Alannah McKay

Dr. Alannah McKay serves as a Senior Lecturer at Australian Catholic University within the Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research and Centre for Human Performance & Metabolism. Her academic career bridges cutting-edge sports science research with practical applications for athlete performance and health.

Dr. McKay's educational journey includes:

• Bachelor of Science (Exercise, Health and Sports Science) from the University of Western Australia (2014)
• Post-graduate position within the Physiology department at the Australian Institute of Sport
• PhD undertaken in partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport, Western Australian Institute of Sport and the University of Western Australia (awarded Dean's List honour)

Her research program focuses on sports nutrition with particular emphasis on iron metabolism in athletes, especially female athletes. Dr. McKay has pioneered innovative research models like the Female Athlete Research Camp to address critical gaps in understanding female physiology. Her work spans nutrient timing, dietary interventions, and iron supplementation strategies that directly impact athletic performance and health outcomes. She has established herself as a leading voice in translating complex sports nutrition science into practical guidance for athletes and coaches.

Dr. McKay's significant contributions to sports science have been recognized through:

• American College of Sports Medicine's New Investigator Award (2023)
• Dean's List for PhD Thesis (2020)
• Multiple American College of Sports Medicine awards (2019-2020)
• Frank Pyke Scholarship (2016)

As a fully accredited HDR Supervisor, Dr. McKay leads a robust research program funded by prestigious organizations including the Australian Institute of Sport, Boston Children's Hospital, Quantum 2032 Challenge, Swiss National Science Foundation, and Amazentis Switzerland. Her current projects address critical issues like iron deficiency detection for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, energy availability in high-performance athletes, and novel iron supplementation approaches. Dr. McKay actively translates her research through public engagement, serving on the International Journal for Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism Editorial Board and as a Research Reference Group member for the Female Performance and Health Initiative at the Australian Institute of Sport.