Sports Physiology and Nutrition

Our Sports Physiology and Nutrition Research Group investigates the physiological responses and adaptations to exercise, and determines the efficacy and application of novel training, nutrition and ergogenic interventions to enhance sport performance.

Research themes

If you're interested in pursuing postgraduate study and research with us, contact one of the researchers listed above. More information about the range of research topics within these general themes can be found below.

Our activities and students

Our research team has interest and expertise across a wide range of sport and exercise physiology research areas. Many supervising staff have identified priority research areas and are available to supervise new research students. See below for details and please contact any of the SPaN team if your interests align:

A/Prof Simeon Cairns

Muscle and exercise fatigue, supplementation and performance, high-intensity exercise, electrolytes, carbohydrate, team-sport

Priority areas of interest: Fatigue

Dr Eric Helms

Bodybuilding, weight class, hypertrophy, body composition, strength

Priority areas of interest: Improving strength, altering body composition

Prof Andrew Kilding

Endurance physiology, running economy, female athlete physiology, team sport conditioning, ergogenic aids, strategies to maximise aerobic adaptations and performance, heat stress/acclimation for performance

Priority areas of interest: Running economy, Team sport conditioning, Female athlete physiology

Dr Ed Maunder

Mitochondrial adaptation, durability, substrate metabolism, endurance physiology, heat stress

Priority areas of interest: Mitochondrial adaptation, Durability, Fatty acid metabolism

Dr Dan Plews

Ergogenic aids, micro-nutrient usage, recovery and sustainable training, durability, Carbohydrate restriction

Priority areas of interest: Right Fuel, Right Time training manipulation; Specific CHO supplementation for endurance performance; micro-nutrient usage for recovery, HRV and inflammation in athletes.

Matt Wood

Optimising exercise for health outcomes. Multi-component lifestyle strategies/health delivery models. Responses and adaptations to exercise in clinical populations.

Priority areas of interest: Optimising exercise strategies and health delivery models.

A/Prof Caryn Zinn

Dietary practice and manipulation for performance and health. Carbohydrate-restriction. Special population elite and recreational athletes (T2Diabetes).

Priority areas of interest: Carbohydrate-periodisation; continuous glucose-monitoring (CGM) use.

PhD Candidates

  • Jessica Bush
    Topic: Impact of Resistance Training on the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Response in Elite Sprint Endurance Athletes
    Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Paul Laursen, Daniel Plews
  • Bryant Byrd
    Topic: Impact of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Competitive Endurance Athletic Performance: From the Laboratory to Field-based Events
    Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Gary Guilder (Western Colorado University), Lance Dalleck (Western Colorado University)
  • Pam Charoensap
    Topic: Heat shock protein 70 responses to acute endurance exercise
    Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding
  • Andrew King
    Topic: Acute Carbohydrate Strategies for Resistance Training Performance
    Supervisors: Eric Helm, Caryn Zinn
  • Kedric Kwan
    Assessing and optimising rapid weight loss strategies for the weight class restricted strength athlete.
    Supervisors: Eric Helms, Adam Storey, Brandon Roberts
  • Mathew Mildenhall
    Topic: Using the speed-duration relationship to understand elite endurance performance
    Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Simeon Cairns
  • Hannah Tiedt
    Topic: The effect of different nutritional strategies on sleep quality and the downstream impact on endurance performance in long distance runners
    Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Caryn Zinn
  • Weston Titus
    Topic: Cannabidiol (CBD) use in Athletic Humans: Effects on Exercise and Recovery
    Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Matthew Schubert (Cal State San Marcos)
  • Frans Van Der Merwe
    Topic: Assessment and optimisation of running capacity in youth field hockey players
    Supervisors: Craig Harrison, Andrew Kilding
  • Tanuj Wadhi
    Topic: Using Machine-Learning and IoT Sensors to Assess Athlete Recovery
    Supervisors: Daniel Plews
  • SangHoon Yoon
    Topic: Potassium-carbohydrate interaction during fatigue induced by high intensity exercise in females and males
    Supervisors: Simeon Cairns, Ed Maunder

Master’s Students

  • Harrison Dudley-Rode
    Topic: Effect of carbohydrate ingestion during exercise on durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition
    Supervisor: Ed Maunder, Caryn Zinn
  • Finn Clearkin
    Topic: Time course effects of New Zealand blackcurrant supplementation on fat oxidation in endurance cyclists
    Supervisors: Andrew Kilding

PhD students

  • Jeffrey Rothschild
    Topic: Effects of Carbohydrate or Protein Ingestion on Adaptations to Endurance Training
    Supervisors: Daniel Plews, Andrew Kilding

Master's students

  • Kate Hamilton
    Topic: The relationship between athlete durability metrics, the peak fat oxidation rate, and endurance performance
    Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding
  • Kai Homer
    Topic: The effect of Carbohydrate Loading on Subjective Bodybuilding Scoring, Muscle Size, and Mood States
    Supervisors: Eric Helms, Matt Cross
  • Hubert Korybut-Woroniecki
    Topic: The Cost Of Oxygen Transport and Muscular Oxygenation During Human Locomotion in Heat and Altitude
    Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Franck Brocherie (INSEP)
  • Doreen Zhu
    Topic: Effects of carbon running shoes on running economy and performance in triathletes
    Supervisor: Andrew Kilding

Research group leader

Members