Kieran Smith

Kieran is undertaking a joint-funded PhD Studentship with Teesside University’s School of Health and Life Sciences and Middlesbrough Football Club, investigating using physical profiling to enhance individualization of training in Soccer, supervised by Dr Jonathan Taylor (DoS), Dr Matthew Wright and Prof Paul Chesterton. As part of the studentship, Kieran is embedded within Middlesbrough FC’s Science, Medicine and Fitness department working part-time as an Assistant Academy Sport Scientist in their Category 1 academy.

Kieran joined the university in October 2023 from Durham University where he was awarded a MSc (Res) and BA (Hons) in the field of sport and exercise sciences, specialising in the discipline of Sport and Exercise Physiology. Kieran also holds Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) of Advance HE and alongside his studies held a Graduate Teaching Assistant position at Durham University contributing to the delivery of the sport and exercise physiology strand of undergraduate programmes in sport and exercise sciences.

Alongside his academic studies, Kieran also holds a range of practical experience in the field of applied sports science in team sports, having previously worked with Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club in Premiership Rugby, Durham City Women’s FC in Championship Football and various university athletes/teams. Kieran has also worked in a consultancy capacity collaborating on an applied research project for Major League Soccer’s youth league MLS NEXT, evaluating elements that make up an optimal talent development environment (TDE) in youth soccer.

Kieran’s research interests centre around the applied field of sport science and sports physiology and performance supporting the evaluation, monitoring and enhancement of physical performance in team sport athletes.

Kieran’s doctoral studies are focussed on the application of the Anaerobic Speed Reserve in academy soccer, examining:

1. The utility of player profiling methods in the prescription of HIIT for academy soccer players.
2. The effectiveness of individualised prescription on soccer-specific training adaptations.
3. The variability in profiling and training response within and between players.

Graduate Member of The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) · Oct 2018 – Present

Postgraduate Member of The Physiological Society · Oct 2021 – Present

Associate Member of The UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) · Jan 2022 – Present

Associate Fellow (AFHEA) of Advance HE · Oct 2023 – Present

Student Member of The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) · Nov 2023 – Present