As an Exercise Science student who landed a NASA research fellowship this summer, he’s exploring a whole different scientific challenge — atrophy. He’s exploring the effects of zero gravity on muscle size, based on the variables of age and sex. The research is possible through NASA’s West Virginia Space Grant Consortium.
“I am thoroughly enjoying the process,” said Bowens, who is from Wayne, West Virginia, and expects to graduate in 2025 with his eyes on medical school. “This is my first large research endeavor, and it has been incredibly rewarding already. I enjoy the aspects of aerospace physiology and may look to pursue a career in a related field one day.”
He gave a shout-out to Dr. Kumika Toma, associate professor in Marshall’s School of Kinesiology, who guided him through the process of applying for the grant, which required crafting a research proposal. NASA awarded Bowens $5,000 in Undergraduate Research Fellowship funding to pursue his project.
“My aim is to provide insight into how muscle atrophies during space travel,” Bowens said. “Since flight crews are often of diverse ages and sex, I have multiple groups that investigate each possibility (young and old, male and female; example would be young male vs old male). I am interested in how muscular contraction (in the form of resistance training) may work to alleviate these atrophic effects.”
To investigate this, he’s simulating microgravity by suspending the hind legs of the rats and, after two weeks, assessing their soleus muscle size using ImageJ software.
“My hope is that findings work to reduce occupational hazards presented by missions requiring long periods of spaceflight,” he said.
It’s a whole new aspect of exercise science that he’s learned from running 60- to 400-meter races.
“Whereas I am trying to build fast twitch fibers and work on hypertrophy, individuals who are partaking in an extended space mission would need not focus so much on hypertrophy but instead preventing atrophy in slow twitch fibers,” he said.
“My interest in the physiology of exercise is definitely influenced by my endeavors as an athlete. My interest in aerospace physiology stems from exercise physiology, of course, but also my mentor Kumika Toma.”
As of now, his future goals are to complete his degree, begin a master’s program in healthcare administration and then apply to medical school.
“The hope is to one day be a military physician,” he said.
Bowens said he chose Marshall because he grew up so close to the university.
“I knew a select number of faculty already and that helped ease the transition from high school to college,” he said. “I am very glad that I chose Marshall and honored that I get to represent such a great school and great town as a student athlete.”
Some of his favorite Marshall moments have been competing in his first ever Sun Belt Conference championship competition in track and field, where his distance medley relay team earned third place. He’s also enjoyed participating in Marshall Medical Outreach, a student-led health clinic that provides free medical services to those in need in the Huntington community.
He also loved watching the Marshall football team upset Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
“I had multiple friends, some which would become teammates with me in track, on that team and it was incredible to see their hard work and dedication pay dividends on a big stage,” he said.
As for the people who have supported him academically at Marshall, Bowens wants to thank the entire Exercise Science department and “specifically Dr. Kumika Toma for her unwavering support and assistance throughout this journey,” he said. “She has been instrumental in creating the student I am today, and for that I am very thankful.”
