Our students
PhD students
- Ahsan Ilyas
Topic: Impact of visuo-motor training and cognitive-behaviour-based intervention on functional performance, biomechanical factors, and fear of re-injury in athletes post-ACL reconstruction surgery
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Tony Oldham - 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) - Chantel Bakersmith
Topic: How can Kaupapa Māori approaches enhance leadership within sport governance?
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Catherine Mitchell - Chaoke Hu
Topic: The Effects of Rehydration Strategies on Aspects of Muscle Physiology and Muscular Performance in Powerlifters
Supervisors: Eric Helms, Alyssa-Joy Spence, Matt Cross - Choi Yin Lai
Topic: Examining the Perceived Value of Hallmark Events and Heritage-Based Sport Tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Katie Bruffy - Chris Toland
Topic: The effects of a neuromuscular training programme on the kinetics of an overhead athlete
Supervisors: John Cronin, Duncan Reid - Christian Houmann Amdi
Topic: The impact of exercise specificity and individualised exercise selection on powerlifting performance
Supervisors: Mike McGuigan, Eric Helms, Alyssa-Joy Spence - Cigdem Ceylan
Topic: Digital Media Framing of Female Athletes by National Sport Organisations and Its Influence on Women’s and Girls’ Sport Participation in New Zealand
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Sarah Wymer - Connor Silvester
Topic: Mental health screening in Aotearoa New Zealand high performance athletes
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Liesje Donkin - Courtney Mitchell
Topic: Exploring the influence of physical demands, technical demands, and menstrual cycle on elite academy female footballers
Supervisors: Aaron Uthoff, Matt Cross, Alice Sweeting - Daniel Capeto
Topic: Management factors influencing the increase in the average age of professional athletes
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Kirsten Spencer - Dave Erbe
Topic: Fostering Human-Nature Connection through Transformative Outdoor Education Experiences
Supervisors: Charlotte Jelleyman, Lance Dalleck - David Sturrock
Topic: The Effects of Isometric Resistance Training on Mechanical Tendon Properties and Sprint Performance
Supervisors: John Cronin, Dustin Oranchuk - Dogus Bakici
Topic: The acute and chronic effects of various volume flywheel exercise on athletic performance
Supervisors: Matt Brughelli, Matt Cross, Ivan Jukic - Elena Prandoni
Topic: Application of the Durability Model in a Twice-per-Day Training Scheme in Endurance Runners
Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding - Erin Porteous
Topic: The Effects of Outdoor Spaces and Activities on the Mental Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls: A Case Study of a Surfing Programme in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Supervisors: Mike Brown, Charlotte Jelleyman - Farshad Beiranvand
Topic: Modeling Predictors of Brain Health Outcomes
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Alice Theadom - Frans Van Der Merwe
Topic: Assessment and optimisation of running capacity in youth field hockey players
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Craig Harrison - Gajasinghe De Silva
Topic: Multimodal Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Recovery in Female Athletes Following ACL Reconstruction: Integrating Clinically Relevant Technologies
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Suzie Belcher - Gaye Bryham
Topic: Cultivating leadership capability in sport organisations: A Study of Rugby in New Zealand
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Sierra Keung - George Marsh
Topic: The Use of Repetitions in Reserve (RIR) as an Autoregulation Tool for Strength Training in Older Adults
Supervisors: Luigi Bercades, Eric Helms - Georgia Fisher
Topic: The effects of micronutrition supplementation on athlete performance and recovery.
Supervisors: Daniel Plews, Jeffrey Rothschild, Caryn Zinn - Gong Zheng
Topic: Energetic Profiling and Physiological Responses and Adaptations to Different High-Intensity Aerobic Training Prescription Methods in Team Sport Athletes
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Mike McGuigan - Hamish Kyne
Topic: The effects of wearable resistance on jump diagnostics and performance
Supervisors: John Cronin, Jono Neville - Handi Wang
Topic: Cognitive–Physical Cross-Training To Enhance Fatigue Resilience and Decision-Making in Soccer Players
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Kirsten Spencer - 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 - Jaron Kung
Topic: The associations between maturation, specialisation, performance and injury in New Zealand youth basketball players
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Mike McGuigan - Jasper Wong
Topic: The relationships between biomechanics, training load, and running related injury
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Hannah Wyatt, Chris Whatman - Jaylene Pratt
Topic: Te haerenga o te hinengaro: A collaborative exploration of mental aspects in waka ama for performance enhancement
Supervisor: Kirsten Spencer, Tony Oldham - 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 - Jordan Boriel
Topic: The effects of post-exercise ischaemic conditioning on neuromuscular and perceptual recovery in trained endurance athletes
Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding - José Antonio Martínez-Rodríguez
Topic: The effect of improving base running efficiency on baseball players
Supervisors: John Cronin, Ryan Crotin - Julie Hood
Topic: Development governance capability of sport organisation Chief Executive Officers (CEOs): Selected case studies within Aotearoa New Zealand
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Tracy Molloy - Katie Dee
Topic: Strengthening athlete leadership in sport governance
Supervisors: Lesley Ferkins, Katie Bruffy, Angela Walker Subramaniam - Kirsten Beyer
Topic: Improving Bone Health and Balance in Postmenopausal Women: A Home-Based Exercise Intervention
Supervisors: John Cronin, Jono Neville - Lucas Borato
Topic: Defining and assessing adolescent awkwardness in youth sport.
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Simon Walters - Luke Zhen
Topic: Sports for Nature: Crafting Sustainable Solutions in New Zealand’s Sporting Events
Supervisors: Mel Johnston, Erica Hinckson - Nikki Reynolds
Topic: Signals in the Blood: Developing Personalized Reference Ranges and Validating UCH-L1 and GFAP For Acute mTBI Detection and Recovery Prediction
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Alice Theadom - Maggie Michalak
Topic: The Use of Wearable Sensors and Flywheel Resistance Training to Improve Deceleration Capacity in Female Athletes with Implications for Rehabilitation Post ACL Reconstruction
Supervisors: John Cronin, Chloe Ryan - Mahdi Mansouri Roudbaneh
Topic: An Investigation into the Physical Attributes, Training Habits, and Match Performance of Adolescent Male and Female Football Players in New Zealand, and the Effects of a Targeted Training Intervention
Supervisors: Anja Zoellner, Andew Kilding - Mahmoud Abdallah Hassan Almomani
Topic: AI-Driven Injury Risk Prediction and Prevention in Taekwondo
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Sam Madanian - Mark Jones
Topic: Reconceptualising outdoor education in an Aotearoa/New Zealand primary school: A pedagogy of the local
Supervisors: Mike Brown, Mark Orams - Mark Pryer
Topic: Characterizing pick-up acceleration capability
Supervisors: Aaron Uthoff, Chris Korfist, John Cronin - Mathew Mildenhall
Topic: Using the speed-duration relationship to understand elite endurance performance
Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Simeon Cairns - Matthew Wood
Topic: Effect of individualised exercise on physical function in cancer patients receiving immunotherapysed treatment
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Nicolas Hart - Mohammad Almomani
Topic: The Effects of Training at Long Muscle Lengths on Hypertrophy in Monoarticular vs Biarticular Muscles
Supervisors: Alyssa-Joy Spence, Mike McGuigan - Nathan Puppyn
Topic: Sprint mechanics and hamstring injury risk in field sport athletes: A technology-driven and kinematic investigation
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Aaron Uthoff - Andrew Lenton
Topic: Examining the Experiences of New Zealand Elite Dual Career Athletes and their Key Support Networks: A Case Study
Supervisors: Simon Walters, Adran Farnham - Nathan Te Hurinui Stewart
Topic: Application of Nasal Breathing During Exercise: Effects on Performance, Physiology and Recovery in Team Sport Athletes
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Ed Maunder - Nhu Thi Yen Nguyen
Topic: Vietnamese public high school curriculum through place-responsive outdoor learning
Supervisors: Mike Brown, Denise Atkins - Pam Charoensap
Topic: Better understanding durability and stress responses to acute endurance exercise
Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding - Pam Charoensap
Topic: Heat shock protein 70 responses to acute endurance exercise
Supervisors: Ed Maunder, Andrew Kilding - Patrick Lunde
Topic: Acute and Long-Term Effects of Cold Water Immersion on Neuromuscular Function, Muscle Excitation, and Strength Adaptations in Lower-Body Resistance Training
Supervisors: Alyssa-joy Spence, Roland van den Tillaar - Peter Tu
Topic: Physical Match Demands and the Youth-to-Senior Transition in NZ/Oceania Football
Supervisors: Kirsten Spencer, Nuttanan Wichitaksorn - Qi Zhang
Topic: Effects of Acute Exercise on Balance: Exploring the Physiological Mechanisms
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Ed Maunder, Stephen Kara - Ranjan Kumara Weerakoon Mudiyanselage
Topic: A critical comparative case study, evaluating the how the Sri Lankan and New Zealand approaches to COVID-19 affected the decision-making behaviours of sport tourists and sport tourism operators.
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Melody Johnston - Renata Bastos Gottgtroy
Topic: Modelling multimodal data for early detection of concussion using contemporary machine learning methods: A personalised approach to concussion diagnosis and rehabilitation management
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Alice Theadom - Rina Honda
Topic: Exploring the role of sport organisations in building resilience in communities impacted by natural disasters
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Michael Naylo, Lesley Ferkins (mentor) - Ruiwei Hong
Topic: Recovery prediction in squat training using machine learning
Supervisors: Mike McGuigan, Kirsten Spencer, Danielle Yang - Ruihao Luo
Topic: Biomechanical Characteristics and Research on the Forehand Clear Technique in Badminton Youth Training
Supervisors: Anja Zoellner, Tony Oldham - Sabina Just
Topic: The connection of emotion and motion in pregnancy and the influence on childbirth
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Peter McNair - Sam Purchase
Topic: Force-velocity profiling: Development and implementation of further movement pattern protocols with consideration towards practitioners
Supervisors: Adam Storey, Mike McGuigan - SangHoon Yoon
Topic: Potassium-carbohydrate interaction during fatigue induced by high intensity exercise in females and males
Supervisors: Simeon Cairns, Ed Maunder - Shaun Jenkins
Topic: Frontal Plane Hip Strength in Ice Hockey Players: Assessment and Warm-Up Strategies for Skating Performance
Supervisors: Aaron Uthoff, Mike McGuigan - Surabhi Date
Topic: Relationship between Training Load and Menstrual Cycles in Team Sport Athletes
Supervisors: Mike McGuigan, Casey Watkins, Kimberly SantaBarbara - Takahiro Itagaki
Topic: Exploring the transfer between exercise selection and muscle hypertrophy, and the utility of sEMG
Supervisors: Eric Helms, Matt Cross - Tammy Bezuidenhoudt
Topic: The impact of women's sport leadership programmes
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Lesley Ferkins - Tanuj Wadhi
Topic: Predicting athlete recovery and readiness-to-perform using machine learning with wearable sensors
Supervisors: Daniel Plews, Jono Neville, John Cronin - Tita Leaupepe
Topic: The influence of traditional Pacific movements on youth wellbeing
Supervisors: Sierra Keung, Simon Walters - Tristan Brotherton
Topic: Exploring Stakeholder Experiences of a Plus-Sport Programme: A Case Study
Supervisors Kirsten Spencer, Simon Walters, Patricia Lucas - Weston Titus
Topic: Cannabidiol (CBD) use in Athletic Humans: Effects on Exercise and Recovery
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Matthew Schubert (Cal State San Marcos) - Xiao Zheng
Topic: An Intergenerational Participatory Study on Walking Football for Health and Cultural Adaptation Among East Asian Immigrant Families
Supervisors: Richard Wright, Richard Aijee - Xuanming Hu
Topic: Effects of Eccentric Cycling on Modifiable Risk Factors for ACL injuries in Female Netball Athletes
Supervisors: Matt Brughelli, Anja Zoellner - Yukun (Sean) Wang
Topic: The relationship between sports involvement in the Olympic Esports Series on fan engagement in the Olympic Games: the role of intrinsic motivation and perceived value
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Lesley Ferkins - Yusen Shan
Topic: The Role of New Zealand Blackcurrant Supplementation in Supporting Performance, Recovery, and Adaptations in Team Sport Athletes Under Seasonal and Environmental Stress
Supervisors: Andrew Kilding, Caryn Zinn - Yuxiao Lian
Topic: Decreasing Falls Risk in Older Adults Through Flywheel Resistance Training: Exploring Optimal Parameters and Efficacy
Supervisors: John Cronin, Chloe Ryan - Zefeng Xing
Topic: The effect of maturity and growth on injury risk in youth basketball
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Michael McGuigan - Zhi Yuan
Topic: The use of rate of power development to monitor power production ability.
Supervisors: Mike McGuigan, Matt Brughelli - Zhiying Ma
Topic: Optimising Strength and Recovery in Resistance Training: The Role of Chronotype, Training Time, and Nutrient Distribution
Supervisors: Alyssa-joy Spence, Eric Helms
Masters students
- Acima Mary Mabidikama (MSEH)
Topic: Investigating the effects of the elbow depth rule on bench press performance in elite international powerlifting federation powerlifters.
Supervisor: Alyssa-joy Spence - Archi Manishbhai Vadodaria (MSEH)
Topic: Older Adults’ Experiences of Telerehabilitation Exercise Programmes for Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Qualitative Systematic Review
Supervisors: Luigi Bercades, Patricia Lucas - Bailey Green (MSEH)
Topic: Sleep Duration, Fatigue and Muscle Soreness and Training Volume in Pre-professional Elite Ballet Dancers
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Chloe McKenzie - Ben Owens (MSEH)
Topic: Youth Athletes’ Perceptions of the Sporting Environments Created by Coaches Who Participated in the Coaching for Impact Programme: An Interpretive Description
Supervisors: Simon Waters, Glenn Fyall - Bilji Cherian (MSEH)
Topic: A scoping review on the effectiveness of neuromuscular warm-up programs for injury prevention in female youth recreational soccer players.
Supervisor: Kelly Sheerin - Brad Jenkins (MSEH)
Topic: Exploring the kinematic relationship between repetitions in reserve and velocity in unilateral lower body exercises
Supervisors: Anja Zoellner, Alyssa-Joy Spence, Eric Helms - Che-Wei Yeh (MSEH)
Topic: A Scoping Review on the Implementation of Two Models of Acute: Chronic Workload Ratio in Collision Team Sports
Supervisor: Anja Zoellner - Declan Ward (MPhil)
Topic: High frequency oscillation movements and stretch-shortening cycle performance
Supervisors: John Cronin, Michael Schofield - Isaiah Goh (MSEH)
Topic: Training characteristics and injury occurrence in competitive HYROX athletes in the lead-up to competition: A cross-sectional survey
Supervisors: Adam Storey, Mark Matthews - James Robinson (MSEH)
Topic: Cleared but not ready? Investigating the impact of fatigue on testing used in ACL injury return-to-sport assessment
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Suzie Belcher - Blake Irvine (MSEH)
Topic: Monitoring Lower Leg Function in Professional Male Rugby Union Athletes Over a Playing Season
Supervisors: Aaron Uthoff, Adam Storey - Joe Green (MSEH)
Topic: Attacking Corner Threat of Professional Football: A Case Study into the Effects of Game State and Defensive Marking Style across an A-League Season.
Supervisors: Kirsten Spencer, Nuttanan Wichitaksorn - Josh Allan (MSEH)
Topic: Evaluating Performance Analysis Processes within Professional Rugby Union: Implications for Coaches’ and Players’ Use of Performance Data
Supervisor: Kirsten Spencer - JP Sahilices (MSEH)
Topic: Argentina vs. New Zealand: A Comparison of Physical Qualities and Anthropometric Profiles in Male Rugby Academy Players
Supervisor: Adam Storey - Julia Herbst (MSEH)
Topic: Creating a positional value score for performance in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Competition
Supervisors: Kirsten Spencer, Nuttanan Wichitaksorn - Kangzhe Xiong (MBus)
Topic: Ultimate Frisbee: The impact of the 'Spirit of the Game' concept
Supervisors: Tracy Molloy, Richard Wright - Kanika Palni (MSEH)
Topic: Promoting Women’s Football in India: How do athletes perceive the role of social media?
Supervisors: Sarah Wymer, Melody Johnston - Leanna Veal (MSEH)
Topic: Running biomechanics in trained youth runners and untrained youth team sport athletes.
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Kim Hébert-Losier (University of Waikato) - Lee Te Parihi Mou Paru (MSEH)
Topic: A Scoping Review of Isometric Lower-Body Strength and Linear Sprint Performance in Elite and Pathway Female Field-Based Team-Sport Athletes
Supervisor: Michael McGuigan - Lionel Ngendahayo (MSEH)
Topic: Force-velocity profiling of football players during jumping and sprinting.
Supervisors: Matt Brughelli, Aaron Uthoff - Logan Carr (MSEH)
Topic: Determining the influence of tactical formation and playing position on technical performance indicators in professional football.
Supervisors: Kirsten Spencer - Louise McGrath (MSEH)
Topic: An evaluation of the level of human intervention present in the diets of 18-35 year old male NZ rugby Union players in Northland NZ using digital journalling, the NOVA food classification system and HISS app.
Supervisors: Adrian Farnham, Kelly McCallum - Louise McGrath (MSEH)
Topic: Health Implications of Protein Powder Supplementation on Competitive Athletes: A scoping review.
Supervisors: Adrian Farnham, Kelly McCullum - Nicholas Robinson (MSEH)
Topic: A review of the association between early specialisation and injury in youth sport.
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Anja Zoellner - Nidhiben Hardik Nariya (MSEH)
Topic: Flexibility training for hamstring strain injury prevention in the late swing phase of high-speed running in athletes: A systematic review
Supervisor: Patria Hume - Pu Zhao (MSEH)
Topic: Asian Secondary School Students’ Experiences of Physical Education in Western Contexts: A Narrative Review to Inform Practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Supervisor: Kylie Thompson - Rizwaan Ali (MSEH)
Topic: The role of Performance Analysts in Coaching for Player Development: A Scoping Review of the Evidence.
Supervisors: Kirsten Spencer, Kelly McCallum - Kugar Thompson (MBus)
Topic: An Analysis of the Impact of Broadcasting Rights and Media Coverage on Athlete Motivation and Development Pathways in Netball in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Sarah Wymer - Saksham Singroha (MSEH)
Topic: From athlete to coach: How lived experience informs New Zealand coaching practice - a scoping review
Supervisors: John Cronin - Sarniya Moganathas (MPhil)
Topic: Walking patterns, hormonal cycles, and injury risks in female athletes’ post-concussion
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Nusratnaaz Shaikh - Shamindra Singha (MBus)
Topic: Understanding Audience Perceptions of Gender Equality in Contemporary Sports Media
Supervisors: Melody Johnston, Sarah Wymer - Shihan Gao (MSEH)
Topic: From athlete to coach: How lived experience informs New Zealand coaching practice - a scoping review
Supervisors: Adrian Farnham, Kylie Thompson - Simran Bairagi (MSEH)
Topic: The effectiveness of stretching exercises on pain, flexibility, and functional ability in adult musculoskeletal rehabilitation: A systematic review
Supervisor: Alyssa-joy Spence - Thomas Freeman (MSEH)
Topic: A scoping literature review of the effects of progressive tendon-loading exercise on pain and jump performance in athletes with patellar tendinopathy.
Supervisor: Michael McGuigan - Thomas O'Brien (MSEH)
Topic: Which Vertical Jump Test Best Reflects Daily Neuromuscular Readiness in Junior Rugby
Supervisors: Luigi Bercades, Michael McGuigan - XiaoYi Han (MSEH)
Topic: Coach Education Programmes and the Development of Interpersonal Skills: A Scoping Review
Supervisors: Adrian Farnham, Kylie Thompson - Xiaoyu Liu (MSEH)
Topic: Effects of a jump and sprint-based priming protocol on sprint and jump performance in female athletes
Supervisor: Michael McGuigan - Yoan Silvy Aulia (MSEH)
Topic: Resistance training and mental health outcomes in adult women: A Scoping Review
Supervisor: Charlotte Jelleyman - Yuuki Tahahashi (MSEH)
Topic: Eccentric Motorised Cycling as a Rewarm-Up Strategy for Baseball Pitchers
Supervisors: Matt Brughelli, Aaron Uthoff