Research degree students

Aaron Miatke

PhD - Empirical reallocation of time
ARENA Research focus area: Activity

Supervisor

• Dr Dot Dumuid (principal)
• Prof. Tim Olds
• Prof. Carol Maher
• Dr. Francois Fraysse

Bio

I completed a Bachelor of Human Movement in 2011 and a Bachelor of Health Science (hons) in 2016. I also have experience working as a research assistant in roles at UniSA and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute centered around physical activity, biomechanics and adolescent health.

I have an interest in the way people choose to spend their time (including physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior) and the relationship of these choices with health and health risk. I started my PhD in 2022 which looks at the trade-offs people make with their time to fit everything within the confines of the 24-hour day. My PhD focuses on how people change the way they spend their time after life events or transitions, or when under imposed demands like a physical activity intervention.

Belinda Durey

PhD - Investigating the feasibility and impacts of pre-operative exercise in bariatric surgery candidates.
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Professor Alison Coates
• Associate Professor Kade Davison
• Professor Daniel Martin (Plymouth University)

Bio

I am an accredited exercise physiologist, with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science (Human Movement and Health Studies) (UniSA) and a Masters degree in Exercise Science (University of Queensland).

After working clinically for several years in Australia and the United Kingdom I started a teaching role at UniSA in Clinical Exercise Physiology. I then applied to concurrently begin a PhD candidature.

My work overseas included setting up a (NIHR) funded clinical trial at a central London hospital. Through a collaboration between UniSA and University College London (UCL) this work continues as part of my PhD. The project aims to determine the benefits of an exercise program for patients awaiting weight-loss surgery.

Bethany Gower

PhD - To establish and pilot a physical activity metric as a modifier for predicting and managing absolute cardiovascular disease risk.

ARENA Research focus area:

• Physical activity and exercise
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cardiovascular assessment
• Policy development

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Kade Davison
• Dr Danielle Girard
• Dr Terry Boyle

Bio

I completed my Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology degree in 2017 and Masters by Research in 2020 at UniSA. I work clinically as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and teach into the third- and fourth-year Clinical Exercise Physiology Honours degree. My PhD project focusses on the role of physical activity in the management of absolute cardiovascular disease risk. Despite evidence outlining the benefits of exercise in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), physical activity behaviour is not routinely screened for in primary health care settings. We are investigating the independent role that physical activity has in modifying the development of CVD and how this might be better implemented as primary care.  

Branson Palmer

Masters by Research - The use of load monitoring in elite young athletes
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr. Robert Crowther
• Dr. Grant van der Ploeg
• Dr. Pitre Bourdon
• Mr. Scott Butler

Bio

I have a Bachelor of Exercise & Sport Science degree from the University of South Australia. During my studies, I have also worked as a tutor for Biomechanics of Human Movement practical classes undertaken by undergraduate students.

My current masters project is in collaboration with Basketball SA under 16’s and U18’s metropolitan state-level teams. This research encompasses three studies (a scoping review and two experimental studies) focused on the usefulness of athlete monitoring in young elite athletes for managing training load. One of the experimental studies was assessing the reliability and validity of using a portable force platform and VX Sports IMU, whilst the other was a longitudinal study of training load during Basketball SA’s 10-week pre-competition training period. This Master’s project is connected with a grant entitled “Basketball SA & UniSA High Performance Scholarship”.

Some of my other interests related to my research include long-term athlete development, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, and athlete performance testing.

Brett Tarca

PhD - Exploring Relationships Between Fatigue, Mood, Physical Function, Physical Activity and Adverse Events for People Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise and Activity

Supervisors

• Dr Katia Ferrar
• Dr Tom Wycherley
• A/Prof Paul Bennett
• A/Prof Shilpa Jesudason

Bio

I am an Exercise Physiologist at the University of South Australia with over 10 years’ experience in the health industry. I completed a Bachelor in Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2016 followed by a Masters by Research in 2020.

I have been responsible for the delivery of key clinical content into the Clinical Exercise Physiology program through my undergraduate and postgraduate careers, in addition to the supervision of students in the UniSA Exercise Physiology and High-Performance Clinic. 

My current research is a collaboration between UniSA and the Central Northern Adelaide Renal Transplantation Service exploring the relationships between patient identified research priorities in physical activity, physical function, fatigue, mood, and adverse events for people receiving peritoneal dialysis. The aim is to understand the underlying relationships between these outcomes to  develop and tailor movement-based interventions to improve the lives for people receiving peritoneal dialysis.

Brooke Jenner

Masters by Research - Reliability of lower limb strength assessment and the running vertical jump test in female team sport athletes.
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr Robert Crowther
• Dr Carmel Nottle
• Dr Julie Walters
• Dr Steve Saunders
• A/Prof Anthony Leicht

Bio

I have completed by Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science degree at UniSA, continuing with a Masters by Research degree in the sport and biomechanics disciplines. My project seeks to investigate the lower limb muscular strength capabilities, and the running vertical jump test for the female team sport athlete population. This research aims to report the test-retest reliability of these assessments and will assist the development of standardised protocols for strength and biomechanical assessments and provide normative data for the female athlete population. Additionally, supporting future injury risk profiling, performance monitoring and return to sport protocols may provide confidence to practitioners and coaches in their delivery of strength and biomechanical assessments.

Catherine Simpson

Masters by Research - Developing an evaluation strategy for the South Australian Sports Voucher Program
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise and Activity

Supervisors

• Professor Carol Maher
• Dr Rosa Virgara
• Dr Rachel Curtis
• Ms Michelle Crisp (ORSR)
• Ms Simone Licari (ORSR)

Bio

I am a Masters by Research candidate with a bachelors degree in Physiotherapy and post graduate diploma in Public Health. I have worked as a physiotherapist in paediatrics for over a decade, primarily in intensive care and clinical education. In addition to my clinical work, I have also been the recipient of the Hospital Research Foundation- UniSA- SA Health Research Collaboration Grant.

My project is in collaboration with the Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing and aims to develop an evaluation strategy for the South Australian Sports Voucher Program. This will involve reviewing the evaluation strategies used by financial incentive schemes around the world and conducting a stakeholder engagement process to develop an ongoing annual evaluation strategy for the SA program, with the ultimate aim of understanding the level of voucher uptake, and how this is changing over time.

Chloe Blacket

PhD - The role of motivation in sustained running participation
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr John Arnold
• Dr Joel Fuller
• Dr Hunter Bennett
• Dr Alyson Crozier

Bio

I am a researcher and tutor in Exercise and Sport Science with UniSA: Allied Health and Human Performance. I completed my undergraduate degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours) at UniSA in 2019 and work as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a particular interest in behaviour change and motivational interviewing.

As a passionate distance runner, I wanted to explore how running can become a life-long, enjoyable form of physical activity. Unfortunately, over 30% of new runners stop within 9 months of competing at a running event. Lack of motivation is a major reason people discontinue, yet we know little about why people lose motivation to run.

My PhD research aims to investigate the barriers and enablers to running participation. I will also investigate the effect of an online intervention for novice runners on motivational and psychological factors related to sustainable running, with the aim of promoting long-term running participation.

Chloe Otte

Masters by Research - Seasonal health tracking and game day dietary intakes of Australian Football League Women’s athletes
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition (sports nutrition)

Supervisors

• Dr Alison Hill
• Dr Evangeline Mantzioris
• Ms Brianna Salagaras

Bio

I am an Exercise and Sport Science graduate from UniSA and began my postgraduate research in early 2020 within Clinical and Health Sciences. I have always been passionate about working with elite athletes to help them meet their performance goals. During my undergraduate program, I completed a year-long cadetship at the Adelaide Football Club (AFC) and the experience and relationships built from this placement has led to my current research in nutrition for elite female athletes.

Women’s participation in Australian Football League (AFL) is growing, yet there is a paucity of studies in this area. In collaboration with the AFC, my research explores the seasonal changes in diet and health-related parameters in professional female AFL athletes. This project is novel because it profiles diet and health of female athletes at multiple time points throughout the season, where previous studies have profiled dietary intake during pre-season only, and without concurrent assessments of training load, body composition, and iron studies. This project also aims to assess game day dietary and fluid intakes, which is yet to be evaluated in these athletes.

Daiki Kasai

PhD - Use of ratings of perceived exertion to predict peak oxygen uptake during a submaximal 20-metre shuttle-run test 20mSRT in children to minimise negative affective responses
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise and Nutrition

Supervisors

• Professor Gaynor Parfitt
• Dr Margarita Tsiros
• Professor Roger Eston

Bio

I have previously completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement & Health Studies) and a Masters by Research (Health Science) at the University of South Australia.  My PhD will extend my Masters Thesis.

Cardiorespiratory fitness during youth is important to consider as it may be associated with lower disease risk and mortality later in life. Standardised fitness testing to assess cardiorespiratory fitness is embedded within physical education curriculums internationally. The 20-metre shuttle-run test (20mSRT) is the most popular fitness test used in schools to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. However, the 20mSRT requires a maximal effort by the participant, which is known to induce an acute negative affective (unpleasant) experience. Studies have shown that acute negative affect during exercise adversely influences future physical activity behaviours. My PhD will examine children’s previous experiences and perceptions of fitness testing and aims to validate a submaximal 20mSRT protocol using the ratings of perceived exertion to predict cardiorespiratory fitness and minimize negative affective responses.

Ella Bracci

PhD Student - Mediterranean Diet interventions in older Australians 
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Karen Murphy
• Dr Courtney Davis

Bio

I have a Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science and a master’s in medical science. During my master’s, I conducted research on a variety of popular dietary patterns and healthy eating principles including the Mediterranean Diet and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. I examined the nutrition profile, the cost, risk factors and long-term sustainability reflective of behaviour change. I am now completing a PhD with a focus on the Mediterranean dietary pattern which is one of the leading dietary patterns for healthy longevity.

The majority of my PhD will examine the clinical outcomes of a Mediterranean Diet intervention in older Australians from a retirement population. My research is part of a wider NHMRC Boosting Dementia Grant and a Hospital Research Foundation Grant with collaborators from Swinburne University, Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

I will also be building on previous research by creating an updated Healthy Food Basket for Australians based on the AGHE, and developing an additional basket based on the Mediterranean Diet.

My PhD aims to provide valuable information in the field of Mediterranean Diet research and ultimately encourage the widespread adoption of a Mediterranean Diet in the Australian population.

Emily Eglitis

PhD - Interventions to address children's summer holiday inequities and health losses
ARENA Research focus area: Activity

Supervisors

• Professor Carol Maher
• Professor Timothy Olds
• Dr Amanda Watson-Machell
• Dr Rosa Virgara
• Ms Mandy Richardson

Bio

I am a Physiotherapist with over 15 years’ experience working in private practice, during which I have seen and felt the importance of moving well (and moving enough) in optimizing our individual health outcomes. Over my career, I have spent time abroad as a volunteer physio in Nepal, studying yoga in India, trekking and travelling with friends and family. These activities have helped cultivate a deep interest in health equity and inspired me to return to Uni to study a PhD.

My PhD is focused on health, social and learning losses that occur during the school holiday period when children do not attend school. A range of evidence is emerging suggesting that health disparities between advantaged and disadvantaged children widen across the summer vacation period, suggesting that perhaps the summer holidays are an important time for us to intervene.

My PhD partners with the South Australian Department for Education and will aim to bring together all of the evidence regarding changes in kids’ health and wellbeing over the summer holidays, examine how this differs depending on children’s level of disadvantage, and explore models for summer vacation programs that may hold the key to closing this gap.

If you’re around ARENA, and have an interest in my PhD topic, or the PhD journey, reach out and say hi – I’d love to hear from you.

Emily Jayne Leadbeater

Masters by Research - Co-designing a framework and clinical pathway for access to specialised exercise services in outpatient cancer services at Flinders Medical Centre
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise 

Supervisors

• Assoc Prof. Kade Davison
• Dr. Danielle Girard
• Prof Bogda Koczwara

Bio

I completed by Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2021 completing my honours thesis on the role of specialised exercise services in the acute cancer unit at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC). Currently, I work as an accredited exercise physiologist working with NDIS, DVA, Medicare and private clients.  My Master's project is focusing on co-designing a pathway for specialised exercise services to be implemented into outpatient cancer care at Flinders Medical Centre. Currently, specialised exercise services such as exercise physiology or physiotherapy are not standard practices within the cancer unit at FMC despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the benefits for exercise during and after cancer treatment. The hope for my project is that it will develop a pathway for patients living with cancer to access these services in a feasible and practical way. My project is being completed in collaboration with Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer.

Emma Moore

PhD - Cold water immersion: impact of sex on athletic performance
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisor

• Professor Jon Buckley
• Dr Clint Bellenger
• Associate Professor Shona Halson (ACU)
• Dr James Broatch (AIS)

Bio

I graduated with a Bachelor of Human Movement (Exercise and Sports Science) in 2017 and throughout the years have spent a lot of time working with elite athletes within the SANFL and SANFLW as a sports trainer and exercise scientist. This led to my PhD project being centred around the athletic recovery modalities used by athletes, namely cold-water immersion.

My project is in collaboration with the Norwood Football Club and explores how cold-water immersion can be used to accelerate recovery post strenuous exercise, particularly for female athletes. Following my experience with the SANFLW athletes, I realized how little research had been completed in female athletes especially in terms of recovery for returning to peak performance, so I made it my goal to create a protocol specifically for female athletes to help them optimize their recovery practices.

Erin Anne Colebatch

Masters by Research - Evaluating dietary and health-related risk factors for running-related injury in masters recreational long distance runners
ARENA Research focus area - Nutrition

Supervisor

• Dr Alison Hill
• Dr Evangeline Mantzioris

Bio

I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Sports Dietitian with 14 years of experience across clinical dietetics and private practice. My undergraduate qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (University of Adelaide, 2003) and Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Flinders University, 2008).

In 2018, I completed the Sports Dietitians Australia Sports Nutrition Course to pursue my interest in nutrition for runners. I have since developed a private practice that supports recreational long distance runners. Unfortunately, runners have a high prevalence of running-related injury. As an avid recreational runner and through my work with athletes, I am keen to understand the role of diet in the development of running-related injury.

My research is focused on exploring the role of dietary and health-related behaviours on the development of running-related injury in masters (aged ≥35ys) long distance recreational runners. This population may be at increased risk for running-related injury due to age-related physiological changes, poor dietary intake and nutrient deficiencies. This research will guide strategies to lower the risk of running-related injury and support masters runners to remain physically active.

Fabian Garcia-Byrne

PhD - Monitoring fatigue in elite cricket
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Professor Jon Buckley
• Dr Tom Wycherley
• Dr Chris Bishop
• Mr Stephen Schwerdt (industry advisor)
• Mr John Porter (industry advisor)

Bio

I have a degree in Human Movement with Honours from the University of South Australia. I am an accredited professional strength and conditioning coach and sport scientist with over 5 years’ experience working in elite sport with international, national and pathway level athletes.

My PhD is a collaboration between the South Australian Cricket Association and the University of South Australia. My research focuses on monitoring fatigue in elite cricket using GPS technology. A big part of my research has been the development of a submaximal running assessment which can be used to predict an athlete’s endurance performance based on the lateral sway the athlete displays during the test. This can then be used by coaches to see how their athletes are responding to training and/or competition.

My current research is investigating areas of cricket performance which may be useful as a marker of fatigue.  

Georgina Barratt

PhD - Repeated sprints in hypoxia: Benefits and physiological adaptations in high performance endurance athletes 
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition, Exercise and Activity

Supervisors

• Professor Jon Buckley (Principal)
• Co-Supervisors:
• Dr Clint Bellenger
• Dr Eileen Robertson (SA Sports Institute)
• Dr Jamie Stanley (SA Sports Institute)
• Associate Professor Olivier Girard (Associate supervisor)(University of Western Australia)

Bio

I completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and a Master’s by Research (Human Movement) at the UniSA. During this time, I assisted with athlete monitoring within the South Australian Sports Institute’s rowing program, worked at UniSA as a research assistant and academic tutor Exercise Prescription, Biomechanics of Human Movement, and Foundations of Sport and Exercise Science. I am currently a PhD Candidate at UniSA. My research is in collaboration with the South Australian Sports Institute and the University of Western Australia and

will investigate the effect of repeated sprint training in hypoxia (simulated altitude) on endurance athletes. This aim of my PhD is to develop a better understanding on the acute physiological responses to repeated sprints in hypoxia and characterise the training effect in endurance and endurance-power based athletes, across cycling, rowing, kayak and canoe to better inform how this training modality can be used to improve performance.

Hannah Phoebe Cockram

PhD - Supporting the wellbeing of veterans and their families as they transition through the Invictus Pathways Program
ARENA Research focus area: Activity (psychological wellbeing)

Supervisors

• Dr Dannielle Post
• Professor Gaynor Parfitt
• Dr Brad Stenner
• Dr Miranda Van Hooff

Bio

I am a PhD candidate with a Bachelor degree in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) from UniSA and an Honours in Science from Monash University. Hannah has previously worked as a research assistant in ARENA, contributing to research exploring the physical and mental wellbeing of family care-partners of veterans.

My PhD focuses on supporting the physical and psychological wellbeing of veterans and their families as they transition through UniSA’s Invictus Pathways Program (IPP). The IPP is a wellbeing program for returned service men and women and first responders with physical, and/or physiological or emotional conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The program uses sport and exercise to promote community involvement, recovery, and physical and psychological wellbeing for participants. My project will aim to assist veterans and their families as they transition through the pathway and ensure that they have the skills and resources required to support their physical and mental wellbeing outside of the program.  

Henry Blake

PhD - Team-sport participation and the health of middle-aged men
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition, Exercise and Activity

Supervisors

• Professor Jon Buckley
• Dr. Alyson Crozier
• Dr. Brad Stenner

Bio

I completed a Bachelor of Human Movement in 2016 before undertaking an Honours degree in sport physiology in 2017. Since my undergraduate studies I have worked in higher education at UniSA and Flinders University.

In 2019 I began my PhD within ARENA. While it is consensus that exercise improves physical and mental health, most middle-aged men are insufficiently active. Exercise adherence is improved through group settings and having fun, and therefore team-sport may hold advantage to improve this demographics health. Studies have shown team-sport to improve physical health, but very little has considered its impact beyond physical health, and that is where I come in. Through my main study, a randomised control trial, I am assessing how a 12-week team-sport program, compared to group circuit training, impacts middle-aged men’s mental health status, exercise motivation, and sense of relatedness with exercise companions. I hope to provide clearer insight into whether team-sport is advantageous over alternate exercise modes or not.

James Murray

PhD - Effect of exercise on cancer therapy related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr. Rebecca Perry
• Prof. Eva Bezak
• Dr. Hunter Bennett
• Dr. Sudarsha Selva-Nayagam

Bio

James Murray is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP), completing a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours, 1a) in 2019 at UniSA.

Since graduating and enrolling as a full-time PhD candidate, James has also spent time practicing clinically at a local exercise physiology clinic, and teaching and supervising 4th exercise physiology students at UniSA.

James’s research is investigating the effect of exercise on cancer therapy related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Many side-effects of chemotherapy are well-known, such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss.

However, certain types of chemotherapy for breast cancer are also toxic to the heart, causing irreversible cardiac damage, and causing life-long cardiovascular complications for breast cancer survivors. Given the known benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health and function, James’s research is investigating if cardiovascular exercise during chemotherapy in women with breast cancer can this prevent damage to the heart and act as a protective mechanism.

His multi-disciplinary project includes clinicians specialising in exercise physiology and exercise science, cardiac sonography, and medical oncology. James’s project is in collaboration with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with the Queen Elizabeth, Lyell McEwin, Western and Calvary North Adelaide Hospitals also involved in the recruitment of participants for this research.

Jessica McDonald

Masters by Research - The Prevention of Ankle Injuries in Elite Adolescent Footballers
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr Samuel Chalmers
• Dr Hunter Bennett
• Associate Professor Steve Milanese
• Dr Joel Fuller (Macquarie University)

Bio

I completed my undergrad Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science in 2021 before being accepted into this Masters project beginning in January 2022. My research is in collaboration with the SANFL U18 league and we are investigating injury incidence, in particular, ankle injuries.

Additionally, we’re investigating the effects of a specific Ankle Injury Prevention warm-up program on ankle injury prevention. The warm- up consists of hopping, jumping, bounding type exercises that are known risk factors for ankle injuries.

A Multiple Hop Test is a test of ankle stability that is conducted with participants at baseline, 12- weeks and end of season to determine if there are any improvements in ankle stability. Throughout the season, we are collecting and collating injury incidence data that will be used in conjunction with historical injury data to determine an injury profile for the SANFL U18 league.

Josh Gregorace

Masters by Research - The contextual factors influencing running demands in elite Australian football
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr Clint Bellenger
• Dr Max Nelson
• Dr Grace Greenham

Bio

I graduated from my Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science degree in 2020, then moved into a Masters by Research degree.

My project is in collaboration with the Adelaide Football Club. I have been very fortunate to work with the Adelaide Football Club for the past 3 years where I am now also the AFLW GPS Analyst.

Together with the Adelaide Football Club we are seeking to explore the contextual factors that influence the in-game running demands of Australian Rules football players. The contextual factors include but are not limited to environmental conditions, the result of the match, and various AFL based statistics.

This area is currently understudied in Australian football, thus my goal is to provide the Adelaide Football Club and external Sports Scientists greater resources to appropriately monitor and plan their training to optimise on-field performance.

Joshua Grandison

Masters by Research - Wellbeing and Subjective Training Load Monitoring in Adolescent Athletes
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• Dr Graeme Carrick-Ranson
• Dr Samuel Chalmers
• Dr Alyson Crozier

Bio

In 2019 I completed my bachelor’s degree in Human Movement (Exercise & Sport Science) at UniSA. Looking to undertake postgraduate studies, I started my master’s by research degree in May of 2020 after winning a position as part of the Basketball SA & UniSA High Performance Scholarship. Throughout my research candidature, thanks to the industry partnership, I was employed as a strength and conditioning coach at Basketball SA and worked closely with the youth state teams.

I was subsequently able to recruit from squads of elite athletes to take part in my first of two studies. The aim of the research was to observe a twelve-week training program and investigate the relationship between subjective measures of internal training load and self-reported, sport-specific wellbeing in adolescent basketballers. My second study was a systematic review and aimed to determine the relationship between subjective and objective measures of training load amongst adolescent athletes.

Together, my findings help in developing understanding of the most effective methods for monitoring young athletes and the factors at play as they make their way through an important period of physical, psychological and social development.

Kate Redden

Masters by Research - Care navigation and motivational interviewing in community-based chronic disease management programs – what contributes to successful outcomes?
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition, Exercise and Activity

Supervisors 

• Dr Dannielle Post
• Professor Susan Hillier

Bio

I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy at UniSA in 2012 and have since worked as a clinician in both neurological rehabilitation and community-based aged care. I am interested in the role of lifestyle behaviours in regards to prevention and management of chronic diseases. My Masters by Research degree will explore the role of Care Navigation (CN) (underpinned by Motivational Interviewing principles) for people living with chronic disease.

The Healthy Choices program is a NHMRC-funded, 12-week, student-led, CN program for people living with a chronic disease. The program is run by UniSA in collaboration with the City of Charles Sturt, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the North-West Adelaide Health Study.

My research involves a scoping review that will establish the extent and outcomes of programs that have used CN in chronic disease management (CDM), and a qualitative analysis, using semi-structured interviews, of the perspectives of participants who have been involved in UniSA’s Healthy Choices program. The purpose of this analysis is to understand the factors that enable participants to make positive lifestyle changes related to CDM.

My research will contribute to the literature with a narrative summary of existing CN programs in CDM. The exploration of the role of students as Care Navigators, and identification of the factors that contribute to positive lifestyle behaviour changes for people living with chronic disease will inform the ongoing development of the Healthy Choices program. Beyond this, the outcomes will be useful for others seeking to develop and implement community-based CN programs for CDM.

Kimberley Szeto

PhD - Towards the routine use of wearable activity monitors in healthcare: a systems thinking approach
ARENA Research focus area: Activity

Supervisors

• Professor Carol Maher
• Dr John Arnold
• Mr Tony Hewitt

Bio

My PhD explores the use of wearable activity trackers (WATs) in health care, and aims to develop and evaluate a standardised approach to their use in a real-world health care setting. Assessment and promotion of physical activity is a key component of health care across a range of populations and settings, and WATs provide valuable opportunities to address both of these purposes. Despite this, widespread implementation and routine use of WATs in health care is not yet being achieved. My project involves an industry advisor from Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, and comprises four studies that use quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methodologies to produce a body of work that will hopefully support future efforts to integrate WATs into routine health care on a large scale across various South Australian settings.

Prior to starting my PhD in 2021, I worked as an accredited exercise physiologist and a research assistant at UniSA, and continue to maintain smaller volumes of each while I complete my candidature. My work as a clinician involves a combination of service provision for various populations and supervision of Clinical Exercise Physiology students. My experience as a research assistant spans various projects, teams and disciplines. I enjoy many aspects of research, but particularly love digesting big ideas, writing, and endless learning.

Kitty Hoi Yan Wong

Masters by Research - Blood pressure and lipid responses to an energy-restricted diet including nuts 
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition

Supervisors

• Professor Alison Coates
• Dr. Alison Hill
• Dr. Sharayah Carter

Bio

Kitty is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a Masters by Research candidate, who graduated from a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics at Flinders University and a Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at University of South Australia. Kitty also works as a Clinical Dietitian, Research Assistant and Tutor. Her passion is to connect her research and clinical work together.

Kitty has a strong research interest in exploring new ideas, reasons and possibilities in nutrition and metabolic health. Both weight loss and the consumption

of nuts have shown benefits for controlling cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Kitty’s research project focuses on understanding the combined effects of these approaches to lipid and blood pressure control in a randomised control trial funded by Almond Board of California.

Lachlan Mark Winter

Master by Research - The practicality of non-linear dynamic calculations for the analysis of cycling performance
ARENA Research focus area: Activity

Supervisors

• Dr. Robert Crowther
• Dr. Clint Bellenger
• Associate Professor Paul Grimshaw
• Dr. Simran Sidhu

Bio

I completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science in 2020 and I’m halfway through Masters of Research.

My research is focusing on developing a potential method to monitor movement variability in cycling in practical situations like riding on a velodrome. Currently there exists no studies analysing movement variability in cycling despite its potential impact on cycling performance. Variability may negatively impact a cyclist’s aerodynamic drag profile and ability to exert effective force onto the pedal, subsequently hindering their power output. My study is assessing how repeatable blue trident inertial measurement units (IMUs) are at detecting movement variability in both novice and experienced cyclists. It is hypothesised that the IMUs will exhibit good repeatability. Theoretically, novice cyclists will exhibit more variability than their experienced counterparts.

Lauren McDougall

Masters by Research - Sport Therapy for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Exploring changes in psychosocial and functional performance for children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy with 12 weeks of RaceRunning
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisors

• A/Prof Kade Davison
• Dr Danielle Girard

Bio

I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist specializing in paediatric disability.

Movement limitations associated with Cerebral Palsy can impact their ability to participate with peers, and in physical activity and sport.

RaceRunning allows individuals who have limited, or no, ability to walk independently to propel themselves using their legs, with the support of a three-wheeled frame. This provides an opportunity to participate in a structured sport, physical activity, and increase social participation.

This project is part of a broader study funded by the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation.

Lauren Mead

Masters by Research - The impact of weight loss from energy-restricted diets with or without nuts on glucose regulation.
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition

Supervisors

• Professor Alison Coates
• Dr Alison Hill
• Dr Sharayah Carter

Bio

I am a Masters by Research candidate with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. I recently published my first publication titled ‘The Effect of Nut Consumption on Diet Quality, Cardiometabolic and Gastrointestinal Health in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials’.

Overweight and obesity are associated with complications in glucose regulation and if left untreated can lead to conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes.

My masters project focuses on changes in weight following energy-restricted diets (almond enriched vs nut free) improving various measures of glucose regulation. Data for my project was collected from a larger clinical study funded by the Almond Board of California.

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Liam Beazleigh

Masters by Research - Impact of errors in Suncorp Super Netball
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisor

• Associate Professor Pitre Bourdon
• Dr Grant van der Ploeg
• Ms Jade Traynor

Bio

I am a 2021 Exercise and Sports Science graduate, who developed a keen interest in Performance Analysis. Through a range of placement and professional development opportunities during my studies at UniSA, I was afforded the opportunity to work within SA’s elite netball pathways with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and various Netball SA programs.

To further my knowledge and professional capabilities, I commenced a Masters by Research Degree in conjunction with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. I became aware that there is a significant lack of research in regard to the influence of errors on netball match play and results. My research will aim to determine the impact of errors on match outcomes, as well as determine the factors influencing error occurrence. Data from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Suncorp Super Netball seasons will be used in analysis. My findings will aid coaches in assessing and addressing the error types that most impact on match results, as well as  help determine which factors they should prioritize correcting to stop errors occurring.

Maddison Mellow

PhD - Optimising daily activity patterns for brain health in older adults
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition, Exercise and Activity

Supervisors

• Dr Ashleigh Smith
• Dr Alexandra Wade
• Dr Dot Dumuid
• Professor Jill Dorrian
• Dr Mitchell Goldsworthy

Bio

I previously completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Cognitive Neuroscience) at the University of South Australia, and am now a full-time PhD candidate. My PhD research aims to understand how use of time across the 24-hour day (i.e. time spent sleeping, engaging in physical activity or being sedentary) is associated with cognitive function and several aspects brain health and function, including brain volume and brain plasticity, in older adults. My PhD research is funded by a Dementia Australia Research Foundation PhD scholarship, and uses data from ACTIVate, an NMHRC-funded project.

My broad research interest is to understand how lifestyle behaviours impact brain health and function across the lifespan. So far, my research has involved combining a range of experimental techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), accelerometry and cognitive testing. In addition to my PhD research, I have been involved in several other projects through my work as a research assistant, and I am also employed as a tutor for several UniSA courses.

Mitchell Anderson

Masters by Research - Effect of water dousing on heat strain and performance during endurance running
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisor

• Dr Sam Chalmers
• Dr Clint Bellenger

Bio

Mitchell has a Bachelor’s degree of Exercise and Sport Science. His current masters project is investigating the effect of water dousing on heat strain and performance during endurance running. Hot and humid conditions currently regarded as extreme in Australia are soon set to be the new normal. Accordingly, ensuring safety for all during sport and exercise in Australia should be considered a priority moving forward. Pouring water over the body (dousing) may be particularly effective for cooling, due to the heat loss potential from the evaporation of fluid on the skin. The potential cooling effect may benefit to reduce heat related illness and improve exercise performance.

Shane Adam Burgess

PhD - Rate of Heart Rate Increase: monitoring readiness for physical performance
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise 

Supervisor 

• Professor Jon Buckley
• Dr Samuel Chalmers

Bio

In 2003 I graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human movement). In 2004 I completed an Honours study investigating the effects of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on exercise performance and recovery with the Port Power football club. I then worked as an exercise physiologist for three years before completing a Masters of Physiotherapy in 2011. Over the last ten years I have worked as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in a large multidisciplinary clinic where I run a specialised cycling service focused on optimising cycling biomechanics for both cyclists and triathletes.

I have also been a tutor at the University of South Australia in the areas of physiology, training and performance, exercise physiology, and sport and skill analysis. Currently I am a tutor for first year physiotherapy students.

My PhD focus is on the relationship between markers of heart rate acceleration at the onset of exercise and exercise performance. I am interested to determine the mechanism of heart rate acceleration at the onset of exercise and whether heart rate acceleration markers can be used to guide training.

Shayne Chau

PhD - Visualization and clinical relevance of nigrosome1 in patients with Parkinson’s disease
ARENA Research focus area: Activity

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Gabrielle Todd
• Associate Professor Robert Wilcox
• Associate Professor Marc Agzarian
• Professor Eva Bezak

Bio

Shayne is currently a Senior Lecturer in Medical Imaging at the University of Canberra. Shayne has undergraduate (Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Medical Imaging), UniSA) and postgraduate (Computed Tomography/Image Interpretation, University of Sydney and Clinical Education, Flinders University) qualifications and expertise in computed tomography (CT), diagnostic radiography, and neuroimaging biomarkers. Shayne is currently undertaking a PhD at UniSA, in collaboration with clinicians at Flinders Medical Centre. The aim of his PhD project is to develop a new method for assessing the MRI appearance of the brain region (substantia nigra) that is most affected by Parkinson’s disease.  The outcome of his PhD project will be an easy-to-use quantitative.

Stuart Gollan

PhD - Using the moments of play framework to quantify game styles in soccer
ARENA Research focus area: Exercise

Supervisor

• Prof Kevin Norton
• Dr Clint Bellenger

Bio

I am a PhD candidate with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science (Human Movement and Health Studies). I previously gained my Honours degree researching the effects of heat training on athletic performance. I began my professional career as a recovery physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport, before commencing employment at the Adelaide United Football Club as a sports scientist, where I was employed for over five years.

My research is in collaboration with Adelaide United FC and involves quantifying game styles in soccer. Specifically, using the moments of play framework to describe and compare the tactical and physical demands of different playing styles. With data collected from both the English Premier League and the Australian A-League, the research involves partitioning matches into distinct periods of play, based on ball possession, and analysing the different playing styles within and across teams.

Susan Ward

PhD - Dietary patterns, adiposity, and chronic musculoskeletal pain
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition

Supervisor

• Dr Alison Hill
• Professor Alison Coates
• A/Prof Katherine Baldock
• Dr Carolyn Berryman

Bio

I am a current PhD candidate having completed a Masters by Research in Nutritional Physiology in 2020. My research interest focusses on the impacts of nutrition on human physical health and functioning. This research focus stems from having worked as a clinical physiotherapist for 15 years before returning to study a Bachelor of Nutrition & Food Sciences (UniSA).

My PhD now endeavors to combine this foundational knowledge in a cross-disciplinary approach to explore an area of nutritional research which initially confronted me as a physiotherapist; what are the relationships between diet and chronic pain? The PhD is structured such that each of three studies takes a different approach to address the overarching research question, “How do dietary patterns and adiposity influence chronic musculoskeletal pain?”. This project has provided the opportunity to collaborate with The International Spine Centre (TISC), Adelaide, and their Director of Research. I anticipate my research findings will provide a foundation for future dietary interventions to manage chronic pain.

I have utilised opportunities to advance my research skills including working as a Research Assistant for different clinical trials within ARENA and teaching roles within the University. I am a student representative for the Nutrition Society of Australia, Adelaide Branch Committee, and an HDR representative on the ARENA Steering Committee. Outside of the University, I provide administrative support to the Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform (ONLP). I also have a passion for cooking nourishing meals for my family which I post to Instagram @sues_phood and tweet relevant to my research at @suward7.

Yan Yin Phoi

PhD - The temporal patterns of eating and relationships with diet quality in general and shift work populations in Australia: Development and utilisation of a chrononutrition questionnaire.
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition

Supervisors

• Professor Alison Coates
• Professor Jill Dorrian
• Associate Professor Maxine Bonham (Monash University)
• Dr Michelle Rogers

Bio

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) from Flinders University, South Australia and am an Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia.

I began my career as a clinical dietitian in Singapore, where I provided medical nutrition therapy to individuals with chronic disease or who underwent surgery and required nutrition support. My passion is in weight management, and in counselling patients for weight loss, I encountered many shift workers with health conditions who faced weight loss challenges as their lifestyle sees a greater occurrence of eating in the night.

I have always questioned whether beyond what my patients were eating, when they were eating was affecting their health. Hence, my PhD project aims to develop and validate a Chrononutrition Questionnaire that quickly and conveniently identifies temporal patterns of eating in relation to an indicator of the circadian rhythm (chronotype) in both shift and non-shift workers. I will then use this questionnaire to analyse relationships between temporal patterns of eating and diet quality of the Australian population. I hope that this tool will have far-reaching effects, in allowing future studies to better understand the relationship between meal timings and health outcomes.

My PhD is connected with an NHMRC funded study titled the “Shifting Weight using Intermittent Fasting in night shift workers (SWIFt) Study”.

Zandile Rwodzi

PhD - Building your best day for dementia prevention - longitudinal trajectories of dementia risk
ARENA Research focus area: Nutrition, Exercise and Activity

Supervisor

• Dr Ashleigh Smith
• Dr Dot Dumuid
• Associate Professor Kate Laver

Bio

I completed my Bachelor of Nursing at UNISA in 2014, Post Grad Diploma of Dementia Care in 2019 and Master of Public Health in 2020. 

Since beginning my nursing career I have always had a passion for Dementia research which led to my applying for the “Building your best day for dementia prevention - longitudinal trajectories of dementia risk” project within ARENA. My research is funded by an NHRMC grant which also uses data from the ACTIVate project which focuses on ways to evaluate the optimal aspects of diet and exercise to reduce the risk of dementia.

My PhD aims to bridge the gaps of activity and exercise whilst exploring how these factors can collaboratively impact cognitive function over a 3-year period.  The longitudinal data from the ACTIVate study will be collated from 450 people aged between 60 to 70 years. The goal of this project is to develop a targeted and sustainable physical intervention through the development of an evidence-based, user-friendly web and mobile device app. This app will assist users in making better health choices which will improve brain health. In a modern world where artificial intelligence and development of wearable monitor technology is fast becoming the norm, this app with be a first of its kind for Australians across the lifespan.

My current role is in Dementia Research in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network with the hope of one day working alongside my supervisors in bringing this project into clinical practice nationally and internationally.