• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Meet us
    • Open days
    • Virtual tours
    • Upcoming events
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Order a prospectus
    • Our campuses
    • Our four campuses
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to study with us
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Applying through Clearing
    • Transfer from another university
    • Fees and financial support
    • Undergraduate finance
    • Postgraduate finance
    • Our funding and support options
    • Supporting you
    • Your wellbeing
    • Student support and guidance tutors
    • Study skills support
    • Careers and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Book on beach
Research and knowledge exchange
  • Postgraduate research degrees
  • Research features
  • Research organisation
  • Research environment
  • Postgraduate research degrees
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD-films
    • Our postgraduate research disciplines
    • Research Masters
    • Funding and studentships
    • Support and training
    • Postgraduate open evening
    • Apply for a PhD
    • Contact us
  • Research students
    • Research students
    • Alex Fitch
    • Alexander Kolliari-Turner
    • Arben Lubach
    • Ash Willmott
    • Bahar Khayamian Esfahani
    • Caroline Hamilton
    • Catherine Payne
    • Charlotte Coombs
    • Claudia Treacher
    • Conor Sheehan
    • Conor Strong
    • Daniel Nsikane
    • David Felix
    • Dicle Kortantamer
    • Emelia Akashah Patah Akhir
    • Filippo Gerbino
    • Gelu Varghese
    • Gregor Eichhorn
    • Hannah Ray
    • Hanno Martens
    • Hiba Almasri
    • Indra Kusumawardhana
    • Isa Kwabe
    • Jane Frances Dunlop
    • Jennifer Holland
    • Jocelyn Bailey
    • Josie Maitland
    • Julian D Riano
    • Katie McCallum
    • Kimberley Chandler
    • Lilián Sánchez-Moreno
    • Lujain Yousif Mirza
    • Majed Al-Jefri
    • Mana Al Mashreef
    • Maria Gebbels
    • Mariana Lima
    • Marta Falcinelli
    • Mary Edward
    • Matyas Varga
    • Merryn Haines-Gadd
    • Mohammed Ghazi Al-Obeidallah
    • Myrsini Samaroudi
    • Nagham Al-Qaysi
    • Niall Walkden
    • Oliver Gibson
    • Samuel Penny
    • Shafq Al-Azzawi
    • Shai Kassirer
    • Tom Raven
    • Wulan Koagouw
    • Yahya Ibraheem
    • Aaron Greenhouse-Tucknott
    • Antonia Karanikolou
    • Ben Duncan
    • Carl James
    • Emily Watkins
    • Gareth Turner
    • Jake Butterworth
    • James Wrightson
    • Jet Van Zalen
    • Kirsty Waldock
    • Marina Garcia Hortal
    • Rebecca Relf
    • Rosemary Twomey
  • Ash Willmott

Ash Willmott

Ash is undertaking a PhD within environmental physiology at the University of Brighton, where he continued on from his BSc. This is alongside working at the sport and exercise science consultancy unit whilst he is also completing his BASES supervised experience.

Ash is specifically interested in the physiological responses to thermal environments, exercise tolerance and inflammation. He also has a wealth of applied experience with a range of sports from mixed martial arts and boxing to cycling and ultra-endurance marathons.

Ash has published seven peer-reviewed journal articles, most recently working with a group of ultra-endurance runners preparing for the Marathon des Sables.

Email address: A.Willmott@brighton.ac.uk

Qualification: PhD

Timeframe: Part-time from November 2017

Ash-Wilmott

Thesis title

Optimising heat acclimation: The interplay between heat acclimation state, training status and inflammatory markers

My research

Endurance performances across a spectrum of distances, as well as individuals performing occupational duties, are markedly impaired by heat stress (Guy et al., 2014). In particular, reductions in endurance cycling performances are observed as environmental temperatures are elevated to, or exceed 30ºC (Racinais et al., 2015). Whereas, a diminished work capacity in uncompensable conditions is observed in firefighters and military soldiers, while wearing personal protective clothing (Montain et al., 1994; Eglin, 2007).

There are numerous contributing factors which lead to heat related illnesses and an increased inflammatory response, these include, but are not limited to; unsuccessful preparation, diverse biophysical characteristics, age, aerobic capacity, large rises in core temperature, ineffective sudomotor responses, insufficient rest and increased circulating stress hormones (Epstein, 1990; Epstein et al., 1999; Sawka et al., 2011). It has been suggested that a single predisposing phenotypic characteristic, heat acclimation state, may explain the vast inter-individual response to thermally stressful environments, and may categorise those who are more susceptible to HRI (Havenith, 1997; Heled et al., 2004).

This research is investigating the effects of acute and chronic heat acclimation on inflammatory responses, aerobic capacity and heat acclimation state. By investigating the effects of training frequency and physiological responses to heat stress, through once and twice daily heat acclimation protocols and subsequently exercise tolerance, we can identify factors which determine the vast array of heat acclimation states and individual responses to heat stress. This will enable us to individually prescribe optimal heat acclimation for athletes and occupational personnel preparing to exercise performances or work duties, while reducing the likelihood of heat related illness.

Supervisors

Dr Neil Maxwell

Dr Jeanne Dekerle

Dr Mark Hayes

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents