Institutional Communications
Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137
Laramie
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2929
Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu
A University of Wyoming researcher recently received a young researcher award for his work in the field of hydration and health.
Evan Johnson, an assistant professor in the College of Health Sciences Division of Kinesiology and Health, received the 2015 Hydration for Health (H4H) Initiative Young Researcher of the Year Award. The H4H Initiative is a global health initiative that shares science and knowledge on healthy hydration with health care providers and consumers. Each year, it recognizes a young investigator whose research has made a significant impact in the field of hydration as it relates to health.
Johnson was recognized for his research that described the negative changes in blood glucose regulation that occur in men with Type 2 diabetes when fluid intake is low. Johnson completed the research during his time as a postdoctoral associate at the University of Arkansas. He accepted the award and presented his research at the recent H4H Initiative Scientific Conference in Evian, France.
“The award is the culmination of many years of work researching the impacts of daily water intake on health,” Johnson says. “It is validation that I've been a part of research projects that are on the leading edge of this topic. It's also great motivation to continue this line of research and strengthen the relationships I've made in the field.”
Johnson began his career by investigating the impacts of heat on athletic performance and outlining risk factors for temperature misregulation during training. Because of hydration’s important role in temperature regulation, he says he was aware of the physiology related to fluid intake and performance.
“Because of this background knowledge, I was included on a project investigating the impact of fluid intake within the general population,” Johnson says. “After seeing the impact that such a gentle intervention had, I knew this was a field that had vast potential for improving health.”
Johnson joined the UW faculty this fall. He received a B.A. in exercise science (2004) from George Washington University, and an M.A. (2008) and Ph.D. (2014) in kinesiology, both from the University of Connecticut.
His research focuses on the impact and development of low-cost and manageable nutrition and physical activity interventions on health. He is developing a project that will provide more specific and actionable recommendations for water intake when people recognize they are dehydrated or in a state of fluid retention.
Johnson plans to recruit members of the community to participate in research projects. Announcements requesting participation will be distributed at a future time.
Institutional Communications
Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137
Laramie
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2929
Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu