People within Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health

Professor Gareth Davison

Research Director

Gareth is Professor of Exercise Biochemistry and Physiology, Director of Research at the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, and Director of the Exercise Biochemistry and Physiology Research Laboratories at Ulster.

He holds a BA, MSc, and an MSt in Genomic Medicine from the University of Cambridge (Homerton College), and was awarded his PhD in Biochemistry and Physiology in 2002.

Professor Davison is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and has published widely in the area of Exercise Biochemistry and Medicine. His work can be read in high impact factor journals such as Redox Biology, Free Radical Biology & Medicine, Diabetologia, Sports Medicine and Clinical Science. He sits on a number of journal editorial boards, and is the current Physiology and Nutrition Executive Editor at the Journal of Sports Science.

He has attracted significant grant income and conducted many successful research projects with local government agencies and international organisations. Professor Davison has a successful record of PhD researcher completions, and has examined postgraduate research degrees at several national (Ireland and UK) and international universities.

Professor Marie Murphy

Professor of Exercise and Health

Marie is Professor of Exercise and Health, Dean of Postgraduate Research and Director of the Ulster Doctoral College. She graduated from Ulster with a BA (Hons) Sport & Leisure and PGCE (with distinction) in Physical Education and was awarded an MSc in Sports Science (with distinction) and a PhD in Exercise Physiology from Loughborough University.

Marie’s research focuses on the effect of physical activity and exercise, in particular walking, on health and uses multidisciplinary approach that has included outcome measures ranging from the behavioural to the biochemical. Her work has contributed to the evidence base underlying the current physical activity guidelines in the US, UK and Ireland and she was a co-author of the UK guidelines by the 4 Chief Medical Officers in the report  “Start Active Stay Active” (DoH 2011).  She has over 120 publications (peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and invited editorials).

Marie is a member of the UK Chief Medical Officer’s expert advisory group on physical activity and is currently leading the scientific panel reviewing the UK physical activity guidelines for adults. She is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) ,  the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES)  and the Higher Education Academy and is on the Board of the International Society of Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) and the WHO Europe Health Enhancing Physical Activity Steering Committee (HEPA Europe). She is on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Sports Sciences (JSS) and an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (IJBNPA).

Marie was a member of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (UK-wide assessment of university research quality) sub-panel for Sport & Exercise Sciences Leisure & Tourism  and has recently been appointed as Chair  of this sub-panel for  REF2021.

Dr Conor McClean

Senior Lecturer

Conor was appointed in September 2008 as a Lecturer in exercise physiology within the School.

Conor completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical science at Queen’s University Belfast in 2003 before undertaking his PhD in Exercise Physiology at Ulster University in September 2004. For his doctoral thesis Conor investigated the role of acute and chronic exercise interventions in conditions of metabolic disturbance and the corresponding relationships with peripheral vascular function and indices of oxidative stress.

Dr Carla McCabe

Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Biomechanics

Carla joined Ulster University as a Lecturer in sport and exercise biomechanics in 2014.

Carla’s research and teaching interests are in human movement performance, specifically within an aquatic environment.

Carla is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute (SESRI), she teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and is the School of Sport’s Postgraduate tutor.

Carla has an international research portfolio as evidenced through her collaborations, conference activity and peer-review engagement across numerous Sport Science and Biomechanics journals.

Carla graduated from the University of Limerick (2003) with a BSc Sports and Exercise Science degree (First Class honours). Subsequently, she was awarded a scholarship and completed her PhD at the University of Edinburgh (2008) investigating the effect ‘race pace’ had on three-dimensional kinematics and linear kinetics within sprint and distance specialist swimmers.

In 2009, Carla was awarded a visiting scholar grant to the Australian Institute of Sport in order to conduct research and disseminate the findings to National coaches.

Carla’s first lecturing post was in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Edinburgh (2011-2014). During this period, Carla was a key member within the Centre of Aquatics Research and Education (CARE); providing bio-mechanical support to elite and non-elite swimmers, creating aquatic CPD modules and producing research publications.

Carla also contributed to the formation of the Human Performance Science research group within the Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health Science (ISPEHS) in Edinburgh.

Dr Mary Margaret Meade

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Dr Rodney Kennedy

Lecturer in Sport & Exercise

Rodney graduated from Ulster University in 1999 with a BA Hons in Sport and Leisure Studies. In 2004, he completed a PhD in Exercise Physiology, also from Ulster University. He spent five years working as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with Ulster Rugby from 2001-2006.

In 2007, he was appointed as a Lecturer in sport and exercise Sciences at Ulster University where he contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate provision. Rodney is the Course Director for the BSc Hons Sport and Exercise Sciences degree and is a fellow of Higher Education Academy. He is a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS) and accredited strength and conditioning coach (ASCC) with the NSCA and UKSCA respectively. In addition, Rodney has been a tutor/assessor for the UKSCA since 2011.

Dr Lee-Ann Sharp

Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology

Dr Andrea McNeilly

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition

Dr Angela Carlin

Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Health (Physiology)

Dr Angela Carlin is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. Angela was awarded a BSc and PhD from Ulster University and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Angela’s research interests include the development and evaluation of interventions to promote physical activity in children and adolescents, the determinants of physical activity across the lifecycle, and the use of technology to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. Angela has been involved in several national and international research projects and supervises doctoral students.

Angela is Principal Investigator on the Y-PATH NI project, involving the development and testing of the Youth – Physical Activity Towards Health intervention in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. Angela’s current research collaborations also include the Walking In ScHools (WISH) Trial: A peer-led, school based walking intervention for adolescent girls, and EUMOVE, an Erasmus+ Project aimed at implementing a comprehensive set of strategies and resources to enable the educational community to promote healthy lifestyles.

Angela recently led the all-island research working group for the 2022 Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Angela has published >30 peer-reviewed research articles and disseminated her research at national and international conferences.

Dr Stephen Shannon

Senior Lecturer

Dr. Stephen Shannon is a Lecturer and Course Director in the School of Sport within the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences.

Stephen was awarded a BSc and PhD from Ulster University, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, teaching on several undergraduate and postgraduate psychology and mental health modules at Ulster, as well as supervising MSc and doctoral students.
Stephen is research active through the Sport and Exercise Research Institute and the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being. He has published >30 peer-reviewed research on mental health promotion within and through sport and physical activity, and co-authored a Sage textbook. As a coinvestigator, Stephen has helped secured grant awards from UEFA, the Public Health Agency, and the Education Authority, among others.

Through both teaching and research, Stephen works closely with a range of external stakeholders in sport, health, and policy contexts, which have informed the delivery and hosting of conference symposiums in Ireland, the UK and Internationally.

Dr Gerard McMahon

Lecturer in Exercise Health (Physiology)

Dr Mark Matthews

Lecturer in Sport Physiotherapy

Dr Paul Donnelly

Senior Lecturer in Sport Development & Coaching

Dr Mark Hutson

Lecturer in Exercise Physiology & Nutrition

Lee Rooney

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise (Sports Coaching)

In 2016, Lee joined Ulster University as a Lecturer in sport and exercise (Sports Coaching). Within his roles he contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research, community outreach and consultancy within the School of Sport. Lee's research and teaching interests explore the areas sports coaching and exercise, physical activity and educational settings and performance monitoring and analysis with team and combat sports.

Lee graduated from Ulster University in 2001 with a BSc in Sport, Exercise and Leisure (2:1) with DIS (Commendation). In 2002, he was also awarded a PGCE in Physical Education from Ulster University and in 2015, Lee graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an MEd in Physical Education (Distinction). This has provided Lee with the motivation to work in higher education and engage in PHD study.

Over a 14 year period (2002-2016), Lee gained experience working within sports coaching and exercise as well as education and training. Lee was employed as a Lecturer in sport within Southern Regional College, in 2002. Between 2007 and 2015, he was appointed as Course Director for the Foundation Degree (FdSc) in sport, exercise and fitness. In 2015, Lee was appointed as Deputy Head of School for sport studies at Southern Regional College with curriculum responsibility for five subject areas across three campuses. In addition, Lee was also the Delivery Partnership Manager for Princess Trust as well as the programme lead for Active IQ and WBL within the School/College.

Lee is a qualified multi sports coach and exercise professional with professional accreditation within sports coaching, physical education and exercise and fitness. He is also a qualified assessor and verifier within each of these subject areas.

Dr Kyle Paradis

Lecturer in Sport Sociology/Sport Psychology (Mental Health)

Kyle moved from Toronto, Canada to join Ulster University as a Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology in the School of Sport and Exercise Science within the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at Ulster University.

Kyle is the Research Centre Lead for the Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity, and Health, and is a member of the Centre for Sport and Society, within the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute.

Kyle is the Course Director for the BSc (Hons) Program in Sport and Exercise Science in Belfast and he teaches undergraduate and graduate modules in sport and exercise psychology.

Kyle also teaches on the MSc Program in Sport and Exercise Psychology in Belfast and supervises PhD students in sport and exercise psychology.

Kyle is also a Certified High-Performance Curling Coach and an international curling athlete. He has represented Ireland on the national team competing at several European Curling Championships.

Education

• PhD, Kinesiology, Psychological Bases of Physical Activity (University of Western Ontario)
• MED, Higher Education Practice (Ulster University)
• MHK, Human Kinetics, Sport & Exercise Psychology (University of Windsor)
• BA (Honours), Sport Psychology (Laurentian University)

Dr Jason Wilson

Lecturer in Physical Activity & Health

Professor Deirdre Brennan

Professor of Community Sports Outreach

Deirdre Brennan is Professor of Community Sports Outreach. She graduated with a BA (Hons) Sport Studies, PGCE (Physical Education), MA Leisure Studies and a PhD in Sport Sociology from Ulster University. She joined Ulster as Lecturer in Physical Education in 1992. Deirdre teaches at undergraduate and post graduate level. Deirdre was the founder and Director of the multi-award-winning Ulster Sports Outreach unit (SO) a strategic initiative of Ulster University designed to widen access to sport and physical activity to young people in areas of greatest disadvantage and develop the practical and professional skills of aspiring teachers, coaches, and sport for development professionals.

Sport Outreach received the ‘INSPIRED BY 2012’ status by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Unit (2013). Sports Outreach received a Times Higher Education Shortlist award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community by a University (2014). It won Coaching Intervention of the Year for Northern Ireland (2015), UK Coaching Intervention of the Year (2015) and College and University Business Officers (CUBO) Innovation Award for Excellence in Student Experience (2016). One of her flagship programmes was Sport for L.I.F.E. was recognised by the World Health Organisation as best practice in promoting physical activity to marginalised groups and by the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) for promoting physical activity as part of the European Food Framework (2012). Sport for LIFE and the Sport for LIFE ‘Teaching Training’ Legacy projects were also awarded London 2012 Inspire Awards. Deirdre was also awarded Public Engagement Ambassador status by the UK National Centre for Public Engagement.

Deirdre is a strong advocate of high level student sport and was the author of the University Talented Athlete Scheme and flexible learning opportunities in slow tracking and approved absence and independent study options. Deirdre has been the key driver behind the success of Ulster University Basketball Club, which led her to develop the International Sport Scholarship Programme. Ulster University Basketball Club is one of the university’s most successful sports club with multiple college and varsity titles in the men’s and women’s game.

Deirdre also co-founded the Sport Changes Life Foundation (2010) a charity designed to raise the aspirations of young people at risk using sport, sporting role models and personal development. She is author of ‘eHoops’ a programme using sport to target those not in education, employment, or training (NEET’s) that was one of only four shortlisted as ‘Best New Project’ in 2014 by Beyond Sport.

Deirdre is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the recipient of both a Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching (1998) and a Fellowship in Academic Enterprise for her innovation and enterprise using sport (2012).

Dr Erin Byrd

Lecturer in Sport and Public Health

Kyle McConnell

Technician – Sport, Nursing and Health Science

Dr Paul Kitchin

Senior Lecturer

I am a Senior Lecturer in sport management within the School of Sport. My PhD investigated organisational change on managers, staff, and youth participants in para-sport.

I am interested in how social justice is developed through sport, that said I am also interested in how injustice is exacerbated through sport. I examine how management facilitates the discrimination of disabled people and along with colleagues I am also interested the nexus between sport business, marketing, and gambling.

I am a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and my teaching and supervision focuses on leadership, management, and justice in and through sport organisations.

I am a former faculty member and sessional lecturer in universities in Britain and Australia. Across Britain and Ireland, I have acted as an external assessor and examiner to a number of sport business programmes.

Tandy Haughey

Senior Lecturer

Tandy Jane Haughey graduated from Ulster University in 1994 with a BA Honours Degree in Sport, Exercise and Leisure. In 1995 and 1996 she was awarded a PGCE in Physical Education and an MSc in Sport, Exercise and Leisure, also from Ulster. After spending three years teaching physical education in Assumption Grammar School, three years as a Sports Development Officer for Castlereagh Borough Council and three years a Coach Training and Development Officer for Coaching Northern Ireland, in 2005 she was appointed as a Lecturer in sports coaching and development at Ulster where she contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research, community outreach and consultancy.

Tandy lecturers across all programmes within the School of Sport but specifically within the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching Degree programme, she is also Course Director of the BSc in Sport Studies. Tandy is involved with the development of children’s coaching from a Northern Ireland perspective, associated with Netball Northern Ireland, Coach and Talent Networks, qualified Assessor and Mentor and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Tandy is currently involved with the Athena Swan Mentorship programme (FAME) as a mentor.

She is also currently developing the CPPD L3/4 Coaching Children Workshop as part of a suite of CPPD for high performing coaches in association with scUK which will be delivered across the UK. Tandy has positive working relationships with Sport Northern Ireland, scUK and the Youth Sport Trust and has worked in partnership with these organisations to bring conferences for coaches and future young ambassadors to Ulster.

Sinead Connolly

Lecturer in Sport & Exercise

Mrs Sinead Connolly is a full time Lecturer in physical education and sports coaching. She joined the School of Sport staff team in January 2008, prior to this Sinead worked as a physical education teacher for eight years and spent three years working as the Northern Ireland Coaching/Education Officer for the (then) Northern Ireland Institute of Coaching and Sport NI. As a Lecturer in the School of Sport the main focus of her work is in the areas of Sports Coaching and Physical Education. She teaches both theoretical and practical modules across both BSc programmes (sport studies and sport & exercise sciences). As the Learning and Teaching Coordinator for the School of Sport; Sinead leads the staff to develop, promote and grow the quality of provision so that the student experience is the very best it can be.

As a British Gymnastics, Coaching Ireland and Sport NI Coach Educator and Assessor Sinead has extensive experience providing coach education courses in both generic and sport specific settings and has made a significant contribution to the workforce development in gymnastics in particular. Sinead has co-authored a number of courses and resources in the areas of safeguarding children in sport, gymnastics and physical education. She worked closely with Gymnastics Ireland in the production of their GymEDGE programme.

In 2006 Sinead established Club GymFUN, a community gymnastics club based at Ulster University. This club has become a focus for the award winning Ulster University GymFUN Coach Education and Employability programme which has produced over 200 gymnastics coaches and has training more than 200 school teachers in gymnastics. In 2015 the Club was awarded the prestigious British Gymnastics Club of the Year NI award and was runner up in the national Club awards. Sinead’s contribution to workforce development was also recognised at these awards when she was runner up in the Coach Educator Category at the British Gymnastics National Awards.

Dr David Woods

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

Dr Lizzy Deery

Lecturer in Sport and Health