About

I am a lecturer in clinical exercise science, currently teaching across the Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation BSc programmes, as well as the Applied Sport and Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Science MSc programmes. 

I began my teaching career in 2014 and have taught within secondary, further, and higher education whilst remaining an active applied practitioner within performance sport, including the English Premier League (football) and Netball Super League. My primary areas of teaching are injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and clinical exercise science. I seek to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and real-world application, with a particular focus on providing students with authentic learning experiences that represent contemporary applied practice.

As a registered physiotherapist and accredited strength and conditioning coach, I’ve worked within the NHS, private practice, and professional sport, designing and leading physical preparation and rehabilitation interventions that prioritise both health and high-performance. This dual perspective allows me to bring a holistic, evidence-based approach to everything I do, whether that is in the clinic, the gym, the lecture theatre, or the lab.

Teaching responsibilities

I am currently the module leader for:

• Injury Rehabilitation for Sport and Exercise Science (L5)
• Sports Conditioning (L6)
• Professional Practice in Clinical Exercise Science (L7) 

In addition to this, I support Teaching & Assessment in the following modules:

• Strength and Conditioning (L5)
• Research Methods (L5)
• Advanced Field-Based Conditioning (L6)
• Applied Rehabilitation and Risk Reduction (L6)
• Advanced Clinical Exercise Physiology (L7)
• Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation & Training (L7)
• Sports Training Principles (L7)

I also have supervision commitments across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Professional interests

My professional interests centre on the use of structured exercise interventions to support the management of chronic health conditions and enhance long-term patient outcomes. I am particularly interested in the integration of strength and conditioning principles within rehabilitation and healthcare settings, as well as the application of isometric strength assessments to inform clinical decision-making and performance programming. My work aims to align clinical and performance approaches to optimise both health and function across both athletic and non-athletic populations.

Research interests

I am currently interested in conducting research exploring the potential of university-delivered exercise classes to support the long-term management of chronic health conditions. Specifically, how structured, community-based exercise interventions can enhance quality of life and improve cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with long-term conditions following discharge from clinical services.

Membership of professional bodies

• Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach (ASCC) - United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA)
• Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
• Foundation Charted Manager (fCMgr) - Charted Management Institute (CMI)
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Physiotherapist

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications

• BA (Hons) History, Nottingham Trent University
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby

Post Graduate Qualifications

• PGCE (FE), Staffordshire University
• MA Ed, University of Derby  
• MRes, University of Derby
• MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy & Leadership, Coventry University
• DProf (Sport & Exercise), University of Derby (currently undertaking)

Recent conferences

Davidson, J. & Jenkinson, L. (2018). One repetition maximum prediction for the barbell back squat, bench press and hexagonal barbell deadlift using the load-velocity relationship. BASES Student Conference 2018, Northumbria University.  

Experience in industry

I have experience within a diverse range of high-performance and clinical environments, including roles in the English Premier League (Burton Albion Football Club, Derby County Football Club, and Leicester City Football Club) university-level strength and conditioning (Team Derby), swimming (Derby Excel), and the Netball Super League (Birmingham Panthers). This applied experience includes delivering S&C support to elite athletes, as well as physiotherapy provision within the Netball Super League and the NHS. This breadth of experience allows me to bring a multidisciplinary perspective to athlete development, injury management, and applied sport science practice across both performance and health-focused populations.

I also work within the university's High Performance Unit, which provides bespoke consultancy services to professional sports teams and athletes. This work includes exercise testing and performance diagnostics, intervention planning and programming, and health screening, allowing us to deliver targeted, evidence-based support that enhances performance, informs training decisions, and promotes long-term athletic development.

Additional interests and activities

I am also keenly interested in historical feats of strength and unconventional weightlifting. 

In the media

• BBC Written Article (07/05/25) Grip Strength: The Test for Your Chances of Living to 100

• BBC Radio Derby (10/08/23) Interview outlining the physiological testing and support offered by the university High-Performance Unit for WBO Welterweight Champion Sandy Ryan

• The Society of Sports Therapy Webinar Series (11/03/21) Panel Discussing The Role of Strength & Conditioning in Rehabilitation/Sports Therapy