Dr. Kontro completed her doctoral studies under the supervision of Dr. Martin MacInnis at the University of Calgary with a MSc background in both biochemistry and exercise physiology. Her research focuses on the role of hemoglobin mass and oxygen delivery in endurance exercise. In her PhD work, she explored how fitness status and sex influence integrative physiological responses and the strategies to maintain homeostasis during altered capacity to deliver oxygen. Currently, Hilkka works as a post-doctoral associate in an iron supplementation intervention, as well as teaching exercise physiology at both MRU and UofC. In her free time Hilkka is an avid cyclist and runner.

Areas of Instruction:

• Exercise physiology
• Physical activity
• Athletic programming

Areas of Scholarship:

• Exercise physiology
• Endurance performance
• Biochemistry

Selected Publications:

Kontro H, Caswell AM, Tripp TR, Ajayi OO, MacInnis MJ. Sex-based differences in hematological values after normalization to body mass or fat-free mass in adults matched for aerobic fitness. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2024 Jul 24. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2024-0148

Kontro H, Mastracci A, Cheung S, & MacInnis MJ. (2024). Maximum Power Available: An Important Concept for Prediction of Task Failure and Improved Estimation of Training Loads in Cycling. Journal of Science and Cycling, 13(2), 7-9.

Caswell AM, Tripp TR, Kontro H, Edgett BA, Wiley JP, Lun V, MacInnis MJ. The influence of sex, hemoglobin mass, and skeletal muscle characteristics on cycling critical power. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2024 Jul 1;137(1):10-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00120.2024

Kontro H, Bertagnolli C, Murias JM, MacInnis MJ. Impairment in maximal lactate steady state after carbon monoxide inhalation is related to training status. Exp Physiol. 2022 Nov;107(11):1265-1282. doi: 10.1113/EP090642

Thompson KMA, Gamble ASD, Kontro H, Lee JB, Burr JF. Low- and high-volume blood-flow restriction treadmill walking both improve maximal aerobic capacity independently of blood volume. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Jan;34(1):e14534. doi: 10.1111/sms.14534