![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/krss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2023\/11\/Zan-Gao2020-1-300x300-1-234x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Professor and Department Head Personal Webpage<\/a> BIOGRAPHY<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Zan Gao obtained his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 2007. He is the Department Head and Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies at The University of Tennessee. Dr. Gao\u2019s research has primarily focused on promoting health through lifestyle behavior interventions with emerging technologies such as active video games, virtual reality, health wearables and fitness apps.<\/p>\n In the past 18 years, Dr. Gao has given over 270 presentations at various international and national conferences. He has also published 190 (including 145 first-authored or senior-authored) research articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Obesity Review, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal of Health and Sports Science, <\/em>Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social<\/em>\u00a0Networking, Computers in Human Behavior, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (RQES), <\/em>and the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (JTPE)<\/em>; 30 book chapters and 3 edited books. His Google Scholar H-index is 61, and he has been ranked among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists globally for three consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024. Dr. Gao has been the recipient of several international and national awards, including the 2008 National Association for Kinesiology and Physical Education in Higher Education Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award, 2009 American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) Mabel Lee Award, 2013 National Association for Sport and Physical Education Curriculum and Instruction Heitmann Young Scholar Award, 2015 SHAPE America Leroy T. Walker Young Professional Award, and 2024 SHAPE America E.B. Henderson Award.<\/p>\n Dr. Gao has been the principal investigator of the National Institute of Health research grant, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant, Roche Holding AG Pharmaceuticals grant, and AAHPERD Seed Grant. He also serves as a reviewer for many journals including, but not limited to JTPE, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, <\/em>and Obesity Review<\/em>, as the Section Editor for Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science<\/em>, the Editorial Board Member for the\u00a0JTPE,\u00a0<\/i><\/span>RQES,<\/i>\u00a0Games for Health, Contemporary Clinical Trials, Journal of Clinical Medicine<\/i>, and Associate Editor for\u00a0Journal of Health and Sports Science\u00a0<\/i>and\u00a0International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity<\/i>, and Editor-in-chief for\u00a0Journal of Research, Teaching, and Media in Kinesiology<\/i>.<\/p>\n Dr. Gao is currently an active Fellow of National Academy of Kinesiology, the Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Fellow of Shape America! Research Council. He was the President of the International Chinese Society for Physical Activities and Health<\/em> from 2017-2018. He was on the faculty at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2012-2023), Texas Tech University (2010-2012), and University of Utah (2007-2010).<\/p>\n PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n 2012 \u2013 2023<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Professor with Tenure (2022), Associate Professor with Tenure (2016), Assistant Professor of Physical Activity and Health Promotion;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2010 \u2013 2012<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Assistant Professor of Exercise Science<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Texas Tech University, College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2007 \u2013 2010<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Assistant Professor of Sports Pedagogy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n University of Utah, College of Health, Department of Exercise and Sport Science<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2003 \u2013 2007<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Graduate Assistant<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Louisiana State University<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n EDUCATION<\/strong><\/p>\n Louisiana State University<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Kinesiology (Concentration: Pedagogy and Psychological Science of Physical activity)<\/p>\n Minor: Experimental Statistics<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Beijing Sport University (previously named Beijing University of Physical Education)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Physical Education Teaching and Coaching<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Hunan Normal University<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Physical Education<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n SELECTED GRANTS<\/strong><\/p>\n Project:\u00a0Evaluating the health outcomes of AI-based fitness wearables and app programs in older adults living alone with cognitive decline<\/i>. 2025-2027. Arizona State University Roybal Center\/National Institute on Aging. Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Feasibility of Implementing Personalized eHealth Program through Fitness Wearable and Application Among Rural Cancer Survivors.<\/em> 2024-2026. The University of Tennessee. Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Feasibility and Efficacy of A Remote Tai Chi Program on Older Adults\u2019 Physical Behaviors, <\/em>Fall Prevention, Cognition and Wellbeing. <\/em>2022-2024. University of Minnesota. Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Using Smart Fitness Band and Mobile Phone App to Improve Health in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Clinical Trial of Smart Health Management. <\/em>2022-2025. Roche Holding AG Pharmaceuticals. Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Personalized Nutrition Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Improve Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus<\/em>. <\/em>2025-2028. National Institutes of Health (NIDDK: 1R01DK139020-01A1). Role: Co-Investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Prolonged Daily Fasting as a Viable Alternative to Caloric Restriction in At-Risk Obese Humans.<\/em> 2020-2023. National Institutes of Health (NIDDK; 5R01DK124484). Role: Co-Investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Effects of A Tai Chi App on Disease Management among Breast Cancer Survivors<\/em>. 2020-2021. Hourglass Integrative Therapies Cancer Research Award. Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Measurement of Glucose Homeostasis in Human Brain by NMR. <\/em>National Institutes of Health (2 R01 NS035192-17). 2018-2023. Role: Co-PI.<\/p>\n Project: Phase 2a Study of Subcutaneous Hydrocortisone Infusion Pump for the Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.<\/em> 2018-2021. FDA\/FD-R-06100-01-A1. Role: Co-Investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Mindful Movement for Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Older Adults. <\/em>2017-2022. National Institutes of Health R21\/R33 (1R21AT009110-01). Role: Co-Investigator.<\/p>\n Project: Teach Exergaming and Activities on Cognition and Health in Preschoolers: Project TEACH. <\/em>2016-2019. National Institutes of Health (1R56HL130078-01). Role: Principal investigator.<\/p>\n
\nHPER 328
\n865-974-7971
\nzan@utk.edu<\/a><\/p>\n
\nORCID<\/a>
\nGoogle Scholar Citation<\/a>
\nFaculty Profile<\/a>
\nPhysical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\n\n\n
\n 2023-Present<\/td>\n Department Head and Professor<\/td>\n Physical Activity and Health \u2013 The University of Tennessee, Knoxville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n\n\n
\n PhD<\/td>\n \n \n \n M.Ed.<\/td>\n \n \n \n B.Ed.<\/td>\n \n \n
\n