The Korey Stringer Institute at the University of North Florida
The Korey Stringer Institute at the University of North Florida (KSI at UNF) expands the nationally recognized work of the Korey Stringer Institute, which was founded at the University of Connecticut and remains headquartered within UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. As KSI's first satellite laboratory, KSI at UNF extends the institute's research, education, and outreach mission into the Southeast United States. Located within UNF's Brooks College of Health, the lab focuses on advancing research, education and applied solutions in sustained heat environments.
Learn More About the Korey Stringer Institute
Facilities
Perry Weather Heat Lab at UNF's Korey Stringer Institute
The Perry Weather Heat Lab is the primary research facility of the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) at the University of North Florida, where researchers study how heat and humidity affect the human body. Located in Hicks Hall on UNF's campus in Jacksonville, Florida, the lab is equipped with advanced tools that support human performance and environmental physiology research. Its instruments include treadmills, bikes, metabolic measurement systems, body composition analyzers and equipment for blood, sweat and urine analysis. An environmental chamber lets researchers simulate a range of conditions, including extreme heat and humidity, to better understand how the body responds to heat stress.
Capabilities
KSI at UNF studies the challenges of prolonged heat exposure through a combination of controlled research and real-world application. The lab's infrastructure helps researchers understand how environmental conditions interact with human performance, translating science into practical safety standards for athletes, military personnel and laborers.
- Research in a climate-relevant environment
- Environmental monitoring and physiological data collection
- Evidence-based heat mitigation strategies
- On-site evaluations
- Policy and best-practice recommendations
Partners
KSI at UNF is built on a collaborative partnership among academic, industry and applied performance leaders. Expanding on KSI's work at the University of Connecticut, KSI at UNF supports the mission of UNF's Brooks College of Health while drawing on advanced environmental monitoring technology from corporate partner Perry Weather. Perry Weather delivers real-time data for both research and applied decision-making, strengthening the connection between data, practice and policy.
Staff
Michael Szymanski, Ph.D., ATC
Director, KSI at the University of North Florida
Gabrielle Brewer, Ph.D., CISSN
Associate Director, KSI at the University of North Florida