10 October
Polyphenol supplementation for performance and recovery
Joanna Bowtel, Professor, University of Exeter (UK)

https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TbAaFX62SpeECUHyKIrq5Q

Jo Bowtell completed her PhD examining the effects of nutrition and exercise on protein turnover at Dundee University in 1996. She subsequently spent 3 years lecturing and researching at Loughborough University and 12 years at London South Bank University, where she led sport and exercise science research and enterprise activity. She has been at University of Exeter since September 2011, where she is Professor of Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. After 5 years as Head of the Sport and Health Sciences Department, 3 years as Associate Dean of Global Engagement for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, she is now Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Jo’s research focus is on exercise and nutrient-induced changes in human physiology and metabolism, and their effects on exercise performance and recovery, as well as their potential to support human health. Her BioActivEx research group are currently investigating the effects of a range of natural bioactive compounds such as polyphenols on athlete performance and healthy aging and the underpinning molecular mechanisms.

17 October
Hydration assessment and wearable technology
Yasuki Sekiguchi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University (USA)

https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VDwMVD07SIC0o2Ztt6uiAg

Dr. Yasuki Sekiguchi is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Sports Performance Lab at the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University. He received his bachelor’s degree at Kobe University in Japan, master’s degree at the University of Arkansas, and PhD and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Connecticut in exercise science. His area of expertise is enhancing thermoregulatory response (i.e., heat acclimation, heat acclimatization, cooling), optimizing hydration status and fluid balance, athlete training load and recovery monitoring, sleep monitoring, and wearable technology validation to improve exercise performance and overall health. He has managed and completed many research studies and published peer-reviewed manuscripts in those areas. His current research are supported by federal, corporate, and non-profit organization grants. He also has been working with youth to professional and Olympic athletes as a sports scientist and strength and conditioning coach. His expertise in sports science has been instrumental in applied sports settings. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) from National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Enhancing exercise performance and recovery with practically applicable and widely accessible methods based on science is a broad aim of his Sports Performance Lab at Texas Tech University.

24 October
Dietary bioactive compounds in exercise and chronic diseases: Implications for oxidative stress and inflammation
Tianou Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio (USA)

https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GSz5A-PyRxOcDs6ujqgfDg

Dr. Zhang’s research interest is sports and exercise nutrition and currently he is the director of the Laboratory of Exercise and Sports Nutrition at UTSA. His primary research focus is to explore the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of phytochemicals (plant extracted compounds) supplementation in sports-related inflammation and inflammatory conditions under chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis and obesity. He has published several original research and review articles on nutritional supplementation and exercise, and currently he serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness and Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. As the principal investigator of five internal grants and co-investigator of one NIH R01 grant, he is driven to explore the benefits of dietary bioactive compounds and skeletal muscle health. He is also dedicated to investigating the role of nutrition and physical activity in aged and underrepresented populations to improve muscle health and physical functions for healthy aging.

31 October
Setting up an elite in-house dietary supplement program

Jeni Pearce, MS, Technical Lead Performance Nutrition, High Performance Sport New Zealand, (New Zealand)
https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzIjZuBrTeaCE-4uAUuv6A

Ms. Jeni Pearce is recognized internationally as an experienced Senior Scientific and Applied Practitioner and Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the sports, food, nutrition and health industry. She has strong professional skills in Sports Nutrition, Nutrition Education, Business and Risk Management and working in international Government funded Institutes and National Sports Organizations, Olympic, Paralympic and elite professional team sports and events. Supported a diverse range of sporting codes throughout her career including multiple Olympic medallists and extreme events (Round the world yacht racing, trans Atlantic rowing, and Formula1 Motor racing). During her career she established the HPSNZ Supplement Program and Food commercial partnerships. She continues to be a professional supervisor and mentor for nutrition and dietetics. Further she has experience at Board level in roles of Chairperson, Executive Officer, Vice President and President for not for profit organizations in New Zealand and internationally (PINES), has held sports governance roles for Board Director for NZ Rugby League and currently in Condors 7’s Rugby Football. Awarded MNZM for service to sports nutrition in the Queens Birthday NZ Honours in 2015. Finally, she is a well published Author (12 titles), co author in peer reviewed journals, university lecturer, experienced as radio co-host and public speaker.

7 November
(Plant) protein and endurance sports
Marco Mensink, PhD, Assistant Professor, Wageningen University (The Netherlands)

https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eCS2dmvsQSSbJuWVXY9rbw

Dr Mensink received his MSc in Health Sciences, specialization movement sciences, in 1995, and his medical degree (MD) in 1998 from Maastricht University. He completed his PhD in 2003 at the same university. After a post-doc period on muscular fat accumulation and insulin action, he moved in 2008 to Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition and Health.
Since 2019 his work is positioned in the chair ‘Nutritional Biology’, which primarily focuses on the significance of nutrition to maintain or improve a persons’ physical and cognitive performance during ageing, recovery and rehabilitation. Dr Mensink is responsible for the research theme ‘Nutrition, Physical activity and Sports’, and involved in the research themes ‘Protein Digestion & Absorption’ and ‘Nutrition and aging’; and he is responsible for body composition and energy metabolism methodology in the division of Human Nutrition & Health (Health Research Unit). Next to academic teaching activities, Dr Mensink developed the MOCC ‘Nutrition, Exercise and Sports’ Since 20121 he also serves as a co-director of the ENLP essentials seminar.
Research interest is how nutrition and physical activity can regulate energy metabolism and affect health and performance. In the research line Protein digestion and absorption, the focus is on dietary protein quality. How well are proteins and amino acids digested and utilised, and what is their role in the preventing muscle mass loss during ageing or disease or in optimizing (exercise) performance. Within the research line Nutrition, Physical activity and Sports, the goal is to understand how nutritional status is linked to exercise and training adaptation. Target group ranges from patients and persons with a sedentary lifestyle to recreationally-active and elite athletes.

Personal interest:
I love to do and like to talk about endurance sports like orienteering, running and cycling.

14 November
Hydration status and cognition
Jesse Sims, Mphil, Hydration, Environment and Thermal Stress Lab – University of North Carolina at Greensboro (USA)

https://asu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gQI9gN3gSG-uwPuWQsK9Cg

Jesse is a current doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where her research interests’ areas focus on the influence of manipulation of hydration status or environmental conditions on measures of human health and performance.

Prior to pivoting her career towards the academic setting, Jesse was an Accredited Clinical Exercise Physiologist who specialized in neurological rehabilitation in the pediatric population, and subacute care. It was in this role that Jesse developed an understanding and passion for hydration physiology, as it relates to all pathologies and phases of care across the lifespan.