What factors contribute to musculoskeletal injury and how can they be reversed? What limits human performance and how can it be optimized? Learn to use tools from molecular biology, neuroscience, engineering, behavioral medicine, intervention design, and computer science to help solve these movement-related problems and others with a PhD in kinesiology from UMass Amherst.

Designed to foster excellence in research, the program offers research training in four areas: physiology, physical activity and health, biomechanics, and movement neuroscience. You’ll apply our pioneering use of multimodality methods in your research.

PhD students apply to the program to study with a specific faculty member. Your formal coursework plan should include courses (both within kinesiology and outside the department) that will establish the expertise necessary to further your research goals.