My research interests lie in how immune cells contribute to inflammation and tissue repair, and how we can use exercise to potentially modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation, and promote repair. This involves using immunological techniques to measure immune cell number, activation and function, in immune cells from human samples from either acute, or long-term exercise studies.

Immunology; Exercise; Ageing; Flow Cytometry; Inactivity; T-Cells; Monocytes; Macrophages

Director of Research for Sport and Exercise Science department at Heriot-Watt University

Programme Director for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

EGIS Research Ethics Committee Chair

I graduated from Heriot-Watt University in 2009 with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, and awarded the James Watt Medal. I subsequently completed my MRes (Masters by Research) in Exercise Physiology at Waterford Institute of Technology in the Republic of Ireland in 2011 before starting my PhD at Edinburgh Napier University. My PhD studies centred around the influence of age and physical activity on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (circulating cells derived from the bone marrow responsible for maintaining blood vessel integrity). Upon completion of my PhD, I started my lectureship at Edinburgh Napier University as Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, and was Programme Leader for their B.Sc Hons Sport and Exercise Science degree from 2018-2022, after which I moved to Heriot-Watt University to take up my current role as Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Physiology, and becoming Director of Research for the Sport and Exercise Science department. 

I am a fair weather cyclist, who loves coffee.