Dr Richard Ferguson

BSc, MPhil, PhD, FPhysiol

  • Reader in Human and Exercise Physiology

Research groups and centres

Publications
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Richard Ferguson

Please call the press office on 01509 223491 to arrange an interview with Dr Richard Ferguson. Bookings can also be made online at globelynx.com.

Richard is a specialist in Human and Exercise Physiology. His research is focused on improving human performance and health through exercise training and the use of novel interventions. Richard teaches on modules across undergraduate Sport and Exercise Science and postgraduate Exercise Physiology programmes.

Richard has been involved in Sport and Exercise Science for over 25 years; he joined the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in 2007, having previously worked as a Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde. Richard gained his PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University, during which time he worked at the August Krogh Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. He obtained his BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, as well as an MPhil, from the University of Birmingham.

He is an active and (fairly) competitive cyclist.

Richard has broad research interests, with a particular focus on human performance and underpinning mechanisms of training adaptation.

His current work investigates the physiological and skeletal muscle morphological determinants of the power-duration relationship and how it relates to cycling performance.

Richard also has a specific interest in the effects of blood flow restricted (BFR) exercise on skeletal muscle adaptations. He collaborates with respiratory clinicians from the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre where they are investigating the feasibility of BFR exercise in COPD patients.

He is currently leading University-wide strategic initiatives around Cycling Research and Innovation.

Current PhD students

Richard is primary supervisor for the following Doctoral Researchers:

  • Hanoof Aljohani. Low intensity exercise with blood flow restriction in patients with COPD.
  • Jack Bond. The ability of a far-infrared emitting fabric to activate mitochondrial and angiogenic adaptive responses (funded by Kymira Ltd).
  • Paddy Harrison. Skeletal muscle molecular responses to low intensity cycling exercise.
  • Rob Rogers. The applied physiology of W’ and W’ reconstitution.
  • Alex Welburn. The physiological determinants of W’ and W’ reconstitution.

Richard is also co-supervising the following Doctoral Researchers:

  • Jonah Drake. A statistical approach to modelling performance in endurance sports. (with Dr Axel Finke, School of Mathematics)
  • Hannah Johnson. Physiological considerations of para-athletes with cerebral palsy. (with Prof Vicky Tolfrey, SSEHS)
  • Megan Smith. Physiological and perceived effects of the menstrual cycle on sport and exercise performance. (with Dr Emma O’Donnell, SSEHS)

Richard has supervised ten Doctoral Researchers to completion as primary supervisor.

Richard is a Fellow of The Physiological Society. He is also Associate Editor for European Journal of Sports Science.

He is a regular reviewer for numerous international journals including Acta Physiologica, American Journal of Physiology, European Journal of Applied Physiology, European Journal of Sport Sciences, Journal of Applied Physiology, Journal of Physiology, Journal of Sport Sciences, Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

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