Professor Alan Barker

Alan is an Associate Professor in Paediatric Physiology and Health and co-Director of the Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre (CHERC). Alan is internationally recognised for his research into physical activity, exercise and sport and how this contributes to the health and wellbeing of children. Alan draws on this expertise in his position as an Associate Editor for the journals Pediatric Exercise Science and Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise.

As a passionate educator, Alan convenes modules across undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes, and has extensive experience in education leadership, having served as the Department Director for Postgraduate Research and Postgraduate Taught Programmes. Alan is committed to supporting and mentoring the next generation of scientists and has supervised more than 15 PhD students to completion, several of which have received external awards in recognition of their research quality.

Alan also holds the position of visiting Associate Professor within the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä to further develop research and teaching links.  

Alan warmly welcomes contact from prospective students, collaborators and stakeholders to discuss education and research opportunities. 

Postgraduate Research opportunities: Alan is open to email enquires from students with their own funding interested in pursuing an MSc by Research or PhD, or for those who would like to apply to the China Scholarship Council, Commonwealth Scholarship or other PhD funding schemes.