Students and staff group photo in front of the HPL building

The Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) at Ball State University has a long history of applied exercise physiology research and training graduate students at the master’s and doctoral level.

Historic photo of man running on treadmill at the Human Performance Lab

History of the HPL

Longtime HPL biochemist Bill Fink has chronicled a detailed history of the lab. Read more (PDF).

The Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University was established in 1965 by Leroy “Bud” Getchell, who was joined by Dr. David Costill in 1966. Originally, the lab operated out of a 20-by-30-foot room off of the then-University Gymnasium (later known as Irving Gym). The lab became a standalone facility in the 1970s and moved into its current home in the Human Performance Building in 1990.

Today, the lab houses students for three highly competitive graduate programs. Faculty routinely produce research for national publications in the field of aging and exercise, microgravity and exercise, physiology of human performance, pediatric exercise, and clinical exercise physiology.


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Human Performance Lab building

The best way to get a true feel for campus life is to spend some time here. We encourage you to visit Ball State to meet with our faculty and staff and take a tour of our laboratory to learn more about how our program can meet your professional aims.

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Questions? Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about our program, graduate assistantships, research, or other services we provide, please call or email us.

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