Nikos Ntoumanis

Nikos Ntoumanis is a Professor of Motivation Science at the University of Southern Denmark's Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics. He serves as Director of the Danish Centre for Motivation and Behavior Change and holds affiliate professorships in psychology at SDU and part-time positions at University of Birmingham and NIH Norway.

• PhD in Medical Sciences (University of Exeter, 1999)
• Previously: Distinguished Professor at Curtin University (2014-2021), University of Birmingham (2001-2014)

His research explores personal and contextual factors in sustained behavior change, focusing on:

• Physical activity and health behavior in clinical/community settings
• Goal regulation and strategic disengagement
• Motivation in schools, workplaces, and environmental contexts
• Need-thwarting behaviors in interpersonal relationships

Current projects include digital behavior change techniques and historical climate-agriculture impact analysis. His 2025 work spans substance abuse recovery, elite athlete coping, and youth fitness interventions.

Major awards:

• 2025 NASPSPA Distinguished Scholar
• 2022 Fellow of APA and Society of Behavioral Medicine
• 2014 ISSI Best Paper Award

He has advised industry partners like Nike and Les Mills International, with policy impacts in healthcare and anti-doping.