Rosemary Twomey

Rosie graduated from the University of Brighton with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science in 2007. She then worked as a Laboratory Technician at the University of Winchester before returning to Brighton to undertake a PhD in the neurophysiology of fatigue in severe hypoxia (2010-2016). Rosie worked as a Technical Instructor (teaching and research) alongside her PhD. Whilst Rosie completed her PhD, she joined Northumbria University in 2016 as Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology. Rosie is now a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary (2016–2018), investigating cancer-related fatigue and tailored exercise interventions in cancer survivors.

Email address: Rosemary.Twomey@ucalgary.ca

Qualification: PhD

Timeframe: Six years (part-time)

Thesis title

Neurophysiological responses to rest and exercise in severe hypoxia in healthy humans

My research

The research which formed my PhD investigated the central and peripheral contributions to neuromuscular fatigue with whole-body exercise in severe hypoxia. I used an acute, chronic and intermittent model of severe hypoxia with a particular focus on cerebral oxygen availability, supraspinal fatigue and corticospinal excitability. My doctoral research also involved joining an international project on a high-altitude research expedition (AltitudeOmics) on Mount Chacaltaya, Bolivia.

Supervisors

Dr Jeanne Dekerle

Dr Emma Ross

Dr Neil Maxwell

My career

My current role as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Neuromuscular Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Calgary involves investigating the objective and subjective causes of cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors, with a focus on the neuromuscular system and tailored exercise interventions. I also contribute to other projects related to my PhD (hypoxic physiology and fatigue). The post requires a strong background in exercise physiology, particularly neuromuscular function analysis (including the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation), which I gained during my doctoral studies.