Established in 2008 as the Sport, Performance, and Fatigue Research Unit (SPF), our group initially comprised academic staff and PhD students from the Centre for Sports & Exercise Science, along with applied sport scientists from the Human Performance Unit.

Over the past decade, our expertise has grown and diversified, particularly since 2017, when Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy merged with the Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences. This merger formed a new department within the Faculty of Science & Health - Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences.

Our research in human and sports performance is internationally recognised, encompassing a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, including physiology, neurophysiology, biochemistry, nutrition, biomechanics, psychology, coaching, and rehabilitation therapies.

As our membership and research interests have continued to evolve, our focus has expanded beyond sport to encompass performance in various social and environmental settings. Reflecting this broader scope, we rebranded in 2022 as the Human Performance Research Group.

Purpose

Our purpose is to conduct world-leading and impactful research that enhances the engagement, optimisation, and achievement of human performance across sport, work, and other social contexts. We are committed to conducting applied and basic science research on contemporary issues of relevance, importance, and impact. We strive to continually improve the quality, impact, and recognition of our research by seeking out and, where beneficial, collaborating with academic, industry, and community partners. Our research outputs will be made as accessible as possible to a wide audience, including through peer-reviewed open-access journal articles, conferences, public presentations, and stakeholder engagement events.

Vision

Our vision is to be globally recognised for our contributions to understanding and enhancing human performance. We aim to be at the forefront of research that not only advances academic knowledge but also has practical applications that improve lives and societal outcomes.

Mission and Focus

Our research is driven by the need to address critical issues in human performance. We focus on several key areas:

  • Optimisation of athletic performance: Investigating physiological, psychological, and biomechanical factors that contribute to peak athletic performance.
  • Workplace performance and wellbeing: Exploring how environmental, physical, and psychological factors affect performance and wellbeing in occupational settings.
  • Rehabilitation and recovery: Enhancing methods for rehabilitation post-injury and improving recovery processes for athletes and the general population.
  • Transdisciplinary approaches to performance: Integrating insights from multiple disciplines to develop holistic approaches to human performance.

Values

Our work is guided by the following core values:

  • Excellence: We are committed to conducting high-quality, rigorous research that adheres to the highest academic standards.
  • Innovation: We employ creative and novel methodologies to explore new frontiers in human performance research.
  • Community: We value intellectual generosity and aim to foster a collaborative research environment that benefits all members of our community.
  • Collaboration: We prioritise altruistic collaboration, both within our group and with external partners, to maximise the impact of our research.
  • Impact: Our research is driven by the goal of making a tangible, positive difference in society, whether through improved performance, health, or wellbeing.
  • Ethical Integrity: We uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of our research, ensuring that our work is conducted with integrity and respect.
  • Transdisciplinary Approach: We embrace a transdisciplinary approach, recognising that complex performance issues require insights from multiple fields.

Membership

The Human Performance Research Group at the University of Essex comprises a diverse membership of academics and practitioners with expertise in exercise physiology, physiotherapy, sports therapy, coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, performance analysis, and psychology.

Our members are dedicated to advancing the understanding of human performance through rigorous research and applied practice.

News and projects

Our papers

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Our academics

 Sebastian Biggins

School of Sports, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Henry Chung

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Nicholas Clark

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Emily Cushion

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Paul Freeman

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Katrina Gemal

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Alice Harkness-Armstrong

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Louis Howe

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Benjamin Jones

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Tracy Lewis

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Benedict Low

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Ruth Lowry

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Professor Ian Maynard

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Professor Dominic Micklewright

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Jason Moran

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Kelly Murray

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Luke Olsson

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Simon Quick

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Professor Gavin Sandercock

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Patrick Schoenmakers

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Jamie Tallent

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

 Nasir Uddin

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex

Dr Sally Waterworth

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex