Dr Nikki Simpson

Nikki Simpson profile image

Lecturer in Healthcare

Department of Health and Wellbeing

Contact Details

email: n.simpson@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 855418

Nikki completed a PhD in Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry in 2019. Her research looked at the impact of exercise and supplementation on ageing skeletal muscle health. She previously worked in clinical settings as a Physiologist, Nutritionist and as an Orthopaedic Educator. She has also worked in a sporting setting with the English Institute of Sport, UK athletics and Loughborough University Sports Development Team. Nikki has experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in both professional sports and clinical settings across multiple countries. She has a passion for teaching in human nutrition, physiology, biochemistry and human biology. Her research interests are around the impact of nutrition on lifelong health and wellbeing, on a whole body and a cellular level.

Nikki has two young children and a cocker spaniel who like to keep her busy outside of working hours, whether it be trekking up hills with them or enjoying a meal with a view in the English countryside together. Exercise and food play an important role in work and play.

Qualifications

  • PhD Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, The University of Hull (2019)
  • “Practical and representative methods to assess skeletal muscle redox status in an ageing population.”
  • PGCert Research Training, The University of Hull (2015)
  • MSc Exercise Physiology and Performance Nutrition, Loughborough University (2010)
  • BSc (Hons) Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of Birmingham (2008)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH)

Teaching Interests

Currently Teaching modules across the Foundation Year in Healthcare and the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care across level 3, 4 and 5.

I am module lead for:

  • Science in Healthcare
  • Applied Human Biology and Managing Health Conditions
  • Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

I also teach across Health and Wellbeing in Society, Becoming a Health Professional, Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing and Human Development modules.

Research Interests

I have a keen interest on the physiological developments involved in the aging process, with a specific interest in the impact of redox balance across the lifespan. Within my PhD I focussed on the impact of antioxidant supplementation on the exercise-induced oxidative stress response in human skeletal muscle and blood. I also developed a model of ageing and mode of biochemical exercise simulation in cell culture and analysed the potential use of the transferrable data between cell culture and human experimental protocols. 

Membership of Professional Bodies

Member of The Physiological Society

Member of British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health

Publications

  • Coenzyme Q10 in Physical Exercise. Siebrecht, S., Yak Leong Chan, D., Simpson, N., Weicong Lin, K., Rosenfeldt, F. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition - Under peer review.
  • The role of C2C12 cell model for identifying exercise dose to gain better insight into the relationship between exercise and oxidative stress. Simpson, N, D., Abt., G., Fogarty, M., Jones, H.