Rate My Professor Derek Dewig

Derek Dewig serves as Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at Fairmont State University, positions he has held since 2023. He also directs the Exercise Science Graduate Program and the Applied Biomechanics & Human Performance Laboratories within the College of Education, Health and Human Performance. Dewig earned his Ph.D. in Human Movement Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022, focusing his dissertation on the effects of whole-body vibration on quadriceps function, landing biomechanics, and performance in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. He previously received an M.A. in Athletic Training from UNC Chapel Hill in 2016, with a thesis examining eccentric hamstring strength and stiffness influences on jump-landing biomechanics, and a B.S. in Athletic Training from Indiana University in 2014. His career includes serving as Research Scientist at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University from 2022 to 2023; Graduate Research Assistant and Instructor at UNC Chapel Hill from 2018 to 2022; and Assistant Athletic Trainer for men’s and women’s track and field/cross country at Indiana University from 2016 to 2018.

Dewig's research interests center on biomechanics, including gait and jump-landing mechanics post-ACL reconstruction, quadriceps morphology and function, effects of vibration interventions, ACL injury epidemiology, and musculoskeletal injury disclosure in athletes. He has co-authored over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles, such as "Epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: 2014/15–2018/19" (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2023), "An Acute Bout of Whole Body Vibration Does Not Improve Jumping Performance in Those With ACL Reconstruction" (Journal of Athletic Training, 2024), "Longitudinal Changes in Quadriceps Morphology Over the First Three Months Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction" (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2024), and "Return to Play after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Collegiate Athlete: A Systematic Review" (Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2024). As principal investigator, he has obtained grants including the $19,742 Instrumentation Grants Program from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission for enhancing exercise science curriculum and research (2024–2025), a $4,816 Faculty Fellowship Grant for inertial measurement units (2024–2025), and multiple Fairmont State University Falcon Mini Grants totaling over $4,000 for laboratory upgrades. Dewig has delivered numerous refereed presentations at conferences including the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting and National Athletic Trainers' Association symposia.