Welcome to Dr. Hayley V. MacDonald’s
Research Page!
Hayley V. MacDonald, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Exercise Physiology
Co-Director, Cardiovascular Health & Physical Activity Laboratory (CHAPAL)
Co-Investigator, Tactical Performance Laboratory (TPL)
My research interests encompass human cardiovascular and metabolic health responses to clinical and lifestyle-related factors such as chronic disease or health conditions, exercise and physical activity (or lack thereof), sleep (quality and quantity), workplace/occupational factors, and more recently, chronotype.
My research uses both participant- and study-level data (e.g., systematic reviews and meta-analysis) to better understand these relationships.
An emphasis of my research is to better tailor exercise prescription or workplace recommendations to optimize cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes, as well as occupational safety and performance.
More recently, my lab has been investigating how chronotype mediates acute and chronic cardiovascular responses to exercise in younger and middle-aged adults.
EDUCATION
2010 – 2015
Doctorate of Philosophy – Exercise Physiology
Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
2009 – 2010
Masters of Science – Sport Science (Exercise Science)
Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA, USA
2004 – 2008
Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) – Human Performance (Exercise Science)
Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Professional Experience
2023 – Present
Associate Professor, Exercise Science, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
2025 – Present
Chair, Evidence-Based Practice Committee, American College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
2018 – 2025
Appointed Member, Evidence Based Practice Committee, American College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
2017 – Present
Analyst/Color Commentator – Women’s College Soccer, Southeastern Conference (SEC) Network+ (ESPN), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
2016 – 2023
Assistant Professor, Exercise Science, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
2015 – 2016
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Joint Appointments in Departments of Kinesiology and Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA (Mentors: Linda S. Pescatello, PhD; Blair T. Johnson, PhD)