Team members

Anthony completed his first degree in Sports Science at Liverpool John Moores University, graduating with First Class Honours. He went on to complete a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) at the University of Greenwich in 2004 and a year later attained a Masters degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology (with Distinction) from Loughborough University. Anthony also conducted his doctoral studies at Loughborough University and graduated with a PhD in 2011. Having briefly left Loughborough to be Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at London Metropolitan University, he has since returned to join the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences as Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Qualifications

• PhD entitled 'Disordered Eating in Sport: Narrative's Turn', from Loughborough University in 2011.
• MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology (with Distinction) from Loughborough University in 2004.
• BSc in Sports Science (First Class) from Liverpool John Moores University in 2000.

Membership and involvement with professional bodies / associations

Anthony leads the Mental Health Strand for the Psychology Division of the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

Staff profile

After completing his PhD at Loughborough University on the efficacy of low-cost interventions to reduce chronic low-grade inflammation in people with a disability, Sven took on a Postdoctoral post within the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. During that year he investigated appetite regulation in people with a spinal cord injury and strategies to enhance the tolerability of passive heating protocols. Thereafter, he spent six months at Wakayama Medical University to investigate the effects of exercise on chronic pain in an obesity mouse model.

Qualifications

• MSc Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen
• BSc Health and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam
• PhD, Loughborough University (2019), “Strategies to induce an inflammatory response; a focus on alternatives for people restricted from engaging in lower-body exercise”

Current research interests:

In his current position, Sven hopes to contribute to the implementation of exercise and physical activity interventions in rehabilitation settings and further his research into passive heating as a treatment tool as well as metabolic health in people with a spinal cord injury.

Staff profile

Tom was appointed the position of PHC Research assistant for the Sports performance strand in October 2017. He will also be completing a part-time PhD alongside his Research Assistant role. Tom also provides sport science support for GB Wheelchair rugby across both the elite and talent pathways, as part of the PHC’s ongoing support to the sport. This includes athlete screening and fitness profiling in both the laboratory and field based setting. 

Qualifications

• MSc in Exercise Physiology, Loughborough University (2017)
• BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University (2016)

Membership and involvement with professional bodies:

• Tom is a member of the British Associations of Sport and Exercise Sciences. 

Current Research Interests:

Tom is interested in the research area of thermoregulation and warm-up where his previous researh topics focussed on this area. As part of his role within the PHC, Tom aids in many different research projects that are ongoing, however his main research interests lie within his PhD studies. His PhD is supervised by Prof. Vicky Tolfrey and Dr. Christof Leicht and comes under the sports performance strand of the PHC.

Tom’s PhD focusses on optimising training strategies for Wheelchair Rugby players, where he is keen to expand on his MSc work around the area of Warm-up and thermoregulation. Tom will be working closely with the GB wheelchair rugby team to identify methods of optimising performance through warm-up and cooling strategies using the integrated researcher approach.

Staff profile

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology 

Jamie graduated with a BSc degree in Sport Studies (1998) and an MSc in Sport, Health and Exercise Science (2000) both from Staffordshire University. In 2008, he completed his PhD entitled “Using Hypnosis to Enhance Sport Performers Self-Efficacy” also at Staffordshire University which was supervised by Professor Marc Jones, Dr Iain Greenlees and Professor Tom Cochrane. Jamie has had lecturing positions in Sport and Exercise Psychology at both Edge Hill University and Staffordshire University. Whilst at Staffordshire he became Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2007 and then Associate Professor of Applied Sport and Performance Psychology in 2013 before joining Loughborough University in 2017.

Qualifications

BSc Sports Studies, Staffordshire University (1998)

MSc Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Staffordshire University (2000)

PhD entitled "Using Hypnosis to Enhance Sport Performers Self-Efficacy", Staffordshire University (2008)

Membership and involvement with professional bodies / associations

• Member Disability Football Performance Group (The Football Association)
• Committee Member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP)
• Committee Member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Training Committee (DSEPTC)
• Member of the British Psychological Society Board for the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP)
• Member Editorial Board, The International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Member, Editorial Board, The Sport Psychologist
• Member, Editorial Board, Sport and Exercise Psychology Review

External positions

• Chair of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP; 2015-2017)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
• Co-Guest Editor (Sport and Performance Psychology Special Issue), Journal of Change Management (2016)
• Guest Editor (Single-Case Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Psychology Special Issue), Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (2013)
• External Examiner (2018-): MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Ulster
• External Examiner (2018-): Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University.

Current research interests:

Jamie’s main research interest is centred on applied (sport and performance) psychology research and is based around three key themes: intervention effectiveness (including applied research methods), group dynamics and leadership, and resilience. Jamie’s has specific interests in Hypnosis, Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (PDMS), Resilience (Challenge and Threat states), Social Identity (Group Dynamics and Leadership), Single-Case Research Methods, and the Psychological Characteristics of Elite Disability sport.

Staff profile

Janine Coates joined the PHC after taking up a post as Lecturer in Qualitative Research Methods for the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University in September 2016.

Qualifications

• PhD entitled “Let the children have their say: Experiences of children with special education needs in Physical Education” (2010)
• BSc Psychology and Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University

Membership and involvement with professional bodies / associations

Janine is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the British Educational Research Association.

External positions

Since 2010, Janine has acted as an Honorary Consultant for Think Children, a Nottinghamshire-based children’s charity that provide play-based interventions to primary school children with emerging social, emotional and behavioural needs.

Current research interests:

Janine’s research employs qualitative methods to better understand the sport and physical activity experiences of children with disabilities, with a particular focus on school settings. More broadly, through engagement with children about their lived experience, her work considers the how inclusive practices for children with disabilities might develop.  Janine has a particular interest in the use of novel methods for engaging children with disabilities in research.
Some of her previous work has considered children with disabilities perceptions about the Paralympic Games, children’s experiences of physical education, inclusive teacher education and behavioural interventions for children with ADHD.

Staff profile

After completing his undergraduate teaching degree in Physical Education and Mathematics at the University of Exeter (Eric Sparrow Memorial Award for Outstanding Student 1989) Keith taught secondary school P.E.

His first position in higher education was as a Tutor at the University of Exeter whilst completing an MPhil (Paediatric Exercise Physiology 1993) under the expert supervision of Professor Neil Armstrong. Keith then spent two years at the College of St. Mark and John in Plymouth teaching a variety of practical and theoretical disciplines, but focusing predominantly on Exercise Physiology. A move to the Manchester Metropolitan University as a lecturer in 1994 allowed him to complete his PhD (Paediatric Exercise Physiology 1998) under the expert supervision of Professor Ian Campbell.

Keith came to the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (September 2007) as a senior lecturer to join the vibrant and internationally reknowned team of exercise physiologists. In 2011 Keith was awarded a BASES Fellowship for his work with children and adolescents and significant long-standing contribution to Sport and Exercise Science. In 2013, Keith became a Reader in Paediatric Exercise Physiology.

Current research interests:

Keith’s primary research interests relate to health in young people (children and adolescents) and how this might be influenced by either structured exercise training or participation in regular physical activity.

Some of his work has focused on physiological determinants of endurance performance such as maximal lactate steady state, economy, and peak oxygen uptake in young people. He has, however, also collaborated on various projects focusing on wheelchair sports performance and oxygen uptake kinetics.

Current research interests include fat metabolism, postprandial lipaemia, and estimation of energy expenditure in physical activity in young people. From the teaching and learning perspective Keith enjoys working with students on most aspects of exercise physiology, but also has a keen interest in research methods and quantitative statistics.

Staff profile

Carolyn completed her undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford in 2009.  She obtained her MRes (Distinction, 2010) and PhD (2015) from Loughborough University. Her PhD research focused on optimising the identification and management of disordered eating among athletic populations.

Carolyn joined SSEHS as an Assistant Lecturer in Psychology in 2013 and was appointed as a Lecturer in Psychology in June 2015. 

Current research interests:

Carolyn’s research interests are focused around understanding the risks and consequences of mental health issues among athletes, with a specific focus on disordered eating and exercise. Carolyn is particularly interested in the role of key stakeholders (e.g., coaches, sports professionals, teammates, peers, parents, teachers) in the prevention and early identification of eating problems. Currently, she is collaborating with clinical colleagues on the development and evaluation of effective and scalable interventions to prevent and reduce disordered eating and exercise among athletes, students and exercising populations. Carolyn’s research has an applied focus and has led to the development of new screening tools, educational materials and resources to support sports professionals in the prevention, identification and management of disordered eating amongst athletes. For example, Carolyn has recently developed an evidence-based online educational programmefor coaches and sports professionals, to support the early identification and management of athletes with disordered eating. 

Staff profile

Emma completed her PhD at Loughborough University in 2016 and her postdoctoral research in 2019 before joining Loughborough University SSEHS as a lecturer in Sport Management. 

Current research interests:

Emma’s research interests are broadly focussed on disability representation, disability and gender, and Paralympic broadcast and media narratives. Her work in this area has engaged with media production practices in Paralympic sport, shifting representations of Para-athletes, and the impact and role of Paralympic media on attitudes toward, and understandings of, disability and cultural stigma. Emma’s work has engaged with media practitioners such as Channel 4 (C4), sport governing bodies and disability charities.

Staff profile

David completed an undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology at Cardiff University in 2008. As part of his undergraduate studies, David also completed a one-year professional placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health. Continuing his studies at Cardiff, David went on to complete a Masters (2009) and PhD (2013), funded by an Economic & Social Research Council studentship. David’s PhD research explored how different modes of speech interact in verbal short-term memory. After his PhD, David worked as a Research Associate (2012-2015) at the Medical Research Council’s Institute of Hearing Research in Nottingham. He then worked as a Research Fellow (2015-2018) within the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) based at the University of Nottingham. David joined the SSEHS at Loughborough University as a Lecturer in Psychology in January 2019. 

Qualifications:

• PhD entitled, “The nature of the representations underlying verbal short-term memory: the interaction between auditory, visual and motor modalities” (2013)
• MSc Social Science Research Methods – Psychology (2009)
• BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology (2008)

Current research interests:

David’s current research interests are focused on developing and evaluating novel intervention strategies that aim to improve the quality of life of adults living with disabilities. He is particularly interested in the use of mobile and wireless technologies to support self-management of health, also termed mobile-enabled healthcare (mHealth)

Staff profile

Robin Jackson is Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology and conducts research on perceptual and cognitive expertise, with particular interests in how athletes anticipate and deceive their opponents, how this can be trained, and how and why skills fail under stress.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Psychology, entitled ‘A behavioural analysis of ‘choking’ in self-paced skills’, University of St Andrews (1997)
• BSc (Hons) in Psychology, University of St Andrews (1993) 

Membership and involvement with professional bodies/associations:

Robin served on the committee of the BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology and co-founded the Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN). In 2018 he was appointed Executive Editor of the Journal of Sports Sciences (Social and Behavioural Sciences section). As a Chartered Psychologist and HCPC-accredited sport psychologist, Robin supported GB Wheelchair Rugby at Paralympic Games, World Championships and European Championships.

Staff profile

Lewis is a nutritionist with a specific interest in its application to sport and exercise. He completed his first degree in Food Science (with Nutrition) at the University of Reading, before moving to Loughborough University to complete a Masters in Sport and Exercise Nutrition and a PhD examining the effect of diet on human water and electrolyte balance. After some time lecturing at Nottingham Trent University (2009-2012), he joined the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences as Lecturer in Nutrition in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2016.

Lewis’s research focuses on how nutrition influences exercise performance, recovery and adaptation in populations ranging from those exercising for health/recreation through to elite level athletes. In athletic populations, much of this work focusses on understanding the regulation of water and electrolyte balance and implications for exercise performance and recovery/adaptation, with other work focusing on nutrition for exercise in the heat.  

Qualifications:

• PhD: Fluid and electrolyte balance during dietary restriction. Loughborough University, 2012
• MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition (with Distinction). Loughborough University, 2006
• BSc in Food Science (First Class). University of Reading, 2005

Membership and involvement with professional bodies:

Lewis is an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, and a member of the Nutrition Society and the British Feeding and Drinking Group. Furthermore, Lewis also acts in an advisory capacity to many elite/professional athletes or their support staff, including a number of national teams/governing bodies to help optimise athlete hydration and drinking strategies.

Staff profile

Ellie-May graduated from Loughborough University in 2020 with a 2:1 in BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate she investigated Challenge and Threat States in Elite Gymnasts as part of her final year dissertation. She then went onto study an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough, graduating in 2021 with a distinction. Her postgraduate dissertation investigated the barriers faced by dual-career para-athletes, following the experiences of para-athletes who pursue both a degree and elite sport.

Ellie-May’s interest in parasport research has since led her to be recruited as a research assistant working with Dr Jamie Barker and Dr Carolyn Plateau on the project funded by The World Anti-Doping Agency (supported by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football) to investigate “Clean Sport in International Para Football”. She is also working towards her Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology, currently on placement at Burton Albion Football Club as an assistant Sport Psychologist. She will also contribute to some translational aspects of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport under the Directorship of Prof Vicky Tolfrey.

Anna is a PhD student at the PHC, under the supervision of Dr Donghyun Ryu, Dr Robin Jackson and Dr David Mann (Vrije University, Amsterdam).

Qualifications

Current research interests

Brodie is a PhD student at the PHC, under the supervision of Dr Emma Pullen, Dr Carolyn Plateau and Dr Anthony Papathomas.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science – Loughborough University (2019)
• MSc Exercise as Medicine – Loughborough University (2020)

Current Research Interests

In October 2020, Brodie commenced her PhD with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC) at Loughborough University.

Project title: A Qualitative Exploration of Female Para-athletes

Brodie’s project will cover the following aims:

• Document the experience of female para-athletes with a focus on female health, body image, and gendered forms of well-being.
• Highlight how gendered well-being intersects with different forms of impairment and use of assistive technology.
• Explore the influence of wider cultural narratives around disability and gender on female para-athlete experience.
• Provide para-sport governing bodies with knowledge on female para-athlete experience through dissemination activities. 

Heather is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof Vicky Tolfrey and Dr Lewis James.

Qualifications

• MSc Exercise Physiology (with Distinction), Loughborough University (2020). Prize for Academic Excellence – highest overall mark on the Exercise Physiology Programme.
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (First Class), Loughborough University (2019). Scholarship for Academic Excellence – highest overall mark in final year.

   

Current Research Interests

Heather commenced her PhD at Loughborough University in January 2021. Over the course of her PhD, she aims to explore the interaction between hydration status and metabolism in able-bodied and para-athletes

James joined the PHC and the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences in January 2021, under the supervision of Dr David Maidment and Dr Daniel Rhind.

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Physical Education and Sports Coaching (First Class) – University of Chichester
• MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology – Loughborough University 

Current Research Interests

The aim of his research is to develop and evaluate novel intervention strategies that focus on improving physical activity in young adults living with disabilities. The findings will help address existing barriers to physical activity in people with disabilities throughout the lifespan that will improve their overall quality of life.

Adam joined the PHC and the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University in January 2021, under the supervision of Dr David Maidment, Dr Ed Cope and Dr Carolyn Plateau.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Psychology – Staffordshire University
• MSc Cognitive Neuroscience – University of Sussex

Current Research Interests

Adam is currently completing a joint PhD with Loughborough University and British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB). The aim of his research is to evaluate the extent to which BWB’s Inspire A Generation programme enables regular participation in physical activity, improves mental wellbeing and enhances overall quality of life. The findings of this research will identify both the successful aspects of the programme and those that require further development. 

Yash Deshpande is an international PhD student at Loughborough University at the school of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. After his undergrad in Mechanical engineering in India, Yash came to Loughborough to pursue an MSc in Sports Biomechanics and has now started a PhD in sports science with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport.

Qualifications

• BTech Mechanical Engineering - Visvesvaraya National Insititute of Technology, Nagpur, India (2019)

• MSc Sports Biomechanics - Loughborough University (2020)

   

Current Research Interests

Yash is studying the nature of serve returns in wheelchair tennis. With serve returns being a key stroke in wheelchair tennis player's repertoire, the aim of the project is to understand the perceptual-motor processes involved in anticipating the serve type and direction, followed by an investigation into the biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion while returning and technique in serve returns.

Yunuo is a PhD student at the PHC, under the supervision of by Dr Christof Leicht and Dr Emma O’Donnell, funded by China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Qualifications

• BEd Sports Training, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (China)
• MSc Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health, Loughborough University

Current Research Interests

Yunuo will work to understand the unique female physiology and female-specific disease, aiming to study heat therapy and its effects on women, with a particular focus on physiological outcomes, perceptions and their benefits on health conditions.

Iain commenced his PhD in October 2021 with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport under the supervision of Dr Daniel Rhind, Dr Serhat Yilmaz, Prof Vicky Tolfrey and Dr Emma Beckman (University of Queensland).

Qualifications

• BA Sport in the Community – University of Strathclyde (1998)
• Interfaculty Masters in Equality Studies – University College Dublin (2003)

Current Research Interests

Iain’s research will further the understanding of Intentional Misrepresentation in Paralympic Athlete Classification. Intentional Misrepresentation is defined as a deliberate attempt by para-athletes to mislead governing bodies about the degree of their impairment to gain an unfair competitive advantage by being placed into a Para sport class with athletes of more severe impairments.

By capturing the experiences and opinions of athletes, their support staff and classifiers, this research will provide practical frameworks for the improved detection and deterrence of Intentional Misrepresentation, protecting the integrity of Paralympic sport.

Pippa joined the PHC as a PhD student in 2021, under the supervision of Prof Vicky Tolfrey, Dr Richard Blagrove and Dr Richard Burden.

Qualifications

• MSc Exercise Physiology (Distinction), Loughborough University (2021)
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Loughborough University (2019)

Current Research Interests

Pippa’s research is co-funded by British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB) and is looking to investigate the physiological determinants of the ‘what it takes to win’ model.

Using the ‘embedded scientist’ approach in the lead up to Paris 2024 she will look to: Quantify the physiological strain in elite wheelchair basketball matches; Refine the physiological determinants of performance in the world’s best; Optimise physiological testing protocols and answer key performance questions relating to optimising performance at peak competitions.

Lynsey joined the PHC as a PhD student in October 2021, under the supervision of Dr David Maidment, Dr Anthony Papathomas and Professor Vicky Tolfrey.

Qualifications

• PgDip Research Methods, Glasgow Caledonian University
• PgCert Sociology and Research Methods, Glasgow University
• BSc Occupational Therapy (Hons), Glasgow Caledonian University 

Current Research Interests

Lynsey’s research will aim to understand factors that impact on sport and physical activity participation within spinal cord injured populations. 

Michael joined the team in December 2014 as a Research Assistant and Laboratory Technician, whilst also completing a part-time PhD. Since finishing his PhD he continued as a Research Associate in Sport Performance (Jan 2022)

Qualifications

• PhD, Loughborough University (2019), entitled “The application of subjective Ratings of Perceived Exertion to regulate exercise intensity during upper body exercise”. 

Research Interests:

Through his role as Research Associate, Michael aided in many physiology and classification research projects in the Sport Performance strand. Michael worked with the International Tennis Federation and researchers from University of Queensland on developing evidence-based classification in Wheelchair Tennis. Michael is also continuing with research that follows on from his PhD studies.

Michael’s PhD focused on the application of subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) to regulate exercise intensity during upper body exercise. Michael conducted studies into the validity and reliability of using RPE-guided exercise for both exercise testing and exercise prescription in able-bodied and disabled participants. Michael is also interested in understanding what mechanisms contribute to the RPE response, and how these mechanisms may impact on RPE responses in participants with a disability, such as spinal cord injury.

Staff profile

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Staff Profile

Ben joined the PHC in 2015 as a PhD student, jointly funded by the British Triathlon Federation. As of 2018, he will be working as a part-time Research Assistant.

Qualifications

• BSc Sport and Exercise Science, Loughborough University (2014)
• MSc Exercise Physiology, Loughborough University (2015)

Membership and involvement with professional bodies / associations

Ben is a member of BASES. 

Current research interests:

Ben is currently researching the thermoregulatory strain of competition in Paralympic athletes via a project jointly funded by the English Institute of Sport. Additionally, acute and chronic alleviative strategies are being explored to ameliorate athletes’ thermal strain.

Staff profile

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Staff Profile

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Staff Profile

Laura-Anne was awarded a first class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences by the University of Limerick, Ireland in 2009. During this time she completed an 8 month placement working as a Research Assistant with the Sports Biomechanics Research Group at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

She graduated with her PhD in 2014, also from the University of Limerick. This research focused on the assessment of plantarflexor muscle function during stretch-shortening cycle tasks and was funded by the Irish Research Council. During this time, she provided sport science and sports medicine support to the Irish Hockey Association and worked as a Lecturer in Performance Analysis at University of Limerick.

Current research interests:

Controlled, coordinated movement occurs due to multiple complex interactions between factors such as muscle size, strength and activation. Establishing the relationships between these factors is fundamental in understanding the aetiology of injury, development of optimal rehabilitation programmes, and biologically inspired engineering design. By combining non-invasive in vivo measures of muscle and tendon structure and function during dynamic activities with biomechanical analyses of movement, force and coordination, Laura-Anne’s research aims to establish how modifications in neuromuscular parameters influence observed outcomes and coordination in dynamic activities such as walking, running and jumping, which has significant implications for long-term musculoskeletal health. Current clinical collaborators include the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in the area of amputee rehabilitation.