Dr Nile Banks

    Sport Science and Nutrition

    Assistant Professor/Lecturer in Exercise Physiology

    Biography

    Dr. Nile Banks joined Maynooth University in June 2025 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport Science and Nutrition. His research focuses on the intricate relationship between metabolic and cardiovascular health, specifically highlighting the crucial role of the vascular endothelium in these interactions. Dr. Banks is particularly interested in understanding how lifestyle factors such as resistance exercise, physical activity, diet, and sedentary behavior influence endothelial function and overall cardiometabolic health.

    Before his appointment at Maynooth, Dr. Banks earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in May 2023, where he worked in Dr. Nathaniel Jenkins' lab. During his doctoral studies, he successfully led multiple externally funded clinical trials investigating the impact of acute and chronic exercise, high-fat or high-sugar meal consumption, physical activity interventions, and sports supplements on vascular endothelial function and cardiometabolic health across diverse populations. He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of South Dakota.

    Following his Ph.D., Dr. Banks completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. William Schrage’s lab at the University of Wisconsin. This experience provided him with specialized expertise in using MRI to explore how insulin resistance and sex differences affect the mechanisms regulating brain blood flow.

    Dr. Banks' professional experience also includes roles as a Scientific Writer and Data Scientist for Indiana University and the University of Iowa. He has extensive experience as a graduate teaching and research assistant at the University of South Dakota, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Iowa. Additionally, he served as a strength and conditioning intern for the University of Iowa football team and the University of South Dakota athletics department.

    Dr. Banks' contributions have been recognized through various grants and research awards from prestigious organizations, including the American Physiological Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation. He currently holds a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (2018–present).

    Research Interests

    Dr. Nile Banks' primary research interest is focused on the relationship between cardiometabolic health and vascular endothelial function. Dr. Banks is particularly interested in gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms by which lifestyle factors, such as exercise, physical activity, diet, and sedentary behavior, impact endothelial function and overall cardiometabolic health.

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2025 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Stanhewicz, AE; Whitaker, KM; Jenkins, NDM (2025) 'The acute impact of resistance exercise training on cardiovascular parameters in trained and untrained adults with high blood pressure'. European Journal of Applied Physiology, . [Link] [DOI]
    2024 Banks, NF; Berry, AC; Rogers, EM; Jenkins, NDM (2024) 'Flywheel resistance training promotes unique muscle architectural and performance-related adaptations in young adults'. European Journal Of Sport Science, 24 (12). [DOI]
    2024 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Helwig, NJ; Schwager, LE; Alpers, JP; Schulte, SL; Trachta, ER; Lockwood, CM; Jenkins, NDM (2024) 'Acute effects of commercial energy drink consumption on exercise performance and cardiovascular safety: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial'. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 21 (1). [Link] [DOI]
    2024 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Stanhewicz, AE; Whitaker, KM; Jenkins, NDM (2024) 'Resistance exercise lowers blood pressure and improves vascular endothelial function in individuals with elevated blood pressure or stage-1 hypertension'. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 326 (1). [Link] [DOI]
    2024 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Trachta, ER; Barone Gibbs, B; Carr, LJ; Jenkins, NDM (2024) 'Acceptability of Performing Resistance Exercise Breaks in the Workplace to Break Up Prolonged Sedentary Time: A Randomized Control Trial in U.S. Office Workers and Students'. Workplace health & safety, 72 (6). [DOI]
    2024 Muer, JD; Didier, KD; Wannebo, BM; Sanchez, S; Khademi Motlagh, H; Haley, TL; Carter, KJ; Banks, NF; Eldridge, MW; Serlin, RC; Wieben, O; Schrage, WG (2024) 'Sex differences in gray matter, white matter, and regional brain perfusion in young, healthy adults'. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 327 (4). [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Berry, AC; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'Progressive iso-inertial resistance exercise promotes more favorable cardiovascular adaptations than traditional resistance exercise in young adults'. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 326 (1). [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Trachta, ER; Wolf, MS; Berry, AC; Stanhewicz, AE; Carr, LJ; Gibbs, BB; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'Resistance exercise breaks during prolonged sitting augment the blood flow response to a subsequent oral glucose load in sedentary adults'. Experimental Physiology, . [DOI]
    2023 Schwager, LE; Helwig, NJ; Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Alpers, JP; Schulte, SL; Lockwood, CM; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'Novel Energy Drink Improves Cognitive Function and Mood, without Influencing Myocardial Oxygen Demand or Ventricular Repolarization in Adult Gamers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial'. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 43 (1). [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Tomko, PM; Sciarrillo, CM; Emerson, SR; Thomas, EBK; Taylor, A; Teague, TK; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'Progressive exercise training improves cardiovascular psychophysiological outcomes in young adult women with a history of adverse childhood experiences'. Journal of Applied Physiology, 134 (3). [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'Acute effects of daily step count on postprandial metabolism and resting fat oxidation: a randomized controlled trial'. Journal of Applied Physiology, 135 (4). [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Jenkins, NDM (2023) 'The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review'. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 40 (2). [DOI]
    2022 Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Jenkins, NDM (2022) 'Metabolic and microvascular function assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy with vascular occlusion in women: age differences and reliability'. Experimental Physiology, 108 (1). [DOI]
    2021 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Church, DD; Ferrando, AA; Jenkins, NDM (2021) 'The contributory role of vascular health in age-related anabolic resistance'. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 13 (1). [DOI]
    2021 Jenkins, NDM; Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Tomko, PM; Sciarrillo, CM; Emerson, SR; Taylor, A; Teague, TK (2021) 'Childhood psychosocial stress is linked with impaired vascular endothelial function, lower SIRT1, and oxidative stress in young adulthood'. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 321 (3). [DOI]
    2020 Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Jenkins, NDM (2020) 'Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight'. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121 (2). [DOI]
    2020 Jenkins, NDM; Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Sciarrillo, CM; Koemel, NA; Colquhoun, RJ; Emerson, SR (2020) 'Resistance exercise attenuates postprandial metabolic responses to a high-fat meal similarly in younger and older men'. Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.), 83 . [DOI]
    2020 Sciarrillo, CM; Koemel, NA; Keirns, BH; Banks, NF; Rogers, EM; Rosenkranz, SK; Kurti, SP; Jenkins, NDM; Emerson, SR (2020) 'Who would benefit most from postprandial lipid screening?'. Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 40 (7). [DOI]
    2020 Jenkins, NDM; Rogers, EM; Banks, NF; Muddle, TWD; Colquhoun, RJ (2020) 'Increases in motor unit action potential amplitudes are related to muscle hypertrophy following eight weeks of high-intensity exercise training in females'. European Journal Of Sport Science, 21 (10). [DOI]
    2019 Banks, NF; Tomko, PM; Colquhoun, RJ; Muddle, TWD; Emerson, SR; Jenkins, NDM (2019) 'Genetic Polymorphisms in ADORA2A and CYP1A2 Influence Caffeine’s Effect on Postprandial Glycaemia'. Scientific Reports, 9 (1). [Link] [DOI]
    2019 Tomko, PM; Colquhoun, RJ; Banks, NF; Magrini, MA; Muddle, TWD; Jenkins, NDM (2019) 'Maximal contraction methods influence the magnitude and reliability of global electromyographic signal characteristics'. Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, 48 . [DOI]
    2019 Louder, T; Thompson, B; Banks, NF; Dressel, E (2019) 'A Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating the Internal Validity of the Reactive Strength Index'. Sports Medicine, . [Link] [DOI]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.