Find Academic Supervisors

• Sports Psychology
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation
• Adolescent Athletics
• +2 more

Urban Johnson is a Professor at Halmstad University's School of Health and Welfare, specializing in sports psychology with a focus on sustainable participation in sports, health, and physical activity. His research examines psychological aspects of sports injury (pre- and post-injury) and healthy athletic engagement, particularly through pandemic-era studies of Swedish upper secondary sport students. Johnson's research interests center on: Psychological mechanisms in sports injury rehabilitation and prevention Adolescent athlete mental health and dropout dynamics Pandemic impacts on sport education systems Gender-specific responses to athletic challenges Longitudinal behavioral patterns in youth sports His work integrates qualitative analysis of student-athlete experiences with clinical psychology frameworks. His publication trends reveal intense focus on pandemic-related disruptions (2020-2025), with 12 of 15 recent articles examining COVID-19's impact on student-athletes, teachers, and sports systems. Key thematic clusters include: Sport injury psychology (ACL re-ruptures, prevention) Adolescent mental health during crises Fun/motivation dynamics in youth sports Cross-contextual leadership challenges Johnson actively supervises students at basic, advanced, and doctoral levels while teaching methodology courses. His collaborative projects include the Karolinska Football Injury Cohort Study and consensus statements on sport injury psychology. Current work emphasizes cocreation of injury prevention programs and psychological support services for elite handball.

Grethe MyklebustView profile

Professor

• Sports Injury Prevention
• ACL Injuries
• Shoulder Injuries
• +5 more

Grethe Myklebust is a Professor at the Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, where she serves as Program Coordinator for the Master in Sports Physiotherapy and teaches courses including Injury Prevention and Clinical Sports Physiotherapy. She holds a PhD (2003) focused on ACL injury prevention in handball and has 20+ years of experience as a physiotherapist for national teams in handball, football, and beach volleyball, including Olympic health teams in Seoul and Sydney. Her research centers on sports injury mechanisms, risk factors, and prevention strategies—particularly for shoulder, knee, and ankle injuries in handball and football. She investigates how to disseminate prevention knowledge to athletes, coaches, and parents, with projects like Prep to be PRO and Safeplay targeting youth athlete development. Her work emphasizes neuromuscular training, injury epidemiology, and implementation science in sports contexts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021–2025) reveals dominant themes: ACL injury rehabilitation/return-to-sport decisions (6 studies), youth athlete injury prevention (5 studies), sport-specific biomechanical risks (3 studies), and translational research frameworks (1 study). Her cohort studies and RCTs consistently address gender differences, training load effects, and barriers to implementing prevention programs. She leads multiple projects including Injury Prevention in Youth Sports and collaborates with the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC), focusing on practical interventions for athlete resilience. As a board member of the Sports Physiotherapy group (FIA) and former IHF Medical Commission member, she bridges clinical practice with academic research.

Bård Erlend SolstadView profile

Associate Professor

• Children and Youth Sports
• Sports Psychology
• Coach Education
• +3 more

Bård Erlend Solstad is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder. His research focuses on youth sports psychology, athlete development, and coach education, with a particular emphasis on the impact of training loads, motivation, and injury prevention in young athletes. He holds a postdoctoral fellowship from the Norwegian Research Centre for Children and Youth Sports (2017–2020) and was a Research Fellow at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (2012–2017). Key affiliations: ROPE (Research in Outdoor and Physical Education), SPADE (Sports Performance and Athlete Development Environments). Research interests include the psychological aspects of sport injury, perfectionism in elite performers, and the motivational climate in youth sports. His work integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to address issues like athlete well-being, coaching practices, and retention in organized sports. Recent studies have explored factors influencing dropout rates in youth soccer and the efficacy of interventions like the FUEL program for female endurance athletes. Solstad has advised on coach education initiatives, emphasizing empowering coaching behaviors and the psychological needs of athletes. He collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to advance athlete development programs and policy recommendations.

Ina FichtnerView profile

Professor

• Computer Science
• Sports Informatics
• Data Science
• +5 more

Ina Fichtner is a Professor at the Faculty of Digital Transformation of University of Applied Sciences HTWK Leipzig since 2022. Previously, she led the MINT department at the Institute for Applied Training Science (IAT) in Leipzig for 13 years (2009–2022), focusing on integrating mathematics, informatics, and natural sciences into sports research. Her work bridges computer science , biomechanics , and sports informatics , with extensive projects on athlete movement analysis, data systems (IDA), and digital tools for elite sports. PhD in Computer Science (2007) from TU Dresden and Leipzig University Diplom in Mathematics and Computer Science (2002) from Jena, Dresden, and Sheffield Her research spans data science , sports technology , and applied informatics , particularly in ski jumping , dive analysis , and athlete biomechanics . She has co-authored numerous publications in theoretical computer science and applied sports informatics , including studies on 3D body scanning , inertial sensors , and force-velocity profiling . She served as Alumni Representative and Treasurer of the Friends' Association at HTWK Leipzig, with memberships in German Mathematical Society and German Sports Science Association .

• Sports Medicine
• Physiology
• Cardiorespiratory Fitness
• +3 more

Tamara Stojmenović is a faculty member at Singidunum University within the Faculty of Physical Culture and Management in Sports . She holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Belgrade (2003-2010), a Specialist in Sports Medicine from the University of Belgrade (2014-2017), and a PhD in Experimental and Applied Physiology with Sports Medicine from the University of Kragujevac (2011-2019). Her research focuses on Sports Medicine , Physiology , and Cardiorespiratory Fitness , particularly examining: Cardiovascular responses to exercise Post-COVID-19 physiological impacts on athletes Physical activity optimization through ventilatory threshold analysis Comparative physiological profiles across sports disciplines Recent trends in her publications include athlete cardiac health, strain-specific SARS-CoV-2 effects, and injury prevention in basketball players. Her work appears in journals like Journal of Clinical Medicine , Diagnostics , and Medicina (Kaunas) , covering topics from maximal oxygen consumption to sports injury epidemiology. Professional Contributions: Co-author of two textbooks: Corrective gymnastics and kinesitherapy in sports (2021) and Sports medicine - through questions and answers (2020) Presented at multiple conferences on topics including ACL rupture prevention and athlete overtraining Conducts applied research on sports performance, physical activity prescription, and injury rehabilitation

• Physical Education
• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• +3 more

Aleksandar M. Ignjatović is a Full Professor of Physical Education and Methodology at the Faculty of Pedagogical Sciences, University of Kragujevac in Jagodina. He holds a PhD in Physical Education with a specialization in teaching methodology (2021), a Master's in Physical Education and Sports (2011), and a Diploma in Physical Education (2006) from the University of Niš. His research focuses on biomechanics of movement, strength and conditioning physiology, and pedagogical methods in physical education. He has contributed to projects like 'Effects of Applied Physical Activity on the Population of Serbia' (MIII 47015) and 'Biomechanical Efficiency of Elite Serbian Athletes' (OI 179019). He actively collaborates with institutions in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Japan through research visits and invited lectures. Key achievements include the Tallinn Young Researcher Award (2017) and peer-review roles for SCI journals (M21-M24). He has presented at international conferences in Russia, Czech Republic, and Japan, and serves as a reviewer for EU Tempus projects. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in physical education methodology, anthropomotorics, and recreational theory. International Collaborations: Visiting scholar at Graz University's Institute of Sport Sciences, Bratislava's Comenius University, and others. Professional Memberships: FIEP, AIESEP, ACSM, ECSS.

• Talent development
• Elite sports
• Sports psychology
• +7 more

Stig Arve Sæther is a Professor of Sports Science at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences. His research focuses on talent development, elite sports, and sports psychology, with specific emphasis on transitions from junior to senior elite, stress, perfectionism, and coach-athlete relationships. He leads the research group Skill and Performance Development in Sports and School (SPDSS) and the NTNU Sports Network. Primary research areas: Talent development environments, dual careers, relative age effects, and athlete stress Ongoing projects: Female athlete development, Norwegian football club mergers, international youth football environments, senior transitions in school sports, and destructive leadership in sports Collaborations: Rosenborg Ball Club, Kristiansund Ball Club (NEAS Academy), Norwegian Handball Association, Norwegian Ice Hockey Association Editor-in-Chief: Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology His recent research explores gender differences in talent environments (handball/ice hockey), parental impacts on biathlon transitions, and communication barriers around menstrual cycles in female football. With 60+ international journal articles and multiple books, his work bridges academic rigor and practical sports insights. Media presence spans 200+ TV/radio/podcast appearances (TV2 Sporten, NRK, GameChanger) and newspapers (Wall Street Journal, Aftenposten). Key students include Max Bergström (PhD) and 46+ master’s graduates. Awards not explicitly mentioned, but his editorial and research group leadership highlight institutional recognition.

• Exercise Physiology
• Clinical and Sports Nutrition
• Sports Science and Technology
• +5 more

Professor Stephen Bird is a renowned performance scientist and strength and conditioning expert at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), leading the School of Health and Medical Sciences. He holds the title of Professor (Sport and Exercise Science) and directs the High-Performance Sport program. His roles include Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning and advisor to organizations like the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association. Education: BHumMov(ExSc), BHumMov(Hons), and PhD from Charles Sturt University. Research Focus: Strength and conditioning methodologies, nutritional supplementation, athlete recovery, and technology-driven performance optimization. Key Projects: '2 WIN 2032' student-athlete empowerment initiative, NBA sleep health studies, and blood flow restriction (BFR) training for muscle/bone health in space travel. Affiliations: Institute for Resilient Regions (IRR), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) peer review, and collaborations with Flinders University, University of Gloucestershire. Research interests span elite athlete performance (basketball, rugby, hockey), female athlete health, and applications of pupillometry and wearable tech for fatigue monitoring. Awards include the prestigious ESSA Medal (2006) and Life Membership (Western Region Academy of Sport). Teaching includes courses on strength training, sports nutrition, and athlete workload monitoring. He has supervised over 20 doctoral and master’s students, contributing to >40 research outputs annually. Grants include a $832k Quantum wearable sensor project (2024) and $240k AI-driven motion capture initiative. His work bridges academia and elite sport, advising teams like the Brisbane Bullets (NBL) and GB Women’s Basketball. Recent trends in publications emphasize NBA performance metrics, sleep science, and interdisciplinary solutions for athlete resilience.

Joseph BakerView profile

Professor

• Sport Psychology
• Athlete Development
• Talent Identification
• +5 more

Professor Joseph Baker is a faculty member at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, specializing in optimal human development and athlete expertise. His research examines psychosocial and environmental factors in athletic skill acquisition, talent identification, and aging in sports. Institution: York University School: School of Kinesiology and Health Science Academic Rank: Professor Research Interests His work spans high-performance athlete development , Masters athlete aging studies , relative age effects , and talent wastage . He investigates how environmental constraints and practice structures influence expertise, with applications in para-sport and life-long physical activity . Publication Trends Recent studies focus on early specialization in hockey, talent selection policies , and psychological drivers of athlete longevity. Collaborations include analyses of physical load in handball, self-regulated learning in training, and barriers to sports participation for older adults. Students & Funding He mentors 15+ graduate students and has secured funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada , Sport Canada , and Canadian Institutes of Health Research . His team explores topics like paralympic pathways , coach decision-making , and genetic/environmental interactions in performance.

Siv GjesdalView profile

Associate Professor

• Sports Psychology
• Coaching
• Soccer
• +4 more

Siv Gjesdal is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences , affiliated with the Department of Sport and Social Sciences. She teaches soccer to first-year undergraduates and PETE students, with a focus on Sports Psychology , Coaching , and Youth Sports . Education: BSc in Sport & Exercise Science, University of Bath MSc and PhD in Coaching and Psychology, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Her research examines Motivational Climates , Nonverbal Communication , and Injury Prevention in youth sports. Recent work includes a comparative study of coach practices across 9 European countries and analyses of injury prevention behaviors in youth handball and football. She also investigates psychosocial development and well-being in athletes. Publications span topics like autonomy-supportive coaching, motivational strategies in competitive environments, and emotional cues in elite soccer. Her studies often employ cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, emphasizing coach-player dynamics and health compliance.

Mitch SmithView profile

Associate Professor

• Mental Fatigue
• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• +5 more

Associate Professor Mitch Smith is a faculty member in the Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He holds an Associate Professor position within the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy and specializes in mental fatigue's impact on performance across sports, industry, and defense sectors. Dr. Smith co-founded the Fatigue Research and Assessment Group (FRAG), a multidisciplinary team addressing physical and mental fatigue's effects on performance. His research integrates clinical physiology, psychology, motor control, and training systems to develop practical solutions for fatigue mitigation. Mitch has taught courses on motor control and skill acquisition, transitioning to blended learning formats to enhance student flexibility and engagement. This initiative earned him multiple teaching excellence awards, including the 2022 Learning Design and Teaching Innovation Award and the 2019 DVC(A) Educator Innovation Award. His collaborations span institutions globally, including Ghent University, the University of Kent, and German institutions. Key areas of research include mental fatigue in soccer, tackling technique analysis in rugby, and virtual reality applications for hazard perception. He has secured over $1.5M in grants, including the 2024 EngAGE project combating social isolation in older adults. Scientific contributions include over 30 journal articles and 14 conference presentations. Notable awards include the 2016 Aspetar Excellence in Football Research Award and recognition for teaching innovation. Mitch currently supervises PhD candidates focusing on youth talent development and collective behavior in soccer. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Technology Sydney Doctor of Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium Bachelor of Human Movement Science (Honours), University of Technology Sydney Research Interests: Mitch's work centers on understanding and mitigating mental fatigue's effects on physical and cognitive performance. He applies this knowledge to optimize outcomes in sports, workplace safety, and defense. His recent projects include analyzing fatigue effects in youth soccer, handball, and swimming, as well as developing telehealth exercise physiology services for older adults. Grants & Funding: Mitch has secured funding for initiatives such as the EngAGE program ($631K), validation of hydration status methods ($15K), and equipment grants for metabolic and performance diagnostics. His collaborative projects address talent development in sports high schools and ecological mental fatigue assessment via the Footbonaut facility in Germany. Awards: 2022 Learning Design and Teaching Innovation Award 2019 DVC(A) Educator Innovation and Impact Award 2016 Aspetar Excellence in Football Research Award Labs/Teams: Dr. Smith leads the Fatigue Research and Assessment Group (FRAG), focusing on translational research to bridge lab findings and real-world applications in fatigue management.

Daniel BüchelView profile

Researcher

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Sports Psychology
• +7 more

Dr. Daniel Büchel is a researcher at the Institute for Movement Therapy and Movement-Oriented Prevention and Rehabilitation, Department of Movement-Oriented Prevention and Rehabilitation Sciences, at the German Sport University Cologne. His work bridges neuroscience, motor control, and sports performance, with a focus on brain-behavior interactions during athletic tasks and rehabilitation. His research interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience , motor-cognitive integration , biomechanics , and sports psychology . He investigates cortical activation, functional connectivity, and postural control using EEG and wearable sensors during complex motor tasks in elite athletes and during rehabilitation. His work emphasizes how cognitive demands influence motor performance and how injuries like ACL tears affect skilled movement. The recent trend in his publications reveals a strong focus on neural correlates of motor performance , particularly in team sports such as field hockey and handball. Using advanced neuroimaging and sensor technologies, his studies explore agility, training load, and postural instability, contributing to both performance optimization and injury rehabilitation. His work frequently applies methods from computational neuroscience and biomechanics to real-world sports contexts. Dr. Büchel actively collaborates with leading researchers in motor neuroscience and sports science, including Jochen Baumeister and Thorben Hülsdünker. While no formal grants or advising roles are mentioned in the provided text, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals indicates active involvement in funded research projects and scientific collaboration networks. He is part of a dynamic research environment at the German Sport University Cologne, contributing to the university's strong profile in movement and neuroscience. He is affiliated with the following research units: Institute for Movement Therapy and Movement-Oriented Prevention and Rehabilitation Department of Movement-Oriented Prevention and Rehabilitation Sciences

• Sports Medicine
• Injury Prevention
• Sports Biomechanics
• +3 more

Merete Møller is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark's Faculty of Health Sciences. She also holds an Associate Professor position at the Center for Muscle and Joint Health and is affiliated with the Research Unit of Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy. Her research profile demonstrates extensive expertise in sports medicine and injury prevention. Dr. Møller's research interests focus primarily on sports injury epidemiology and prevention, with particular emphasis on youth and women's sports. Her work spans multiple sports disciplines including handball, football (soccer), and general athletic performance. She specializes in prospective cohort studies examining injury risk factors, training load monitoring, and the implementation of injury prevention programs in real-world settings. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on youth sports injury prevention, particularly in handball and football. Her research employs diverse methodologies including prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, and mixed-methods approaches. Key themes include sex differences in injury patterns, analgesic use among youth athletes, and the development of validated tools for health monitoring in sports contexts. Dr. Møller leads the HAPPY (Health And Performance Promotion in Youth) research program, which focuses on implementing injury prevention strategies in youth handball. She has managed research projects including the '5T Pilotprojekt' in Odense municipality's sports classes, examining training loads, well-being, and development environments for talents. Her collaborative network spans international institutions, with significant work conducted with Norwegian researchers on women's football injury prevention.

Truls RaastadView profile

Professor

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Nutrition
• Muscle Physiology
• +6 more

Truls Raastad is a Professor at the Institute of Physical Performance , Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He leads the research group The Muscle Group , focusing on muscular adaptation to training , strength training methodologies , and sports nutrition . His academic work spans exercise physiology , muscle physiology , and football/soccer research . Doctorate in Sports Physiology (Recovery and Adaptations to Strength Training) Consultant at Olympiatoppen's nutrition department Former football player and coach His research explores post-exercise recovery mechanisms , muscle damage and repair , and exercise interventions during cancer treatment . Recent publications investigate: Aerobic training effects in breast cancer survivors Muscle fiber adaptations to high-intensity resistance exercise Myonuclear retention after tendon injuries Exercise intensity comparisons in adolescent athletes Teaching includes human physiology , exercise physiology , and sports nutrition (course THP102). His work bridges laboratory research and applied sports practice , with specific interest in blood flow restriction training and recovery strategies .

• Sports Science
• Youth Athletic Development
• Basketball Performance Analysis
• +3 more

Jorge Arede is a lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (School of Education) and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, with a PhD in Sports Science (2021) and Master's in Team Sports (2016) from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. He received FCT PhD funding (SFRH/BD/122259/2016) and a grant for the DEM project in youth sports talent development. Doctorate: University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (2021) Master's: University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (2016) Bachelor's: Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (2014) His research focuses on youth athletic development, biological maturation, strength and conditioning, and talent identification in basketball and football. He has published over 30 indexed articles, five book chapters, and edited a textbook on basketball physical preparation. His work explores maturity-based training adaptations, injury prevention, and game-specific performance metrics. Recent publications analyze the FIFA 11+ warm-up program, differential learning approaches, and bio-banding in youth sports. His h-index ranges from 12 (Web of Science) to 15 (Google Scholar), with over 40,000 publication reads. He has received nine research distinctions and the 2020 Outstanding Reviewer Award (Journal of Sport and Health Science, IF=9.7). Grants: SFRH/BD/122259/2016 (FCT), DEM (UTAD) Awards: 2020 Outstanding Reviewer Award, nine high-level research distinctions Peer Review: Scientific Reports, Journal of Sports Sciences, PLOS ONE As a Level II Basketball Coach, he has worked with the Portuguese U16 Men's Basketball Team and tutored FPF Level I/II trainees. He collaborates with CIDESD, ISCE-Douro, and the International Basketball Research Network.