The ULM Kinesiology Department faculty members introduced on Friday its new Human Performance Lab in Brown Hall.

Lisa Colvin directs the state-of-the-art health, wellness, high-performance, research and teaching facility. She said she wanted to give back to the Monroe community and provide students with hands-on training.

“I believe the best lab in the South is right here at ULM,” Colvin said. “It is rewarding to give advice to people about their health that instantly change their lives.”

The lab has provided more than 100,000 fitness assessments for members of the community at a reduced cost.

It is also the exclusive physiological testing center for area firefighters.

Kinesiology faculty, graduate students and area physicians use technologies such as VO2max (maximum oxygen consumption) readings, cycling power output performance and biomechanics to conduct research to help society with complex issues such as childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease and adult onset diabetes.

The data collected by the laboratory is shared with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the LSU Center for Emerging Technology. Companies such as CieAura, Cool Vest and V Care Technologies also take advantage of the research conducted at the lab.

University President Nick Bruno said the laboratory is a testament to ULM’s continued excellence and graduate assistant Jamie Wise agrees.

“Dr. Colvin’s enthusiasm is contagious and makes learning fun,” Bruno said.

Colvin said kinesiology students are ready for the workforce with a 100 percent job placement rate. She said the new lab is another tool to continue that excellence.