Openings
Dr. Peixuan Zheng is recruiting motivated PhD students to join her lab starting in Spring/Fall 2026. This is a full-time, on-site position within the PhD program in the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
Research areas include but not limited to:
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Physical activity measurement; Wearable devices
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Cognition; Cardiovascular function; Walking performance
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Behavioral and exercise intervention
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Aging; Chronic conditions
Preferred Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in exercise science, public health, neuroscience, psychology, biomechanics, or a related field.
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Prior research experience in physical activity, exercise intervention, aging/clinical population, or rehabilitation. (preferred but not required)
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Strong motivation for health science research and a willingness to engage in independent learning
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Experience with programming or statistical software (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB) is a plus
Funding & Support:
PhD students will be supported through research and/or teaching assistantships, which cover tuition, a competitive stipend, health insurance, and other expenses (e.g., academic conference travel).
Students will gain experience in:
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Rigorous training in research methods, data collection, and statistical analysis
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Scientific publication and conference presentation
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Interdisciplinary collaboration across public health, neuroscience, rehabilitation, and biomedical engineering
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Interaction and research experience with aging and clinical populations
Interested candidates may contact via email:
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Please use the email subject line: “PhD Application Fall 2026 [Name]”
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Include a CV/resume, a brief personal statement (describing your research experience, interests, and goals), unofficial academic transcripts, and other relevant materials that might be helpful (optional)
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Combine all documents into a single PDF file in the order listed above
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Send the email to: peixuan.zheng@rutgers.edu
Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The deadline for complete PhD applications is December 1.
Faculty profile:
Dr. Zheng’s research focuses on physical activity and its measurement, cognition, and cardiovascular function for managing the consequences of aging and neurological diseases. This work involves: 1) applying wearable technology to advance physical activity assessment in real-world settings; 2) understanding the interaction of physical activity/inactivity with cognition, cardiovascular health, and physical fitness; and 3) developing exercise and behavioral interventions for improving health and wellness in aging and multiple sclerosis. She also uses advanced statistical approaches to examine the within- and between-person associations of health behaviors and outcomes across diverse populations.
About Rutgers:
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, stands among America’s highest-ranked, most diverse public research universities, with three main campuses located in New Brunswick (main campus), Newark, and Camden. It is a proud member of the Big Ten and classified as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification for the highest level of research activity. Rutgers–New Brunswick is ranked #15 among public national universities and #156 in best global universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university is widely recognized for academic excellence, innovative research, and a vibrant environment with top faculty, facilities, and interdisciplinary opportunities. Its central location in the Northeast corridor provides easy access to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., offering rich opportunities for living and leisure.
