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Faculty Member

Tyler Standifird

Biography

Assistant Professor in the department of Exercise Science. I specialize in the field of Biomechanics. My research is often geared towards sport and exercise movements to decrease risk for injury or to improve performance. Recent research is centered around inclined running, footwear biomechanics, baby carrying/jogging, cycling and dance. More often than not, this research is driven by my wonderful students who come up with great ideas on their own which we love to research in our labs! I have 4 young children, a wonderful wife and I enjoy cycling, golf, reading and movies. Oh and I love socks!

Education

PhD, University of Tennessee, 2015

Major: Kinesiology

MS, Brigham Young University, 2012

Major: Exercise Physiology

BS, University of Utah, 2009

Major: Exercise Physiology

Teaching

EXSC 4600

Advanced Biomechanics, Fall 2026

EXSC 3730

Biomechanics, Fall 2026

EXSC 3730

Biomechanics, Fall 2026

EXSC 3500

Kinesiology, Fall 2026

EXSC 3730

Biomechanics, Summer 2026

EXSC 3500

Kinesiology, Summer 2026

EXSC 3730

Biomechanics, Spring 2026

EXSC 3730

Biomechanics, Spring 2026

EXSC 3500

Kinesiology, Spring 2026

EXSC 3500

Kinesiology, Spring 2026

EXSC 4890R

Undergraduate Research for Exercise Science, Spring 2026

Presentations

Worley, R (Presenter & Author), Standifird, Tyler (Co-Author), Kelly, Melani (Co-Author), Creer, Andrew (Co-Author), Dispennette, Kathryn (Co-Author), Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, " Impact Of Nutrition On Clubhead, Ball Speed, And Mood", American College of Sports Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT. (June, 2026)
Bye, Megan Astle (Presenter & Author), Bye, Dallan (Co-Author), Theel, Brad (Co-Author), Slade, Oakley (Co-Author), McClellan, Stetson (Co-Author), Standifird, Tyler (Co-Author), Draper, Shane (Co-Author), American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, "Effect Of Load Carriage On GRF, Lower Body Biomechanics, And Physiology", American College of Sports Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT. (May 27, 2026)
Bennett, D (Presenter & Author), Standifird, Tyler (Co-Author), Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain American Society of Biomechanics, "Experienced Versus Inexperienced Females' Barbell Back Squat Form_ A Biomechanical Analysis Pilot Study", American Society of Biomechanics, Estes Park, CO. (April, 2026)
Hohmann, E (Presenter & Author), Hansen, M (Co-Author), Gates, A. (Co-Author), Standifird, Tyler (Co-Author), Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain American Society of Biomechanics, "Implications of Barefoot Running vs. Shod Running in Individuals with Collapsed Medial Longitudinal Arch Across Varied Terrains", American Society of Biomechanics, Estes Park, CO. (April, 2026)
Slade, Oakley (Presenter & Author), Astle, Megan (Co-Author), McClellan, Stetson (Co-Author), Theel, Brad (Co-Author), Bye, Dallan (Co-Author), Draper, Shane , Standifird, Tyler , Southwest American College of Sports Medicine, "Effect of Load Carriage on GRF, Lower Body Biomechanics, and Physiology", American College of Sports Medicine, Burbank, CA. (October 17, 2025)
Dispennette, Kathryn (Presenter & Author), Creer, Andrew (Co-Author), Standifird, Tyler (Co-Author), Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, "Impact Of Nutrition On Clubhead And Ball Speed In Division I Female Golfers", American College of Sports Medicine. (June, 2025)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Pamboris, G. M, Nelson, A. K., Williams, L , Standifird, Tyler , (2025) " Inclined distance running at iso-efficient speeds_ Effect on joint work" (vol. 43(2)). Journal of Sports Sciences.
Hanks, G , Andelin, L. Barry , Standifird, Tyler , (2024) "Impact of Latin ballroom dance training on gait biomechanics, anxiety, and depression" (Issue: (1), vol. 17). International Journal of Exercise Science.
Yocum, Derek , Valenzeula, Kevin , Standifird, Tyler , Cates, Harold , Zhang, Songning , (2022) "Altered biomechanics in bilateral total knee replacement patients during stair negotiation" (vol. 34). The knee.
Rasmussen, Spencer , Wilkes, Baker , Poulton, Lily , Roser, Megan , Draper, Shane , Creer, Andrew , Standifird, Tyler , (2022) "Effect of Sex-Specific Running Shoes on Female Recreational Runners" (Issue: 15, vol. 12). Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157537
Hunter, Iain , Bradshaw, Charles , McLeod, Aubree , Ward, Jared , Standifird, Tyler , (2022) "Energetics and Biomechanics of Uphill, Downhill and Level Running in Highly-Cushioned Carbon Fiber Midsole Plated Shoes" . Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2022.127
Yocum, D , Reinbolt, J , Weinhandl, J T, Standifird, Tyler , Fitzhugh, E , Cates, H , Zhang, S , (2021) "Principal component analysis of knee joint differences between bilateral and unilateral total knee replacement patients during level walking" (Issue: (11), vol. 143). Journal of Biomechanical Engineering.

Awards

Most Valuable Professor

Utah Valley University Athletics - December, 2025

Most Valuable Professor

UVU Athletics - November 13, 2024

This award is given to faculty who have been recognized by athletes at UVU who provide exceptional influence on them as students.

College of Science Dean's Award of Excellence in Teaching

College of Science - April 16, 2024

This award, as voted on by the dean's office in the college of science, shows a dedication to excellence in teaching at the college level.

OTL Exemplary Course

OTL

Awarded an exemplary course design from the office of teaching and learning

Outstanding Educator of the Year

UVU Alumni Association - May, 2021

Faculty Excellence Award

UVU Faculty Senate - April, 2021