míde people: research disciplines
Physical Activity and Health Promotion
Dr. Aoife Lane
(Co-Chair)
Aoife is Head of Department of Sport and Health Sciences in TUS Athlone. She has a PhD in women’s physical activity and is Lead of the SHE Research Centre, which aims to bridge the gender data gap in sport, health and exercise research. Aoife’s current research projects are on equality in leadership, female athlete role models, menopause and female athlete health. Aoife is a member of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee and is a volunteer in Gaelic games in her club and county.
Email: Aoife.lane@tus.ie
Dr Emma Cowley
Emma is a postdoctoral researcher at the SHE Research Centre in TUS Athlone. She is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie alumna and earned her PhD from Liverpool John Moore’s University; her research focused on increasing adolescent girls' participation in physical activity. Emma leads the Invisible Sportswomen international research group which aims to address the gender data gap in sport and exercise science. Previously, she held a postdoc position at the Cardiometabolic laboratory at UNC Chapel Hill before moving to the UK where she was the lead for the DTA3/COFUND PhD Fellowship Programme
Email: Emma.Cowley@tus.ie
Dr Angela Carlin
Dr Angela Carlin is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Health within the School of Sport and Exercise Science, Ulster University. Angela obtained her PhD from Ulster University, with her research focusing on the promotion of physical activity in adolescent females. Angela’s current research interests include the development and evaluation of family-based and school-based interventions to promote physical activity and adolescents. Angela recently led the all-island research working group for the Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
Email: a.carlin1@ulster.ac.uk
Dr Maria Faulkner
Maria is a sport and exercise physiologist with expertise in physical activity and health. She completed her PhD at Ulster University, focusing on physical activity in prediabetic populations. As a British Association of Sport and Exercise Science accredited sport and exercise scientist and a charted scientist Maria applies an evidence-based approach to enhance health and performance across diverse populations. Her current research spans sports performance to clinical populations, exploring the role of exercise in maternal health, disease prevention, neurological rehabilitation and athletic development. Maria is involved in the all-island professional network for women working in physical activity, exercise and sport.
Email: maria.faulkner@atu.ie
Prof Niamh Murphy
Niamh Murphy teaches and researches in physical activity and public health at SETU Waterford and is lead of the Centre for Health Behaviour Research. She has extensive experience in community-based evaluation, partnership working, and empowerment approaches and has contributed to policy implementation nationally and internationally. Niamh is an active athletics coach, volunteer, international team manager and participant. Her work in public health and physical activity promotion focuses on empowering individuals and communities and this is also her approach in an athletics context. She loves to travel and spend time with friends.
Email: Niamh.Murphy@setu.ie
Dr Maria O'Kane
Maria is a Lecturer in Health Physiology / Healthcare Science at Ulster University. Maria was awarded a BSc and PhD from Ulster University. She is the co-chair of the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion for the School of Health Sciences. Maria's current research interests focus on public health, children's physical activity, socioeconomic inequalities and interventions to improve health and wellbeing. She is involved in the leadership of the professional network for women working in physical activity, exercise and sport.
Email: m.okane@ulster.ac.uk