Eric Rivas Dept. of Kinesiology and Sport Management Research Interest: 1. Understanding how exercise, and passive hyperthermia interventions affect metabolic, immune and vascular health in metabolic dysfunctional populations (severe burn injury, obesity and diabetes). 2. Environmental physiology: Compensable and uncompensable heat stress on cardiovascular, perception, and tolerance during rest and exercise in high risk populations. Proposed Collaboration: My lab uses an integrative physiological approach, using exercise and environmental physiology as “tools,” for understanding how different physiological systems interact to answering research questions. Potential research hypotheses include: Does passive hyperthermia therapy improve vascular function in obese humans?; Does cold exposure improve insulin sensitivity in obese/diabetic humans? How do children and adults with severe burn injury regulate body temperature during rest and exercise in hot conditions? Does obesity affect resting energy expenditure and internal body temperature set point?