Research
My research focuses on human movement in health and disease, on Earth and beyond
Human variability and adaptation to gravity
Specifically, I study:
Human movement on Earth
biomechanics
Parkinson’s disease, facial palsy, neurological conditions
rehabilitation
ageing
Humans in space
space physiology
inclusive human spaceflight
disability and exploration
Across both environments, my research asks how different human bodies move, adapt and respond to physiological challenges.
Published research
Below you will find a link to my published research.
Funding
PI or co-PI
UK Space Agency (UKSA) and STFC (UKRI) 2025. I-InSPIRE for Fly!
One King’s Impact fund 2025. Empowering limb difference: making sports accessible for all
The Royal Society 2024. StHuS: STopping HUman Sway
UKSA 2023. A new community to support the first parastronaut mission
European Space Agency (ESA) Topical team 2022. The Physiological Foundations for Parastronaut Space Missions
Collaborator
CSP Chartered Society Of Physiotherapy Charitable 2025. Developing a software solution embedded into electronic health records to measure upper limb biomechanics after stroke.
PPEF Private Physiotherapy Educational Foundation 2024. Developing an accessible, cost effective motion analysis tool for arm movement after stroke.
Buizza Mazzei Agency S.r.l 2022. Helmet Balance System - BMA
Selection
European Space Agency (ESA) selects the project I-InSPIRE to support the Fly! mission. I lead I-InSPIRE, an international research programme selected by the European Space Agency to support the Fly! mission.
Projects recruiting human volunteers
I have some projects currently recruiting participants:
Human participant research survey. Online survey open to everyone to help us making research accessible (English version only)
Recruiting participants for lab-based study. Recruiting participants with lower limb amputation and controls - paused
Recruitment opportunities - work with my group
PhD studentships - paused
Post-doctoral
Currently open: closing date 26 October 2026. Apply here
The King’s Prize Fellowship is awarded bi-annually to outstanding post-doctoral scientists. The award seeks to encourage individuals with a strong research interest to become leaders in their field. The award is supported by the Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement, in association with King's College London. One of the fellowships per year will be awarded the Professor Anthony Mellows Medal.
The awards may be held in any part of King’s but must be focused on biomedical or health-related research.
The King’s Prize Fellowship has two rounds per year and provides 18-24 months of funding including a generous salary and running expenses. The award aims to support the Fellow's transition to an independent research career. It is awarded through an annual competition, widely advertised and open to both internal (King's) and external candidates.
Research updates
August 2026
Lauren Shelvey, physiotherapist at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital, was successful with her NIHR pre-doctoral fellowship. I will supervise her work on facial palsy in my lab. She will start in September 2026. Congratulations Lauren!
Failing is not an option (or failing forward)
I borrow this title from the fantastic Failing forward initiative at King’s College London. Failure is part of (academic) life even ‘when it is not an option’. My view is that adapting and changing is probably how I can move on. Here I provide a list of recent failures (too many to add them all) and how I plan to adapt.
Internal screening to apply to the Future Leaders Fellowship (2026). Unsuccessful.
The project focused on gravity and movement. New plan: Distinguish between the physiological mechanisms and technological applications. Submit elsewhere.
The Leverhulme Trust and Royal Society - Senior Research Fellowship (2025). Unsuccessful.
This fellowship would have provided much needed relief from teaching from October 2026 for a year, to focus on my ESA-selected project (I-InSPIRE).
New plan: Use the summer months to finish the ESA-NASA paperwork.