Jeff Volek, PhD, RD & Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD

Dr. JEFF VOLEK is an Associate Professor in the #1 ranked Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut where he teaches and leads a research team that explores the physiologic impact of various dietary and exercise regimens and nutritional supplements.  Dr. Volek’s most significant line of work has been a series of studies performed over the last 15 years aimed at better understanding what constitutes a well formulated low carbohydrate diet and their impact on obesity, body composition, adaptations to training and overall metabolic health. This line of work has shown profound effects of carbohydrate restriction on overall health and well-being, as well as peak performance.  He has also performed some of the seminal scientific work on dietary supplements such as creatine, carnitine, caffeine, whey protein and a variety of other ergogenic aids.  He has published 250 scientific manuscripts and presented over 100 talks at scientific and industry conferences in eight countries.  He was co-author of the New York Times Best Selling “The New Atkins for a New You” published in March 2010, and has subsequently self-published two books “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living” and “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance” that delve deeper into the science and application of low carbohydrate diets.

Dr. Volek does not just write about his research, he actually uses it. A former athlete and competitive powerlifter, he continues to follow the principles of a diet low in carbohydrate while training regularly for strength and health.

Dr. STEPHEN PHINNEY a physician scientist who has spent 35 years studying diet, exercise, fatty acids, and inflammation.  He has held academic positions at the Universities of Vermont, Minnesota, and California at Davis; and leadership positions at Monsanto, Galileo Laboratories, and Efficas.  He received his MD from Stanford University, PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from MIT, and did post-doctoral research at Harvard.

He has designed, completed, and published data from more than 20 clinical protocols involving foods, diets, exercise, oxidative stress, and inflammation.  His recent work in the private sector has resulted in several issued and pending patents.  He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on a wide variety of topics, including the effects of diets and specific nutrients on inflammation, the interaction between diet and exercise and their effects on obesity, body composition, physical performance, and cellular membrane structure.

Dr. Phinney’s clinical experience includes 20 years of inpatient and outpatient clinical nutrition, including directing multidisciplinary weight management programs in 3 locations.  As an internationally recognized expert in obesity, carbohydrate-restricted diets, diet and performance, and essential fatty acid metabolism, he has given hundreds of presentations to industry, health care professional, and lay audiences.

In collaboration with Dr. Eric Westman and Dr. Jeff Volek, he co-authored the New York Times Best Selling “The New Atkins for a New You” published in March 2010.