Dr Sophie Carter

Teaching

My main teaching responsibilities are in the areas of Sport and Exercise Physiology and Physical Activity and Health. I am module leader for Level 5 Physiology of Sport and Exercise, Level 5 Principles of Exercise and Physical Activity for Health, and Level 6 Research Project modules. I also supervise students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and am an academic tutor providing support to students throughout their time at the University.

Modules I teach:

• Laboratory and Field-Based Testing in Sport and Exercise
• Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Physiology of Sport and Exercise
• Principles of Exercise and Physical Activity for Health
• Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Research Project

Courses I teach:

• Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons)

Research

I am the Group Director of the Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (PAtCH) Research Group.

My main research interests are investigating the effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on physical and mental health. My previous research has specifically focussed on investigating the effects of sedentary behaviour on cardiovascular health, using transcranial and vascular Doppler ultrasound to assess changes in cerebral and peripheral vascular function during prolonged sitting periods or using active break interventions. My research aims to contribute to understanding the negative health consequences of sedentary behaviour and to explore the effects of interventions to reduce sitting on cardiovascular health.

My current areas of research include:

• Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and menopause
• Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and osteoarthritis
• Golf participation and health

Publications and conferences

Publications:

Carter, S. E., Beaumont, A. J., and Campbell, A. K. (2025). Workplace physical activity, sitting time, and menopause symptoms. Menopause. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002497

Shannon, E. S. and Carter, S. E. (2024). The effect of a 2-week ischaemic preconditioning intervention on anaerobic performance in male academy football players: a randomized, single-blinded, SHAM-Controlled study. Research in Sports Medicine. 32(6):939-955. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2023.2297192

Dawson, Z. E., Beaumont, A. J. and Carter, S. E. (2024). A systematic review of physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in an osteoarthritic population. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0195

Sorbie, G. G., Williams, A. K., Carter, S. E., Campbell, A. K., Glen, J., Lavallee, D., Sculthorpe, N., Murray, A. and Beaumont, A. J. (2023). Improved physical health in middle-older aged golf caddies following 24 weeks of high-volume physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8:1-12. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0288

Carter, S.E., Beaumont, A.J. and Sorbie, G.G. (2023). Physical activity accrued whilst golf caddying. International Journal of Golf Science. Volume 11(Issue 1).

Maxwell, J.D., Bannell, D.J., Brislane, A., Carter, S.E., Miller, G.D., Roberts, K.A., Hopkins, N.D., Low, D.A., Carter, H.H., Thompson, A., Claassen, J.A.H.R., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Jones, H. (2022). The impact of age, sex, cardio-respiratory fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk on dynamic cerebral autoregulation and baroreflex sensitivity. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(6):1531-1541. doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-04933-3

Dunstan, D.W., Dogra, S., Carter S.E. and Owen, N. (2021). Sit less and move more for cardiovascular health emerging insights and opportunities. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 18(9):637-648. doi: 10.1038/s41569-021-00547-y

Carter, S.E., Draijer, R., Stewart, C.E., Moss, A.D., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Hopkins, N.D. (2021). Are acute sitting‑induced changes in inflammation and cerebrovascular function related to impaired mood and cognition?. Sport Sciences for Health, 17(3):753-762. doi: 10.1007/s11332-021-00753-8

Roberts, K.A., Draijer, R., Hopkins, N.D., de Graaf, Y., Holder, S.M., Carter, S.E., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Low, D.A. (2021). Impact of green tea on the deleterious cardiometabolic effects of 7‐days unhealthy lifestyle in young healthy males. Physiological Reports, 9(5):e14720. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14720

Carter, S.E., Draijer, R., Maxwell, J.D., Morris, A.S., Pedersen, S.J., Graves, L.E.F., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Hopkins, N.D. (2020). Using an e-health intervention to reduce prolonged sitting in UK office workers: a randomised acceptability and feasibility study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23):8942. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238942

Carter, S.E., Draijer, R., Thompson, A., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Hopkins, N.D. (2020). Relationship between sedentary behaviour and physical activity at work and cognition and mood. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 17(11):1140-1152 doi: 10.1123/jpah.2019-0632

Ten Broeke, P., Olthof, M., Beckers, D.G.J., Hopkins, N.D., Graves, L.E.F., Carter, S.E., Cochrane, M., Gavin, D., Morris, A.S., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Geurts, S.A.E., Thijssen, D.H.J. and Bijleveld, E. (2020). Temporal dynamics of sitting behavior at work. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,117(26):14883-14889. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2001284117

Brislane, Á., Low, D. A., Carter, S. E., Holder, S. M., Jones, H. and Hopkins, N. D. (2019). Cerebral and peripheral vascular differences between pre- and postmenopausal women. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society. 27(2):170-182, doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001442

Carter, S. E., Draijer, R., Holder, S. M., Brown, L., Thijssen, D. H. J., Hopkins, N. D. (2019). Effect of different walking break strategies on superficial femoral artery endothelial function. Physiological Reports. 7(16):e14190. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14190

Carter S. E., Holder, S., Thijssen, D. and Hopkins, N. (2019). Taking regular breaks from sitting prevents reductions in brain blood flow. Frontiers for Young Minds, 7(77), doi: 10.3389/frym.2019.00077

Carter, S. E., Draijer, R., Holder, S. M., Brown, L., Thijssen, D. H. J., Hopkins, N. D. (2018). Regular walking breaks prevent the decline in cerebral blood flow associated with prolonged sitting. Journal of Applied Physiology, 125(3):790-798. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00310.2018

Carter, S. E., Hartman, Y., Holder, S., Thijssen, D. H. and Hopkins, N. D. (2017). Sedentary behaviour and cardiovascular disease risk: Mediating mechanisms. Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews. 45(2):80-6. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000106

Carter, S. E. and Gladwell, V. F. (2016). Effect of breaking up sedentary time with callisthenics on endothelial function. Journal of Sports Sciences. 35(15):1508-1514. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1223331

Thijssen, D. H., Carter, S. E. and Green, D. J. (2016). Arterial structure and function in vascular ageing: Are you as old as your arteries? Journal of Physiology, 15;594(8):2275-84. doi: 10.1113/JP270597

Carter, S. E., Jones, M. and Gladwell, V. F. (2015). Energy expenditure and heart rate response to breaking up sedentary time with three different physical activity interventions. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 25(5):503-9. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2015.02.006

Carter, S. E., Faulkner, A. and Rakobowchuk, M. (2014). The role of prostaglandin and antioxidant availability on recovery from forearm ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans. Journal of Hypertension, 32(2):339-51. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000000033

Conference presentations:

Acute effects of a prolonged sitting period on cerebrovascular function, cognitive performance and mood, 3rd Okanagan Cardiovascular and Respiratory Symposium, British Columbia, Canada, Oral presentation, 2018

Acute effects of a prolonged sitting period on cerebrovascular function, cognitive performance and mood, A Celebration of Women in Research, Liverpool, UK, Poster presentation, 2017

Acute effects of a prolonged sitting period on cerebrovascular function, cognitive performance and mood, Northern Vascular Biology Forum, Liverpool, UK, Poster presentation, 2017

The effect of sedentary behaviour on cerebrovascular function, cognition and performance in adults, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences Sedentary Behaviour Seminar, Liverpool, UK, Oral presentation, 2017

Can prolonged sitting impair cerebral blood flow and autoregulation? Dick Thijssen Professorial Research Symposium, Liverpool, UK, Oral presentation, 2017

Relationship between sedentary behaviour and cognitive performance, European College of Sport Science Congress, MetropolisRuhr, Germany, Oral presentation, 2017

The effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on cerebral blood flow, Northern Vascular Biology Forum, Hull, UK, Oral presentation, 2016

The effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on cerebral blood flow, Liverpool John Moores Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Day, Liverpool, UK, Oral presentation, 2016

The effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on cerebral blood flow, American College of Sports Medicine, Boston, MA, Poster and Mini Oral presentation, 2016

Energy expenditure and heart rate response to breaking up sedentary time with three different physical activity interventions, Physiology 2014, London, UK, Poster presentation, 2014

The role of prostaglandin and antioxidant availability on recovery from forearm ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans, International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Congress, Birmingham, UK, Poster presentation, 2013

Invited talks:

Department of Sport Science, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia: ‘Sedentary Behaviour and Health’, (2023)

Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada: ‘Can prolonged sitting impair cerebral blood flow and autoregulation?', 2018

Professional activities

I am a Member of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) and am a Member of the CASES Division of Physical Activity for Health Committee. 

I am a Recognised Associate Research Supervisor from the UK Council for Graduate Education. 

I am Chair of School of Science, Technology and Health Research Ethics Committee.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and hold a Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction in Academic Practice.

I am an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports. Furthermore, I have completed peer reviews for journals including Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Experimental Physiology, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, and Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.

Academic achievements

APS select award from The American Physiology Society for the best recently published article in physiological research; ‘Regular walking breaks prevent the decline in cerebral blood flow associated with prolonged sitting’; 2018.

Runner-up Best Graduate Presentation at the 3rd Okanagan Cardiovascular and Respiratory Symposium 2018

Excellent Progress Award 2016-17, Liverpool John Moores University Research Degrees Committee

1st Place Oral Presentation at the Liverpool John Moores University Faculty of Science Research Day 2016

Runner-up of the Undergraduate Human and Exercise Physiology theme Physiological Society Poster Competition at the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Congress 2013

Rob Clarke Undergraduate Abstract Award at the IUPS Congress 2013

Human Performance Unit Project Prize from the University of Essex for the most outstanding final year project in a Sports Science degree 2013

Richard Watson Prize from the University of Essex for the most outstanding performance on a Sports Science degree 2013

Physiological Society Prize from the Physiological Society for the best final year project 2013