Dr. Dimitrije Cabarkapa is a sports scientist, educator, and former athlete dedicated to bridging the gap between research and athletic performance. Currently, he serves as Associate Director of Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory at the University of Kansas, part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. He is also a co-founder of a non-profit organization, with the mission of connecting researchers, coaches, and athletes across the world to advance the understanding of longitudinal athlete performance development.

Dr. Cabarkapa earned his Doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kansas, where he defended his dissertation with honors and was recognized with the Outstanding Doctoral Candidate Award. He also holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from James Madison University, where he distinguished himself by receiving seven prominent academic awards.

Despite being a well-accomplished NCAA Division-I athlete, Dr. Cabarkapa has devoted his career to helping athletes reach their peak performance potential and minimize injury risk occurrence. He was also a part of the James Madison University team that participated in the 2013 NCAA March Madness tournament, highlighting his deep understanding of high-performance demands. Strongly influenced by his personal experience as an athlete, he started his research career at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

As an accomplished researcher, Dr. Cabarkapa has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles in reputable scientific journals. His scholarly contributions were recognized in 2024 when he received the prestigious NSCA Outstanding Young Investigator Award, honoring his notable impact on the field of sport science and strength and conditioning. In addition, he has served as a peer reviewer for more than 30 esteemed international scientific journals, contributing to the advancement of sport science research.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Cabarkapa has worked with more than 500 professional and 400 collegiate athletes, providing services from performance analysis to in-depth performance development. His practical experience spans a wide range of sports, helping athletes maximize their potential through data-driven strategies and individualized performance solutions.

Dr. Cabarkapa has been a strong advocate for advancing the dissemination of sports science knowledge. He has presented his research at Harvard University, to NBA team staff, and at numerous domestic and international conferences, including ECSS, NSCA, and ACSM. His expertise has also been sought as a consultant for multiple government-related projects, and he has advised several national-level sports organizations on high-performance team development, helping design organizational systems that enhance athlete performance, resilience, and long-term success.

When he is not in the lab, Dr. Cabarkapa enjoys engaging in conversations with coaches and athletes over a good cup of coffee. These discussions help keep his research grounded and forward-thinking, as he stays closely connected to real-world challenges, allowing him to examine critical issues firsthand and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that drive athlete performance and overall well-being.