Angela Ridgel, PhD, ACSM-EP, FACSM

Dr. Angela L. Ridgel is a Professor in the College of Public Health and Health Sciences at Kent State University and an internationally recognized researcher at the intersection of exercise physiology, neurobiology, and medical technology. Her research investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of exercise in movement disorders, with a primary focus on Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Ridgel pioneered patient-specific adaptive dynamic cycling and speed-manipulated exercise interventions designed to enhance neuroplasticity, improve motor function, and optimize quality of life.

Dr. Ridgel bridges academic research with commercial product development. She serves as Chief Science Officer at biotech startup BioMotion, LLC, and led a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps team to assess the market potential of adaptive rehabilitation technologies. Her innovation pipeline includes multiple patents and pending applications for motorized rehabilitation bikes and dynamic adaptive treadmills. Dr. Ridgel also evaluates emerging commercial health technologies as a panel reviewer for National Institutes of Health (NIH) SBIR/STTR small business grants.

Dr. Ridgel earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Neurobiology) from Marshall University School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral research fellowships in neurobiology at Case Western Reserve University and biomedical engineering at the Cleveland Clinic. She is a Fellow and Board of Trustees member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Combining her science background with athletic performance coaching, she is also the Founder and President of Stelleri Performance Training, LLC, and holds coaching certifications across cycling, triathlon, and swimming.