Biography

Mitch joined the School in October 2007. Mitch holds a BSc (Hon) degree, MSc (distinction) and a PhD in pulmonary exercise physiology (Brunel University, 2007). She is a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist (Research) and a Chartered Scientist (UK Science Council). As well as providing scientific support to a number of individual athletes, Mitch has also provided scientific support to the England pistol shooting squad, Swim England and British Swimming and has undertaken numerous externally funded research projects. Mitch’s main research interest centres on breathing limitations and methods to help alleviate them in occupational, clinical and sporting contexts. 

Mitch is the MSc Applied Exercise Physiology course leader and module coordinator for Advanced Exercise Physiology (level 5). Mitch also co-teaches on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules and supervises undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students, and is a steering group member of the BASES Occupational Performance Special Interest Group.

Research interests

Mitch’s research focuses primarily on breathing limitations during exercise and methods used to ameliorate them including respiratory muscle training and respiratory muscle warm-ups. This work has included exercise responses in both normoxic and hypoxic environments. Mitch has a special interest in swimming physiology and has undertaken research for Swim England, the IOC and FINA looking at recovery strategies for swimming performance in pool-based swimmers and safe lower water limits for open water swimming and triathlon.  In addition, Mitch's research has examined the occurrence and consequences of breathing muscle fatigue in swimming, oxygen uptake kinetic responses during swimming and the effect of inspiratory muscle training on swimming performance and symptomology in clinical populations. Mitch is currently involved in examining the pulmonary and ventilatory demands and constraints experienced by UK military personnel and the impact of these on military specific tasks.