Our team

Find out more about the academic researchers working in the area of Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University.

Dr Dawn-Marie Armstrong

Dr Dawn-Marie Armstrong

Dean's Associate Fellow (Applied Sport Psychology)

Dr. Armstrong's research focuses on cultural competence in Applied Sport Psychology practice in addition to the mental health and wellbeing of performers in sport and physical activity.

Dr Comille Bandura

Dr Comille Bandura

Research Associate

Dr Bandura is working on an ESRC funded project in collaboration with the University of Stirling examining the role of alcohol consumption in football cultures.

Professor Lorraine Cale

Professor Lorraine Cale

Professor in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy

Prof Cale’s research focuses on the promotion of health and active lifestyles in schools, specifically on the critique and enhancement of related policy and pedagogical practice.

Dr Ash Casey

Dr Ash Casey

Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy

Dr Casey’s research focuses on curriculum redesign and pedagogical approaches in physical education. This work explores how teachers’ learn about and enact change in their local context.

Dr Janine Coates

Dr Janine Coates

Social Inclusion and Sport, Physical Activity and Education

Dr Coates' research focuses on the heath, wellbeing and experiences of marginalised young people in physical education and sport. She is also interested in disability and outdoor learning.

Dr Holly Collison

Dr Holly Collison-Randall

Senior Lecturer, Institute for Sport Business

Dr Collison-Randall's research focuses on global critical social issues including conflict, violent extremism and youth crime cultures and the impacts of sport interventions.

Silvia Costa

Dr Silvia Costa

Lecturer in Physical Activity and Public Health

Dr Costa’s research focuses on the measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour of young children, and the socio-ecological factors that influence these activity behaviours.

Prof Charlotte Croffie

Professor Charlotte Croffie

Pro-Vice Chancellor- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Prof. Croffie’s interest lie in equity, equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice. This extends to engaging in activities that foster health and wellbeing.

Professor Amanda Daley

Professor Amanda Daley

Professor of Behavioural Medicine

Amanda is a Professor of Behavioural Medicine and Director of the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour. Her work investigates the effects of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes.

Dr Colin Deal

Dr Colin Deal

Dean's Associate Fellow in Sport Psychology

Dr Deal focuses on PYD through sport. His work looks to bridge the gap between the individual benefits of youth sport and community impact through the concept of 'contribution'.

Dr Nik Dickerson

Dr Nik Dickerson

Lecturer Sport Management

Nik’s research explores race, gender and national identity within representations of sport and popular culture, focusing on diversity, cannabis use and activism in sport and the media.

Dr Mark Doidge

Dr Mark Doidge

Reader in Sociology of Sport

Dr Doidge's research focuses on the role of sport in improving society in the face of global challenges; specifically it’s impact on climate action and in supporting refugees & asylum seekers.

Dr Paul Downward

Professor Paul Downward

Social Returns on Investment in Sport, Physical Activity and Education

Prof Downward is an economist who investigates the factors that influence and constrain engagement with sport and physical activity evaluating the impacts for individuals and society.

Prof Richard Giulianotti

Professor Richard Giulianotti

UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development

Prof Giulianotti's research is on sport for development and peace, including conflict resolution, tackling social inequalities, environmental protection, crime reduction and health promotion.

Professor Paula Griffiths

Professor Paula Griffiths

Early Years Interventions through Sport, Physical Activity and Education

Prof Griffiths leads Loughborough University’s global research challenge in health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on global health and early child development in the global South.

Dr Jennie Hancox

Dr Jennie Hancox

Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Hancox’s research explores motivation and adherence to health behaviours (e.g., physical activity, exercise) in diverse population groups.

Professor Rebecca Hardy

Professor Rebecca Hardy

Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics

Prof Hardy’s research adopts a life course approach to explore modifiable biological & social risk factors that influence health & ageing and the development of social inequalities in health.

Dr Emily Hayday

Dr Emily Hayday

Lecturer in Sport Business

Dr Hayday’s research examines positive and negative practices that occur in virtual environments, including the potential for esport to be used as a vehicle for social change and inclusion.

Prof Ian Hodgkinson

Prof Ian R. Hodgkinson

Professor of Strategy

Prof. Ian Hodgkinson’s public management research focus has unveiled the role of ownership types in sport & leisure for realising a range of citizen-centric & facility-centric outcomes.

Dr Oliver Hooper

Dr Oliver Hooper

Loughborough/UNESCO Student Network

Dr Hooper’s research explores young people’s experiences within physical education, health and youth sport with a specific focus on ‘youth voice’ and the experiences of marginalised youth.

Prof Sophia Jowett

Professor Sophia Jowett

Professor of Psychology

Sophia's work investigates the characteristics of interpersonal environments within which people thrive. Key topics include interpersonal relationships, leadership and communication.

Dr Jamie Kenyon

Senior Lecturer in Sport Management

Dr Kenyon's research focuses on the impacts and strategic marketing/management of sport events and organisations, from community-based organisations to their international counterparts.

Dr Florence Kinnafick

Dr Florence Kinnafick

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Kinnafick is an Exercise Psychologist. Her research explores the role of physical activity in improving the physical & mental health of people with mental health problems & mental illness.

Dr David Maidment

Dr David Maidment

Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Maidment explores how physical activity can be facilitated in people living with physical and sensory disabilities to reduce risk of developing chronic diseases and improve mental health.

Prof Dominic Malcolm

Professor Dominic Malcolm

Professor of Sociology of Sport

Prof Malcolm’s research focuses on the intersection of sport, medicine and health. He explores the personal experiences and policies for sports participation directed at enhancing human health

Dr Carolynne Mason

Dr Carolynne Mason

Senior Lecturer in Sport Management

Dr Mason explores sport and social justice, with a focus on child rights in football, the role of sport in tackling crime, and equity and diversity within community coaching.

Dr Susana Monserrat-Revillo

Dr Susana Monserrat-Revillo

University Teacher in Sport Management

Dr Monserrat-Revillo's research focuses on sport facilities and the use of NVivo for data analysis.

Dr Fehmidah Munir

Dr Fehmidah Munir

Professor of Health Psychology

Dr Munir specialises in improving physical and mental health and wellbeing in organisations using behaviour change theories and concepts.

Hibbah researches global health & nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, including lifestyle (diet & physical activity) behaviour change interventions for black minority ethnic groups.

Dr Anthony Papathomas

Dr Anthony Papathomas

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dr Papathomas adopts interpretive methodologies to understand lives of marginalised populations, such as athletes with mental illness and people who experience disability or chronic disease.

Dr Natalie Pearson

Dr Natalie Pearson

Physical Activity

Natalie’s research focuses on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary behaviours in children and adolescents, and interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.

Dr Joe Piggin

Dr Joe Piggin

Senior Lecturer in Sport Management & Policy

Dr Piggin is an academic whose research focuses on physical activity policy and its effects on local populations.

Verity Postlethwaite

Verity Postlethwaite

Doctoral Prize Fellow

Verity’s research focuses on international sport events, specifically on how sport and other cultural entities have been used in local, national and international contexts to govern society.

Dr Emma Pullen

Dr Emma Pullen

Lecturer in Sport Management

Dr Pullen’s research focuses on social inclusion and diversity in sport, with particular interest in gender equities and feminist research, disability and Paralympic sport, and digital media.

Dr Daniel Rhind

Dr Daniel Rhind

Reader in Psychology

Dr Rhind's research relates to understanding how human rights can be respected in, around and through sport. He has particular expertise in the development and maintenance of safe sport.

Dr Emily Rousham

Professor Emily Rousham

Professor of Global Public Health

Prof Rousham’s research aims to develop community-based interventions to address global health challenges including maternal and child health, malnutrition and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Rachel Sandford

Dr Rachel Sandford

Physical Education, and the Personal/Social Development of Young People

Dr Sandford’s research centres on young people’s development in physical education, physical activity and sport, with a focus on popular culture, embodied identity and youth development.

Lauren Sherar

Professor Lauren Sherar

Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health

Prof Sherar’s research focuses on measuring physical activity behaviour to develop real-world interventions to enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people globally.

Dr Christopher Spray

Dr Christopher Spray

Reader in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dr Spray’s research focuses on young people’s motivation and psychosocial development in physical education and sport including the roles of teachers, coaches and parents.

Dr Elizabeth Stamp

Dr Elizabeth Stamp

Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health

Dr Stamp’s research focuses on exploring and improving health related behaviours (e.g., physical activity, sedentary behaviour) and wellbeing in a diverse range of populations.

Julie Stirrup

Dr Julie Stirrup

Lecturer in PE and Sport Pedagogy

Dr Stirrup’s research centres on Physical Education/Physical Development and its role within young people lives from the early years through to secondary education.

Dr Minhyeok Tak

Dr Minhyeok Tak

Lecturer in Sport Management

Dr Tak’s research interests include integrity issues in sport (match-fixing, sports betting, corruption, abuse, etc.) and sport development systems and programmes.

Dr Ian Taylor

Dr Ian Taylor

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Taylor is a psychologist and expert in human motivation, engagement, and adherence. He has investigated these constructs in many contexts, including child physical education and sport.

Dr Ines Varela Silva

Dr Ines Varela-Silva

Senior Lecturer in Human Biology

Dr Varela-Silva is a Human Biologist who uses a biocultural approach to study health and nutrition outcomes among minority groups and indigenous communities in low-and-middle income countries.

Dr Caron Walpole

University Teacher in Sport Management

Dr Walpole is an academic researcher who specialises in the use of sport for the prevention and reduction of serious youth violence.

Dr Gareth Wiltshire

Dr Gareth Wiltshire

Senior Lecturer

Gareth is a social scientist carrying out research about the social determinants of health. He has specialist knowledge in qualitative research and publishes across a range of disciplines.

Dr Gemma Witcomb

Dr Gemma Witcomb

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dr Witcomb is an academic psychologist whose work explores the influence of gender/gender identity on body image, physical activity, mental health, and inclusion.

Dr Serhat Yilmaz

Dr Serhat Yilmaz

Safe Sport and Minor/Children’s Rights in Sport

Dr Serhat Yilmaz’s research expertise is on two important and intertwined issues that affects the integrity and social role of sport: the protection of young athletes and sports agents.

Dr Sabrina Furtado

Sabrina Furtado

Dean`s Associate Fellow in Sport Management

Dr. Furtado carries out projects related to governance, management and strategic planning in public and private entities related to sports and physical activity.