Carl James

Carl graduated from Bangor University in 2009 with a First Class Honours Degree in Sport Science, having been awarded the Sarah Smythe award for attaining the highest overall mark in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. In 2012, Carl graduated from Sheffield Hallam University, with a distinction in the Sport and Exercise Science [Physiology] MSc programme. He then attended the University of Brighton to complete his PhD studies, graduating in 2016. Alongside his PhD, Carl completed BASES accreditation as an Applied Physiologist and was certified as a Chatered Scientist in 2016. From 2015–2016 Carl was employed by the University of Brighton as a Technical Instructor, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. Since completing his PhD, he has been working as a Senior Physiologist with the National Insitute of Sport, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Email address: carlalexanderjames@gmail.com

Qualification: PhD

Timeframe: Four years (2012–2016)

Thesis title

Optimising strategies to enhance endurance running performance under hot and humid conditions

My research

Carl’s PhD research sought to answer applied questions pertaining to endurance running performance in hot and humid conditions. After validating a novel skin temperature measurement system, a series of studies investigated the efficacy of both acute and chronic interventions for improving endurance running performance in the heat. Acute interventions included internal precooling via ice slurry ingestion, external precooling involving multiple cooling garments and hand/forearm cold water immersion, and ischaemic preconditioning. Chronic interventions included short-term heat acclimation training. The thesis concluded that heat acclimation (HA) improved performance further than precooling (HA +6.6 per cent, precooling +3.7 per cent), indicating HA should be prioritised, although precooling appears beneficial when acclimation is not possible. More recent investigations are focused towards understanding the role of perceived thermal strain in determining endurance performance in the heat, as well as novel and practical methods of inducing heat acclimation including hot baths and sauna suit training.

Funder

University of Brighton Doctoral College studentship

Supervisors

Dr Neil Maxwell

Dr Alan Richardson

Dr Peter Watt

My career

Job title: Senior Physiologist
Organisation: Institut Sukan Negara (National Insitute of Sport, Malaysia)

I work as part of an interdisciplinary team preparing the national Squash team. This role involves liaising with athletes, coaches and other members of the support team to ensure the athletes are provided with world-class sport science support. Having identified sport-specific, individual fitness requirements, training intensity and volume are routinely monitored, with progression towards the overarching fitness goals tracked through sport-specific physiological testing at appropriate intervals. A prioritised research strategy is focused upon areas that can provide meaningful improvements to match performance on the court, which includes consideration of individual heat adaptation and thermal tolerance.