I graduated from the University of Stirling with a 1st Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science in 2015, before completing an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine at the University of Glasgow the following year. I then joined the University of the West of Scotland in 2017 to begin a PhD investigating the influence of physical activity and exercise as a countermeasure to ageing. In particular, my PhD focused on the influence which exercise has on vascular and cognitive function in older adults.
In February 2021 I joined York St John University as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology.
I am the course leader for the Foundation Year in Sport, and also teach on the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree. I am an academic tutor providing support to students throughout their time at the University, and I also supervise students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
I currently teach on the following modules:
- Laboratory and Field-Based Testing in Sport and Exercise
- Anatomy and Physiology for Sport and Exercise
- Principles of Exercise and Physical Activity for Health
- Physiology of Training and Adaptation
- Research Design and Analysis in Sport and Exercise
- Exercise, Health and Disease
- Advanced Physiology of Sport Performance
I am a member of the Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (PAtCH) Research Group.
My research interests include investigating the influence of physical activity and exercise on vascular and cognitive function in healthy ageing. This has involved using both conventional and novel ultrasound techniques to assess the structure and function of peripheral and central arteries. I am particularly interested in understanding how different modes of exercise can influence the vascular and cognitive health of older females.
I have also recently been involved in research topics listed below:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular health in menopause
- Workplace physical activity, sitting time, and menopause symptoms
- Physical health in middle-aged golf caddies
- Physical activity, sleep quality, and quality of life in golfers and caddies
- Pre-conception lifestyle factors on maternal, foetal, and neonatal outcomes (MRes Thesis)
Recent publications
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and also a panel member of the School of Science, Technology and Health's Ethics Committee, and School Quality Panel (SQP). I am a Review Editor for Frontiers in Physiology, and have also peer reviewed for academic journals including the European Journal of Applied Physiology, Experimental Gerontology, and Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
