Biography
Professional Background
Dr. Jayson Gifford is an Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology at Brigham Young University. He earned a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the Salt Lake City Veterans Hospital. Much of Dr. Gifford’s research focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic impairments to exercise tolerance. For example, Dr. Gifford recently utilized a combination of Doppler ultrasound and mitochondrial respiration techniques to identify opposite limitations to VO2max in young endurance-trained (Cardiovascular Oxygen Supply) versus untrained (Mitochondrial Oxygen Demand) men.
As an expert in vascular sonography, Dr. Gifford has also documented specific impairments and treatments for vascular function in several populations (e.g. Aging, COPD, Heart Failure). Most recently, Dr. Gifford has identified specific impairments to vascular function in nearly every population he has studied during Utah’s inversion-related pollution episodes.
Personal Background
Jayson grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada where he met his wife, Casey, in the 7th grade. They have 3 energetic kids, who love to ambush Jayson when he gets home. He enjoys exercising, hiking, mountain biking, camping, eating Thai food, and watching MacGyver. Jayson is a committed member of the LDS church, and has served in many capacities including that of a missionary to Southern Spain.
Teachings Interests
Exercise Physiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Pulmonary Physiology, Muscle Metabolism
Research Interests
Dr. Gifford primarily performs human-based research to investigate:
1. The impact of (in)activity, aging and air pollution on cardiovascular and mitochondrial function.
2. Limitations to maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max)
3. Vascular Function and Health
Education
- BS Exercise Science, Exercise Science, Brigham Young University,
- MS Exercise Sciences, Exercise Physiology, Brigham Young University,
- PhD, Exercise Physiology, University of Utah
Experience
Academic - Post-Secondary
- Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University, 2017-Present
- Research Assistant, University of Utah-Departments of Internal Medicine and Exercise Science, 2011-2015
Other
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Geriatrics and Cardiovascular Medicine, United States Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Utah Department of Internal Medicine, 2015-2017
Memberships
Southwest ACSM, 2017-2018
Honors and Awards
Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine : Experimental Biology and Medicine Outstanding Reviewer Award
Courses Taught
Winter 2019
- EXSC 463: Exercise Physiology Section 003, 004
- EXSC 497R: Undergrad Research & Study Section 008
- EXSC 699R: Master's Thesis Section 004
Fall 2018
- EXSC 463: Exercise Physiology Section 004
- EXSC 497R: Undergrad Research & Study Section 006, 014
- EXSC 699R: Master's Thesis Section 003
- EXSC 797R: Individual Research & Study Section 001
Summer 2018
- EXSC 497R: Undergrad Research & Study Section 001
Spring 2018
- EXSC 497R: Undergrad Research & Study Section 003