Ciara Losty

Dr. Ciara Losty is a Lecturer and researcher in applied sport and exercise psychology at South East Technological University, where she also leads the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology program. She is accredited by the Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association and has served as part of Team Ireland's sport science team for the Tokyo 2020 and London 2012 Olympics. Currently, she is the head of performance psychology for Team Ireland at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and a senior consultant for jockey transition programs. Her research focuses on athlete mental health, performance psychology, and career transitions in sport.

Education:

• Doctor of Health Sciences in Psychology, University of Wales
• MSc Psychology, University of Wrexham
• MSc (by research) in Sport and Exercise Psychology, SETU
• Cert. Cognitive Behavioural Skills for Practice (Level 8)
• BA (hons)

Research Interests:

• Performance psychology and mental health in high-performance athletes
• Transitions in sport careers, particularly for jockeys
• Sport coaching methodologies and athlete welfare

Professional Roles:

• External Examiner at Dundalk Institute of Technology (2019–2022)
• Principal Investigator for the 'Jockeys Transition into Retirement' project (2021–2025)
• Consultant for Team Ireland and the Jockey Pathway program

Awards:

• Owain Glyndŵr Society Prize For Alumni (2024)
• Stephen Louden MSc Psychology Prize (2023)

Key Contributions:

• Advocacy for mental health in equestrian sports and athlete transitions
• Development of sport science support systems for jockeys
• Publications on concussion awareness, weight management in sports, and athlete well-being