Jeanette completed her PhD in Exercise Physiology at the School of Exercise and Sport Science, the University of Sydney in 2001. Her thesis was titled ‘Functional, morphological and biochemical adaptations to skeletal muscle disuse in humans’. Jeanette studied a large proportion of her degrees essentially part time as she was also heavily involved in competing, coaching and administering sport (such as water polo, cross-country skiing, rhythmic gymnastics and swimming), whilst also being the President of the Sydney University Women’s Sports Association for nearly 10 years and the Assistant Chef de Mission for the Australian Team at five World Student Games (2 Winter and 2 Summer Universiades from 1997-2005). Jeanette has coached in different guises from the age of 11. In 2002 Jeanette moved to the UK to begin a postdoctorate position in an EU funded Framework V project titled ‘Better Ageing’, overseeing the Manchester Metropolitan University work package. This involved exercise training community-based people over 70 years of age. Jeanette’s research centred on the neuromuscular adaptations to training and the cost of walking in older people. In 2005 Jeanette began her lectureship at Bangor University. She gained her Senior Lectureship position in 2010. In 2014 Jeanette left the School to join the School of Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Australia. She is now an Honorary Lecturer at SHES.

Jeanette’s current research areas involve the evaluation and optimisation of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular effects of physical activity in healthy humans (including older people) and in patients with chronic diseases; from the intracellular level to the whole body. One of my research interests is in determining the underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle function (muscle physiology) especially in regards to disuse atrophy and ageing and the practical application of exercise interventions in these groups. My main expertise is in exercise rehabilitation and training in ageing and clinical groups (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, dementia) to increase muscle mass and function