Can you tell us about your Sport and Exercise SCIENCE Journey so far? 

Many of my family members worked in the healthcare sector in careers ranging from aromatherapy to nursing. So I grew up learning a lot about the human body. I also played ice hockey professionally, so I was keen to combine my interests in science and sports performance and went on to study BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science at Manchester Met. 

After graduating, my first position was at Active Partnerships. I happened to meet the CEO at a conference and got chatting. A week later I was interviewed for a position and was offered the role. All of my jobs so far have been through meeting people informally. There truly is value to networking and saying “hello”. 

I now work at the University of Northampton. My main role has been to developed the health pathway of the undergraduate Sport and Exercise Sciences course, as well as continuing my research with collaborators from Manchester Met. My undergraduate dissertation ignited my passion for research, which led me to a PhD at Manchester Met and now I’m lecturing and researching the topics that I chose to study during my undergraduate degree. 

From the skills gained during your time at Manchester Met, which have you used most in your career so far?  

Communication is by far the most important skill. It’s important to have knowledge, but if you can’t convey your knowledge and negotiate with others you are going to struggle to get your points across. Although challenging at the time, I’m grateful for all the presentation and group work assignments that I did on my undergraduate degree. 

There were lots of extracurricular opportunities at University. I helped staff monitor the performance of British Junior Orienteers and participated in research projects. The experience helped me understand how to translate our course content into practice.

What are your greatest achievements so far?  

Passing both my undergraduate degree and PhD were very proud moments. Since joining the University of Northampton, I have been awarded Early Career Researcher of the Year, received two research grants and published a handful of research publications. More people are becoming familiar with my work and I am meeting some brilliant people from charities, businesses and the government. I am very excited about the future. 

What advice would you give to students who aspire to a career in Sport and Exercise Science?  

Take opportunities to discuss feedback with your course staff, they have already gone through a similar journey and will have invaluable advice. 

Never be afraid to say ‘hello’ because you never know where it will lead. I’ve been introduced to multiple new contacts by just saying hello to one person. Most of the time it’s who you know that gets the initial foot in the door. 

What does diversity mean to you?  

Greater representation across ethnicities and genders across all areas, from staff to students and researchers. 

Science can be seen as a white male-dominated field and we need to challenge that view. There are incredible scientists across the world with different experiences and backgrounds, we need to represent them better. 

Even for research participants, we need to provide better representation across our studies. The current participant bias to white men limits our scientific understanding, which can create health inequalities and different standards of healthcare. 

Diversity is important to create a more equitable healthcare sector with treatments that can be used across the world. As Scientists, we need to tackle these inequalities with our research and as Lecturers, we need to maximise every student’s potential by providing equitable support and inclusivity. 

What are your plans for the future?  

I am currently leading a Breaking Down Barriers group in our Sports department to enhance the inclusively and accessibility of our courses.

On a personal level, I am hoping for some successful research projects and funding applications. I hope that my research can bring benefits to the local, national and international populations someday.  

It’s also important to remember that work is just a small part of life. So I hope to spend plenty of time with my family and friends, see some new places and start my own family one day. 

Broaden your horizons with RISE extracurricular activity award.