Philip Prins

Chair, Associate Professor of Exercise Science
All FacultyExercise ScienceGraduate Programs

Contact Information
Phone: 724-450-4013
Email: pjprins@gcc.edu

Philip Prins

What is your educational background?

  • Ph.D. Exercise Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, 2015
  • M.S. Exercise Science, Georgia Southern University, 2011
  • B.S. Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, 2009

What are the main focuses of your research?

  • Multisystem response to exercise with and without ergogenic aids across parameters of health and human performance
  • Practical impact of lifestyle on metabolism and how metabolism impacts health, disease and performance outcomes
  • Implementation of nutritional ketosis and metabolic health modulators across populations.

Courses Taught: Physiology of Exercise, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Research Methods, Research Practicum, Independent Research, Exercise Testing, Professional Certification, Independent Study, Dietary Supplements, Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases, Nutrition and Health

Areas of Expertise: Nutritional ketosis, Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Hemodynamic Responses to Exercise, Environmental Physiology, Body Composition, Clinical Populations, Research, Human Performance, Sports Nutrition, Applied Exercise and Sport Physiology, Dietary Supplements/Ergogenic Aids, Perceived Exertion and Applied Physiology of Tennis Performance.

What is the most important piece of advice you give students to help them succeed?
Do not be afraid to challenge traditionally held beliefs or dogmas in your field. Science is ever changing. Fifty percent of what you know is probably wrong. Our job as scientists and researchers is to try to figure out which 50% is which. Until it is disproven, accept that for which the evidence appears solid and logical and is free of covert or conflicts of interest. Do not ever dismiss lightly that for which there is credible evidence. Question everything else. Eventually the truth will always prevail. So always aim to be on the side of truth.

Selected Publications

  • Noakes, T. D., Prins, P. J., Volek, J. S., D’Agostino, D. P., & Koutnik, A. P. (2023). Low carbohydrate high fat ketogenic diets on the exercise crossover point and glucose homeostasis. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1150265.
  • Buxton, J., Otwell, C. J., Petit, J., Gwaltney, H., Grabiec, N., Luithle, S., & Prins, P. (2023). The Effects of a Novel Lateral Ankle Strengthening Program in NCAA Division III Football Players. Research Directs in Strength and Performance, 3(1).
  • Buga, A., Crabtree, C. D., Stoner, J. T., Decker, D. D., Robinson, B. T., Kackley, M. L., & Prins, P. J. (2023). Metabolic and ruck performance effects of a novel, light‐weight, energy‐dense ketogenic bar. Experimental Physiology, 108(5), 715-727.
  • Prins, P. J., Noakes, T. D., Buga, A., D’Agostino, D. P., Volek, J. S., Buxton, J. D., ... & Koutnik, A. P. (2023). Low and high carbohydrate isocaloric diets on performance, fat oxidation, glucose and cardiometabolic health in middle-aged males. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1084021.
  • Ault, D. L., Elsey, G. E., Brest, K. W., Wilkinson, P. D., Meola, J. C., Slack, M. A., Prins, P. J., & Gerhart, H. D. Daily Ingestion of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Improves Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in College-Aged Individuals.
  • Buxton, J. D., Sherman, S. A., Sterrett, M. T., Kannel, K. D., Blanchflower, M. E., Jancay, K. T., & Prins, P. J. (2022). A comparison of the energy demands of quadrupedal movement training to walking. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 401.
  • Philip J. Prins, Timothy D. Noakes, Gary L. Welton, Sarah J. Haley, Noah J. Esbenshade, Adam D. Atwell1, Katie E. Scott, Jacqueline Abraham, Jeffrey D. Buxton, Dana L. Ault. (2022). High Fat Diet Improves Metabolic Flexibility During Progressive Exercise to Exhaustion (VO2max Testing) and During 5km Running Time Trials. Biology of Sport.
  • Buga, A., Welton, G. L., Scott, K. E., Atwell, A. D., Haley, S. J., Esbenshade, N. J., & Prins, P. J. (2022). The Effects of Carbohydrate versus Fat Restriction on Lipid Profiles in Highly Trained, Recreational Distance Runners: A Randomized, Cross-Over Trial. Nutrients, 14(6), 1135.
  • Buxton, J., Prins, P., Ryan, E., Jones, D., Thrasher, I., Faulkner, M., & Ault, D. (2022). Inter-Set Voluntary Hyperventilation-Aided Recovery Does Not Improve Performance of Bench Press and Squat in Recreationally Trained Individuals. Research Directs in Strength and Performance, 2(1).
  • Prins, P. J., Buxton, J. D., McClure, T. S., D’Agostino, D. P., Ault, D. L., Welton, G. L., & Koutnik, A. P. (2021). Ketone Bodies Impact on Hypoxic CO2 Retention Protocol During Exercise. Frontiers in Physiology, 2207.
  • Prins, P. J., D’Agostino, D. P., Rogers, C. Q., Ault, D. L., Welton, G. L., Jones, D. W., & Koutnik, A. P. (2020). Dose response of a novel exogenous ketone supplement on physiological, perceptual and performance parameters. Nutrition & Metabolism, 17(1), 1-12.
  • Buxton, J. D., Prins, P. J., Miller, M. G., Moreno, A., Welton, G. L., Atwell, A. D., & Elsey, G. E. (2021). The effects of a novel quadrupedal movement training program on functional movement, range of motion, muscular strength, and endurance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research.
  • Philip J. Prins, Timothy D. Noakes, Gary L. Welton, Sarah J. Haley, Noah J. Esbenshade, Adam D. Atwell1, Katie E. Scott, Jacqueline Abraham, Jeffrey D. Buxton, Dana L. Ault. (2019). High Rates of Fat Oxidation Induced by a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet, Does Not Impair 5-km Running Performance in Competitive Recreational Athletes. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine.
  • Philip J. Prins, Andrew P. Koutnik, Dominic P. D’Agostino, Christopher Q. Rogers, Jillian A. Breckenridge, Jacob F. Seibert, Daniel S. Jackson, Edward J. Ryan, Jeffrey D. Buxton, Dana L. Ault. (2019). Effects of an Exogenous Ketone Supplement on Five-Kilometer Running Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics.
  • Prins, P. J., Ryan, E. J., Sprunk, N. J., Green, E. M., Jeffries, D. M., & Buxton, J. D. (2018). The Effect of Caffeine Alone or as Part of a Multi-ingredient Pre-workout Supplement on Muscular Endurance in Recreationally Active College Males. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition ISSN, 2640, 2572.
  • Prins, P. J., Majchrowicz, C., Althausen, J., Sorek, N., Dallatore, T., & Welton, G. (2018). Effects of Energy Drink Functional Ingredients on Running Performance. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 1(2)
  • Prins, P. J., Goss, F. L., Robertson, R. J., Welton, G. L., Hostler, D. (2017). Observer Estimation of OMNI Scale RPE During Fire Suppression Using Video-Graphic Analysis. Journal of Sport and Human Performance, 5(2).
  • Nagle, E.F., Gibbs, B.B., Prins, P., Sanders, M.E., Johnson, C., Robertson, R.J. (2016). Reliability and Validity of a Shallow Water Running Test Using Healthy Adult Women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
  • Prins, P. J., Goss, F. L., Nagle, E. F., Beals, K., Robertson, R. J., Lovalekar, M., & Welton, G. L. (2016). Energy Drinks Improve 5-km Running Performance in Recreational Endurance Runners. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
  • Prins, P., McMillan, J., Joyner, B., Scott, M., Roorda, A., & Rossi, S. (2015). Pre-season Changes in Performance in Collegiate Women Tennis Players. Journal of Sport and Human Performance, 3(2).

Interviews, News, and Media

Featured In

  • “Why Caffeine Is the Best Thing That's Ever Happened to Your Workout.” Shape Magazine, 2016
  • "How to Use Caffeine on Race Day." Outside, 2018. 

Is there any additional personal experience you would like to share?
I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa. I was a former NCAA Division I collegiate tennis player at Georgia Southern University and top ten junior tennis player in South Africa. My hobbies and interests include running, playing tennis, reading, spending time with my family, and attending church.

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