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Jessica Peterson

College Assistant Professor

Contact Info
japeter@nmsu.edu

Expertise:

Biography

Dr. Jessica Peterson is an exercise physiologist specializing in neuromuscular physiology and the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic pain, with a particular focus on exercise-related influences. Originally from a small rural village in North Wales, United Kingdom, Dr. Peterson earned her B.Sc. in Sport Science with a biomechanics emphasis from Cardiff Metropolitan University. She moved to the United States to pursue her M.S. in Exercise Science at Oklahoma City University, where she also served as a graduate assistant for cross country and track and field. Dr. Peterson went on to earn her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where her research explored the role of body composition in pain sensitivity, the effects of exercise on pain modulation, and how exercise-induced muscle damage influences pain perception. Following her doctoral work, she completed postdoctoral training in Pain and Aging Neuroscience at the University of Florida. There, her research focused on epigenetic aging and brain structural changes in individuals with chronic pain, particularly in relation to declines in physical function. Dr. Peterson now serves as a faculty member at New Mexico State University and NMSU Global Campus, where she will teach a wide range of courses including exercise physiology, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology, motor development, and exercise testing and prescription. She is passionate about integrating research and teaching to prepare students for careers in the growing field of Kinesiology.

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