UTEP Metabolic, Nutrition and Exercise Research Laboratory - Miner Lab

03/29/2026

Proud of the MiNER Lab team for a strong showing at the Rio Grande Physiological Society 2026 meeting.
Jehu Apaflo (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Joshua Labadah (PhD Student, UTEP Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program) were selected as finalists and delivered excellent oral presentations, with Jehu earning second place overall.
Adrian Ordaz (Undergraduate Student, UTEP Department of Kinesiology) earned second place in the undergraduate poster category.
A great reflection of the hard work and commitment from this group. Proud to see them represent the lab so well.

03/24/2026

Congratulations to the MiNER Lab team for an outstanding showing at TACSM, 2026.

11/27/2025

Grateful for this amazing group of students. Each of you brings something valuable to our lab, and I appreciate your hard work. A small pie break before our lab meeting today. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

09/22/2025

Big shoutout to the MiNER Lab members for proudly volunteering at Miner Dash this morning! You all helped make the event a huge success—thanks for bringing the energy and representing the lab.
📸Angel Melendez
UTEP Department of Kinesiology

08/05/2025

🎉 Exciting news from the MiNER Lab! 🎉
Huge congratulations to Dr. Jehu Apaflo on publishing his first paper from his dissertation in the European Journal of Applied Physiology! This publication also marks the first paper from our R01-funded clinical trial.

The study shows that just 30 minutes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can significantly reduce fasting blood glucose in sedentary adults with hyperglycemia - highlighting a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to improve glycemic control.

This project has been a true team effort, with key contributions from our student co-authors:

Gabriel Narvaez (MS, Kinesiology)
Irene John Tomy (BS, Clinical Laboratory Sciences)
Ali Mossayebi (MS, Kinesiology)
Zahra Fatahimeiabadi (MS, Kinesiology)

We’re proud of what Jehu and the team has accomplished and look forward to sharing more findings as the study progresses!

📄 Read the full paper:

Introduction Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used as a rehabilitation technique for individuals with physical function limitations and mobility impairments. However, the potential for NMES-induced muscle contraction to improve metabolic health is unclear. This study investigated the e...

07/31/2025

Last week, Zahra successfully defended her master’s thesis and is now a proud graduate of the MS program in Kinesiology! Since joining the MiNER Lab in Spring 2024, Zahra has worked incredibly hard on a meaningful project exploring the feasibility and impact of self-administered neuromuscular electrical stimulation as a non-pharmacological strategy to support glycemic control in individuals with hyperglycemia.

Her dedication, perseverance, and collaborative spirit have made a lasting impact on the lab—and her work is just getting started. Zahra will continue her journey with us as a PhD student, and we couldn't be more excited for what lies ahead.

Please join me in congratulating Zahra on this milestone and in wishing her continued success.

07/24/2025

Today, we celebrate the graduation of Dr. Jehu Apaflo, who successfully defended his dissertation and officially earned his PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences!

Jehu’s journey through the MiNER Lab has been marked by humility, heart, and hard work—a combination that reflects not only his tireless commitment to research excellence but also the passion and sincerity he brought to everything he did.

Beyond leading impactful studies on exercise and metabolic health and publishing his findings, Jehu has generously supported others. Under his mentorship, several undergraduate and graduate students found their own success, gaining valuable experience and confidence to grow as young scientists.

We’re especially excited that Jehu will continue with us as a postdoctoral fellow in the MiNER Lab, where he will take on new challenges and further his work in advancing evidence-based strategies to improve metabolic health.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Apaflo on this major milestone and in celebrating what lies ahead. 👏🎉

05/29/2025

We wrapped up the semester with a great group lunch and a chance to say goodbye (for now) to two of our amazing undergraduate students — Irene John Tomy and Ulices Villalobos. Thank you both for your hard work, dedication, and the positive energy you brought to the lab — we have truly enjoyed having you as part of the team. Wishing you all the best in your next steps and looking forward to seeing what you do next!

05/20/2025

🎓 Zahra and Jehu — two of my incredibly hardworking and dedicated students — walked the stage this semester and are on track to officially graduate this summer!

I want to take a moment to celebrate both of you and acknowledge the meaningful contributions you make to our lab and our community every day. Your thesis and dissertation work are deeply impactful, and I’m excited to see how your research will make a strong contribution to the field.

Because of your commitment to doing meaningful work, exciting opportunities lie ahead — and I know you’ll continue to do great things.

I’m incredibly proud of you both. Congratulations, Zahra and Jehu, and thank you for all that you do. 👏✨

05/20/2025

🎉 End of Semester Faculty Gathering
Our Kinesiology faculty wrapped up the semester with a wonderful lunch at Chinatown! Grateful for great company, great food, and a successful semester.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and productive summer! ☀️💪

04/29/2025

We’re so proud of Irene John Tomy, an undergraduate researcher in the MiNER Lab, for her remarkable accomplishments! 🎉

Irene was awarded the prestigious Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) by the American Physiological Society (APS) to conduct research over the summer. Her hard work and dedication were further recognized at the APS Summit, where she received the Barbara A. Horowitz and John M. Horowitz Outstanding Undergraduate Abstract Award—a truly well-deserved honor!

Irene has been part of the MiNER Lab for two years and continues to stand out not only for her research contributions but also for her collaborative spirit and commitment to our team. We’re incredibly proud of her and can’t wait to see what she does next! 🌟

04/26/2025

Celebrating Staff Appreciation Week with a big THANK YOU to Martha! 🎉 Your support keeps the MiNER Lab running smoothly, and we are so grateful for everything you do. We’re lucky to have you on our team! 💙