Prospective Students

NOPL is built on the belief that great science happens when curious, driven people work together toward meaningful questions. If you're interested in joining the lab - whether as an undergraduate researcher, a master's student, or a doctoral student - this page is for you.

What We Study

NOPL investigates neuromuscular physiology, human performance, and occupational health — with a particular focus on physically demanding populations like firefighters, law enforcement officers, and others. Our work combines advanced laboratory techniques (TMS, surface EMG, dynamometry, biomedical imaging) with applied, real-world questions. If you're drawn to understanding why the human body performs and adapts the way it does, and how that knowledge can protect and improve people's lives, you'll fit in here.

Open Positions

Dr. Mota only brings on new students when positions are available. Funding availability varies by year and depends on active grants and lab needs. Prospective students are encouraged to reach out regardless - knowing who is interested helps inform future planning, and strong candidates are remembered. U.S. military veterans and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate researchers are welcome from any STEM background. You must have at least two semesters remaining at Texas Tech University to be eligible. 

Graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) should have a background in kinesiology, exercise science, or a closely related field. Ideal candidates bring some combination of the following:

• Prior lab or research experience

• A genuine drive to ask hard questions and follow them rigorously

• Interest in occupational or tactical populations

• CSCS or other relevant professional certifications

• Clear career goals - you don't need to have everything figured out, but you should know why research matters to you

Life in NOPL

Graduate students in NOPL are trained as scientists first. You'll be involved in study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation from early in your tenure. Dr. Mota believes in "hands-on" mentorship and is committed to helping students develop not just technical skills, but the ability to communicate their work clearly to both scientific and public audiences.

Apply to Join NOPL

Interested in joining the lab? Fill out the form below and Dr. Mota will follow up when a position matching your background and interests becomes available.

For General Inquiries

Please contact Dr. Mota at: jacob.mota@ttu.edu