Centre Staff and PhD Researchers

Project Title

Sport, Identity and Migration

Research Profile

• Ryan Adams — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Katie Liston — Ulster University
• Dr Paul Darby — Ulster University

Project Title

Effective coach development in Badminton

Research Profile

• Ciaran Chambers — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Stephen Shannon — Ulster University
• Dr Paul Donnelly — Ulster University
• Tandy Haughey - Ulster University

Project Title

Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety in the Sporting Environment: Development and Validation of a Measure of Psychological Safety in Sport Psychological Safety and Organisational Culture in Sporting Environments.

Research Profile

• Michael Cooke — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University
• Dr David Woods — Ulster University
• Dr Lee-Ann Sharp — Ulster University

Project Title

'I get by with a little help from my friends’ - Assessing the social environment in sport and the influence of group dynamics on mental health and well-being in athletes

Research Profile

• Steafan Deery — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University
• Dr Lee-Ann Sharp — Ulster University
• Dr Noel Brick — Ulster University

Project Title

The feminisation of sport migration

Research Profile

• Neha Dhaliwal — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Paul Darby — Ulster University
• Dr Katie Liston — Ulster University
• Mr Ryan Adams — Ulster University

Project Title

A cross-cultural analysis of parents’ influence on the psychosocial experiences and success of competitive tennis players in Eastern Europe

Research Profile

• Kensiia Kotiusheva — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Lee-Ann Sharp — Ulster University
• Dr David Woods — Ulster University
• Dr Lea-Cathrin Dohme — Cardiff Metropolitan University

Project Title

Irish Athlete Transition Experiences and Support

Research Profile

• Oisin MacManus — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University
• Dr Lee-Ann Sharp — Ulster University
• Dr David Woods — Ulster University
• Dr Kyle Ferguson — Ulster University

Project Title

Irish athlete transition experiences within the US collegiate sport system

Research Profile

• Francis Marsh — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Lee Ann Sharp — Ulster University
• Dr David Woods — Ulster University
• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University

Project Title

Olympic Athletes Experiences of Abuse

Research Profile

• Tristan Mayglothling — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University

Project Title

Mental Health in Sport: Development and validation of a measure of mental health in athletes

Research Profile

• Gavin Meek — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University
• Professor Mark Tully — Ulster University

Project Title

Examining E-sport Cultures

Research Profile

• Jack Micklewright — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Paul Kitchin  — Ulster University
• Dr Conor Heffernan — Ulster University

Project Title

Exploring connectivity between SPLISS and the success of TeamNI at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Research Profile

• Mark Montgomery — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Paul Donnelly — Ulster University
• Dr Kyle Ferguson — Ulster University
• Ms Tandy Haughey — Ulster University
• Professor Simon Shibli — Sheffield Hallam University

Project Title

Sports-Related Concussion: A Socio-Historical Analysis

Research Profile

• Matthew Nesbitt — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Katie Liston — Ulster University
• Dr Conor Heffernan — Ulster University

Project Title

Scouting Self-Efficacy Scale in Football: Development, Validation and Application

Research Profile

• Henry Titley-Wall — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Kyle Paradis — Ulster University

Project Title

Benchmarking the effectiveness of the sport development system within the GAA

Research Profile

• Gerard Walsh — Ulster University

Supervisors

• Dr Paul Donnelly — Ulster University
• Dr Rachael Telford — Ulster University
• Dr Paul Kitchin — Ulster University
• Dr Kyle Ferguson — Ulster University
• Professor Simon Shibli | Sheffield Hallam University
• Dr Peter Horgan - Gaelic Athletic Association

Patrick Nelson has been CEO of the Irish Football Association since August 2009. In that time the Association has developed well on a number of fronts, particularly improving in the areas of governance, strategy and structure, and of course qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016 after a gap of 30 years. In this role, Patrick was also responsible for the £38 million rebuild of the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, which opened in October 2016. Patrick is a director of the Association's subsidiary stadium management company and a trustee of its charitable arm, the IFA Foundation. Patrick is also a director of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the organisation which sets the Laws of the Game worldwide for football. Prior to joining the Association, Patrick was CEO at both Macclesfield Town and Notts County Football Clubs.

Before moving into the football industry, Patrick worked in the global payment cards industry for many years, with roles at Capital One, MasterCard and American Express.

He holds an honours degree in Business Studies from Nottingham Trent University and a master's degree in European Sports Governance from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.

Patrick was appointed as a Visiting Professor in the School of Sport at Ulster University from February 2020.

In June 2023, Patrick was appointed as Chair of the National Trust Regional Advisory Group for Northern Ireland.

In April 2024 Patrick was appointed by the Minister for Justice as an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.