Thermophysiologists

Thermophysiologists are scientists who investigate how heat and cold influence biological systems and how organisms regulate their internal temperatures. The field covers physiological responses to thermal challenges, mechanisms of thermal homeostasis, and the ways temperature interacts with metabolism, cardiovascular function, nervous system activity, and behavior. Researchers study humans and animals to understand normal physiology, disease states, and adaptation to diverse thermal environments.

Key topics include heat production and loss (shivering, sweating, vasomotor control), thermoregulatory set points in the hypothalamus, non-shivering thermogenesis, and fever and hypothermia. Comparative thermophysiology examines adaptations to heat, cold, or altitude across species, while environmental and occupational thermophysiology focuses on performance and safety in extreme temperatures. The field also intersects energetics, circadian biology, and sensory physiology of temperature perception.

Methods: Thermophysiologists use core and skin temperature measurements, metabolic rate assessment, heat flux sensors, infrared thermography, and wearable monitoring. Experimental approaches range from human heat and cold exposure studies to animal models and cell biology of temperature-sensitive proteins, such as TRP channels. Data are integrated with computational models and, increasingly, molecular and genetic techniques.

Applications: The research informs fever management, hypothermia treatment, and metabolic disorders; optimizes athletic performance and work efficiency in hot or cold environments; and supports wildlife management and conservation in the face of climate change.

Education and career: Thermophysiologists typically hold doctoral degrees in physiology, biology, or biomedicine and may work in universities, medical centers, or research institutes. They publish in physiology, neuroscience, endocrinology, or environmental biology journals and collaborate with clinicians, engineers, and ecologists.