HPNRI names Boolani associate director to enhance human performance research

HPNRI names Boolani associate director to enhance human performance research

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | [email protected]

In an effort to streamline research processes and establish a research strategy, the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institutehas named Dr. Ali Boolani its associate director of research and strategic initiatives.

"One of the things that this position allows me to do is push the boundaries of science," Boolani said. "I get to do work that I find super interesting while continuing to mentor young scientists, working with extremely talented people, giving back to the community, and keeping my family work-life balance, which is very important to me."

Under the Innovation Foundation at Oklahoma State University, HPNRI combines the university's cutting-edge research in human performance and nutrition science with advanced knowledge from elite strength and conditioning staff and partnerships with leading industry experts to address systemic health threats within the broader Oklahoma population.

Boolani is excited to mentor faculty and research scientists to help advance their goals in life.

"Having been an Oklahoma State Cowboy once before, Dr. Boolani understands and appreciates what this state and this university is all about," said Lance Walker, HPNRI Rick and Gail Muncrief executive director. "He cares about the people of this state and is excited to make an impact in their lives through his work and leadership."

Boolani said there are approximately six million journal articles published every year. Yet, little progress is being made in terms of reducing some of the health-related challenges Oklahomans face. The focus on personalization and the accompanying strategic initiatives revolves around the question of how to reach and engage with every individual in Oklahoma and around the world. It's not merely about conducting studies and presenting findings but rather about determining how to apply those findings effectively.

"We are excited to have Dr. Boolani join our team," said Melenda Knight, HPNRI associate director. "His innovative research methods and focus on personalization align seamlessly with HPNRI's mission to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge that enables individuals of all abilities to achieve their best performance. His leadership will be pivotal in advancing our research initiatives and promoting collaboration that drives significant health improvements across Oklahoma."

Boolani's childhood ambition was to become a spy for the CIA or another national security agency. He tailored his life toward this goal by enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2000, learning more than five languages and martial arts, completing EMT courses, and earning bachelor's (2002) and master's (2003) degrees in international relations from Tulane University.

Boolani understood that candidates must be at least 23 to join the FBI or other national security agencies. Despite being only 21 with a master's degree and now a dad, Boolani worked in finance to provide for his family until he was eligible to pursue his dream career.

Looking for his next step in life, Boolani started pursuing personal trainer certifications, but he felt out of his depth compared to others with bachelor's and master's degrees. So, he enrolled at the University of New Orleans for a master's in applied physiology, where Dr. Anthony Kontos introduced him to human subject research.

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Dr. Bert Jacobson, OSU Regents Professor of health and human performance, provided a place for Boolani to finish his master's thesis. In 2009, Boolani earned his Ph.D. in human performance/applied exercise science from OSU under Jacobson's direction.

"I pursued a Ph.D. not because I wanted to be in academia, but because I wanted to learn to be better at asking the right questions and learning to think in a scientific method to answer those questions," Boolani said.

Boolani took a postdoctoral research fellowship in exercise psychology at the University of Georgia under Dr. Pat O'Connor, an exercise psychologist. This experience - combined with years of self-discovery - opened Boolani's eyes to his true interests.

"I realized during that time what I'm really interested in is why humans are the way they are, can we mimic them, and can we computationally predict how a human will respond to some stimuli?" he said.

Following the logical steps, Boolani took a faculty position, later becoming tenured. His research led him to begin working with computer scientists using machine learning.

"I'm one of those people where if I don't understand something, I'm going to go out and try to find as much information as I can about it," Boolani said. "When I started working with computer scientists using machine learning and deep learning in my work, I felt completely out of my depth, so I took a bunch of Coursera courses to learn more about computer science and machine learning/deep learning. After taking over 100 courses, I realized the courses only taught you how to do, but not understand, the underlying reason behind these models, so I chose to pursue another master's in artificial intelligence at Johns Hopkins University."

On a quest to continue learning, Boolani began working at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute in 2022, where he was able to research athletes and has now joined HPNRI.

"For me, I think at the point that I'm at in my career, I want to help other young people get to where they want to in life," Boolani said. "I was lucky that my curiosity led me to some great places in life, and now it's time to give back to not only the next generation of scientists but also to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, which welcomed me with open arms when I was a young master's student."

Elizabeth Pollard, CEO of The Innovation Foundation at OSU, said she is excited to welcome Boolani to the team.

"Dr. Boolani's extensive expertise in muscle and performance fatigue, combined with his previous work experience at Gatorade Sports Science, brings a wealth of knowledge to our team," Pollard said. "His unique use of multi-disciplinary approaches to problem-solving and his ability to tell compelling stories through data will be extremely beneficial as we continue to push the boundaries of research in human performance and nutrition.

"His leadership and vision align perfectly with our mission to drive transformative advancements that impact health and wellness on a global scale."

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