and chronic stimuli and to provide evidence for how to promote physical function of a range of tissues (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and cartilage). My research program benefits from a multi-disciplinary approach, blending exercise physiology with biomechanics.

Selected Award List

(n=46 total; $583,788 awarded in total)

    1. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship, August 2022-August 2024
    2. American Society of Biomechanics, Journal of Biomechanics Award Finalist, August 2019
    3. International Society of Biomechanics David Winter Young Investigator Award Finalist, August 2019
    4. University of Calgary Kinesiology Leadership Scholarship, May 2019-April 2020
    5. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Poster Award (PhD) Finalist, November 2018
    6. International Society of Biomechanics David Winter Young Investigator Award Finalist, November 2018
    7. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Canadian Institutes of Health Research), September 2017-December 2020
    8. Canadian Society of Biomechanics New Investigator Master’s Award Finalist, July 2016
    9. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Certified Member Presentation Award, October 2015
    10. Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Clinician Fellowship, September 2014-August 2017
    11. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship, May 2014-May 2015
    12. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award, May 2013-August 2013
Publication List:

Peer-Reviewed Publications (n=21 total; n=16 published and n=5 submitted):

  1. Han, S., Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Characterizing residual and passive force enhancement in cardiac myofibrils (Submitted to Biophysical Journal; D-22-00411)
  2. Abughazaleh, N. A., Boldt, K. R., Rios J. L., Matiello, S., Collins, K., Seerattan, R., & Herzog, W. Aerobic and resistance training attenuate differently knee joint damage caused by a high fat-high sucrose diet in a rat model (Submitted to Cartilage; CART-22-0091)
  3. Barton, K. I., Florea, A., Boldt, K. R., Inculet, C., Teeter, M., Somerville, L., & Lanting, B. Assessing the influence of body mass index and tibial prosthesis design characteristic on survivorship and revision rates in total knee arthroplasty (Submitted to the Journal of Arthroplasty)
  4. Barton, K. I., Steiner, N. J., Boldt, K. R., Sogbein, O. A., Tsioros, S., Somerville, L., Howard, J., & Lanting, B. Major complications in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty with the direct anterior approach: a study at a high-volume tertiary care centre (Submitted to Arthroplasty Today).
  5. Nazari, G., Barton, K. I., Diep, D., Boldt, K. R., Getgood, A., & Bryant, D. Delphi study items standardized and consolidated in preferred logic: improved narrated essentials: the DISCIPLINE statement (Submitted to Journal of Clinical Epidemiology; JCE_2020_815)
  6. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., Turnbull, J., Fedak, P. W. M., & Herzog, W. (2022). The effects of whey protein supplementation and aerobic exercise on mechanical and structural remodeling of cardiac muscle in rats, Physical Activity and Nutrition 26(1), 28-38
  7. Joumaa, V. Boldt, K. R., Han, S. K., Chun, K. J., & Herzog, W. (2021) Botox injections in paraspinal muscles result in low maximal specific force and shortening velocity in fast but not slow skinned muscle fibres, Spine 47(11), 833-840
  8. Boldt, K. R., Matiello, S., Joumaa, V., Turnbull, J., Fedak, P. W. M., & Herzog, W. (2021) Effects of high-fat-high-sucrose diet-induced obesity on the mechanical and structural adaptations of cardiac muscle to resistance training, Physical Activity and Nutrition 25(2), 8-14
  9. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., Turnbull, J., Fedak, P. W. M., & Herzog, W. (2021) Mechanical and structural remodeling of cardiac muscle following aerobic and resistance exercise training in rats, Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise 53(8), 1583-1594
  10. Boldt, K. R., Rios, J. L., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2020). Mechanical function of cardiac fibre bundles partly protected by exercise in response to diet-induced obesity in rats, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism 46(1), 46-54
  11. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., MacDonald, G., Rios, J. L., & Herzog, W. (2020) Cardiac mechanical properties through the first year of life in rats, Mechanisms of Aging and Development 192(111359), 1-9
  12. Boldt, K. R., MacDonald, G., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2020). Mechanical adaptations of skinned cardiac muscle in response to dietary-induced childhood obesity in rats, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(8), 893-901
  13. Boldt, K. R., Han, S. Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2020). Residual and passive force enhancement in skinned cardiac fibre bundles. Journal of Biomechanics 109, 1-7
  14. Boldt, K. R., Rios, J. L., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2018). Force properties of skinned cardiac fibres following increasing volumes of aerobic exercise in rats. Journal of Applied Physiology 125(2), 495-503
  15. Rios, J. L., Boldt, K. R., Mather, J. W., Seerattan, R. A., Hart, D. A., & Herzog, W. (2018). Quantifying the effects of different treadmill training speeds and durations on the health of rat knee joints. Sports Medicine Open, 4(15), 1-10
  16. Rios J. L., Boldt K. R., Seerattan R. A., Hart D. A., & Herzog W. (2016). High mileage walking does not lead to osteoarthritis changes in the rat knee. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 24(1), 399-400
  17. Boldt, K. R., Killick, A., & Herzog, W. (2016). Quadrupedal locomotion-respiration coupling and metabolic economy in cross-country skiers, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 32(1), 1-6
  18. Boldt, K. R., Killick, A., & Herzog, W. (2013). Energetics and metabolic economy of cross-country skiing. Journal of Undergraduate Research in Alberta, 3(1), 3
  19. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2015). Residual force enhancement in cardiac myofibrils, Biophysical Journal, 108(2), 591
  20. Capozzi, L. C., Boldt, K. R., Easaw, J., Bultz, B., & Culos-Reed S. N. (2015). Evaluating a 12-week exercise program for brain cancer patients, Psychooncology, 25(3), 354-358
  21. Capozzi, L. C., Boldt, K. R., Lau, H., Shirt, L., Bultz, B., Culos-Reed, S. N. (2014). A clinic-supported group exercise program for head and neck cancer survivors: managing cancer and treatment side effects to improve quality of life. Supportive Care in Cancer, 23(4), 1001-1007

Book Chapters (n=2 total):

  1. Herzog W., Killick A., Boldt K. R., & Onasch F (2017). Energetic and Muscle Mechanics Considerations in Cross-Country Skiing. Science and Skiing VI, Edts. Erich Müller et al., Meyer & Meyer, Germany, 225-238
  2. Herzog, W., Killick, A., & Boldt, K. R. (2015). Energetic Considerations in Cross-Country Skiing. The Active Life Series; Sport Performance. Springer, Tokyo Japan, 247-260

 

Presentation List (Last 5 years):

(n=40 total; n=26 oral presentations and n=14 poster presentations)

  1. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., Mattiello, S., & Herzog W. Consumption of a high-fat-high-sucrose diet partly prevents cardiac mechanical adaptations to aerobic and resistance exercise training. Oral Presentation. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Virtual Conference, October 16, 2021
  2. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Whey protein supplementation as an ergogenic aid for cardiac adaptation to aerobic exercise training in rats. Oral Presentation. Canadian Society of Biomechanics, Virtual Conference, May 25-28, 2021
  3. Boldt, K. R. Exercise and nutrition: the heart of the matter. Oral Presentation. Human Performance Laboratory Musculoskeletal Seminar Series, Calgary, Canada, July 23, 2020
  4. Boldt, K. R. Exercise and nutrition: the heart of the matter. Oral Presentation. Western University School of Kinesiology Seminar, London, Canada, January 27, 2020
  5. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Adaptations in maximal force and shortening velocity of cardiac muscle in response to aerobic and resistance exercise. Oral Presentation. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Kelowna, Canada, November 9, 2019
  6. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Maximum force and velocity properties of cardiac muscle following aerobic and resistance exercise training. Oral Presentation. International Society for Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, August 3, 2019
  7. Boldt, K. R., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Maximum force and velocity properties of cardiac muscle following aerobic and resistance exercise training. Poster Presentation. International Society for Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, August 2, 2019
  8. Boldt, K. R., Han, S. Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Residual and passive force enhancement in skinned cardiac fibre bundles. Poster Presentation. Rocky Mountain Muscle Symposium, Canmore, Canada, July 28, 2019
  9. Boldt, K. R., MacDonald, G., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. The effect of dietary-induced childhood obesity on cardiac muscle in rats. Poster Presentation. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Niagara, Canada, November 2, 2018
  10. Boldt, K. R., MacDonald, G., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Cardiac mechanical adaptations to dietary-induced childhood obesity in rats. Oral Presentation. Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Halifax, Canada, August 16, 2018
  11. Boldt, K. R., Rios, J. L., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Single fibre force production in the triceps surae following chronic exercise training. Poster Presentation. Alberta Biomedical Engineering Conference, Banff, Canada, November 11, 2017
  12. Boldt, K. R., Rios, J. L., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Triceps surae contractile properties following chronic treadmill running in rats. Poster Presentation. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Winnipeg, Canada, October 28, 2017
  13. Boldt, K. R., Rios, J. L., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. Mechanical and biochemical adaptations of cardiac muscle to aerobic exercise training. Oral Presentation. International Society for Biomechanics, Brisbane, Australia, July 26, 2017

Teaching

My teaching experience has predominantly been in the areas of exercise physiology, ergonomics, biomechanics, research methods, and professional practice, where I have been a course instructor (Western University, 2020-2021; Trent University, 2021-2022), a laboratory supervisor/facilitator (University of Calgary, 2015-2016; University of Ottawa, 2021), and teaching assistant (University of Calgary, 2013-2016).

At the university-level, I have instructed eleven courses, facilitated/coordinated four undergraduate laboratory courses, and worked as both a teaching assistant for five courses and marking assistant for ten courses:

 

Course Instructor Experience (n=11):
  1. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4050 (Professional Practice Theory), 23 students, Trent University, September 2022-December 2022
  2. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4051 (Professional Practicum), 10 students, Trent University, September 2022-December 2022
  3. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4050 (Professional Practice Theory), 10 students, Trent University, June 2022-July 2022
  4. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 1001 (Introduction to Kinesiology), 66 students, Trent University, January 2022-April 2022
  5. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4051 (Professional Practicum), 18 students, Trent University, January 2022-April 2022
  6. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4010 (Research-Based Thesis), 2 students, Trent University, September 2021-April 2022
  7. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 3001 (Biomechanics), 53 students, Trent University, September 2021-December 2021
  8. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4005 (Exercise Testing and Prescription), 32 students, Trent University, September 2021-December 2021
  9. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4050 (Professional Practice Theory), 18 students, Trent University, September 2021-December 2021
  10. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 4457 (Ergonomics and Aging), 60 students, Western University, January 2021-April 2021
  11. Course Instructor for Kinesiology 3330 (Laboratory in Exercise Physiology), 60 students, Western University, September 2020-December 2020
Laboratory Supervisor/Facilitator Experience (n=4):
  1. Laboratory Facilitator for Human Kinetics 4160 (Fitness Testing and Exercise Prescription), 20 students, University of Ottawa, January 2021-April 2021
  2. Laboratory Facilitator for Human Kinetics 2314 (Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology & Biomechanics), 100 students, University of Ottawa, January 2021-April 2021
  3. Laboratory Supervisor for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 160 students, University of Calgary, January 2016-April 2016
  4. Laboratory Supervisor for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 80 students, University of Calgary, September 2015-December 2015
Teaching Assistant Experience (n=5):
  1. Teaching Assistant for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 20 students, University of Calgary, September 2016-December 2016
  2. Teaching Assistant for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 22 students, University of Calgary, January 2015-April 2015
  3. Teaching Assistant for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 20 students, University of Calgary, January 2014-April 2014
  4. Teaching Assistant for Kinesiology 373 (Exercise Physiology), 22 students, University of Calgary, September 2013-December 2013
  5. Teaching Assistant for Kinesiology 251 (Introduction to Motor Control and Learning), 150 students, University of Calgary, September 2010-December 2010

Books

In addition to my scientific publications, I am passionate about communicating science broadly beyond academic circles and encouraging interest in science for adults and children. My books present science in innovative and exciting ways to help readers better understand how their bodies work and the ways we find out how their bodies work. 

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