Rate My Professor Sophia Nimphius

Sophia Nimphius, PhD, GAICD, is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sport) and Professor of Human Performance in the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy at Edith Cowan University in 2009, Master of Science in Exercise Science in the United States in 2004, and Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in the United States in 2002. Over two decades of experience in elite sport include positions as Sports Science Manager at the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, High Performance Women’s Sport Science Coordinator for Softball Australia, and High Performance Manager for Softball Western Australia. Accredited as a High Performance Manager and Sports Scientist by Exercise and Sports Science Australia, and as a Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association, she is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2016, she became the first woman elected to the Board of Directors of the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association. Her governance roles encompass the Australian Institute of Sport National Quality Assurance Technical Committee, Science in Australia Gender Equity as Chair and Athena SWAN Panel Member, Deputy Chair of the ECU Human Research Ethics Committee, ECU Pride Committee, and ECU Athena SWAN Charter Committee. She consults for FIFA, the Women’s Tennis Association, FIFPRO, the English FA, Football West, and serves as a Sport Integrity Australia Council Member.

An active researcher cited over 15,000 times on Google Scholar, Sophia Nimphius focuses on human performance including strength and conditioning, biomechanics, motor behaviour, athlete health, women in sport, and socioecological approaches to elite sport systems, policy, and governance. Notable publications include 'The Importance of Muscular Strength in Athletic Performance' (Sports Medicine, 2016), 'The Importance of Muscular Strength: Training Considerations' (Sports Medicine, 2018), 'Training Principles for Power' (Strength & Conditioning Journal, 2012), and 'Change of Direction and Agility Tests: Challenging Our Current Measures of Performance' (Strength & Conditioning Journal, 2018). Awards include the 2020 Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Life Member Award, 2017 ESSA Female Leader in Exercise and Sports Science, 2016 ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award for Inspirational Individual, 2014 ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award for Excellence in Research, and 2014 NSCA Terry J. Housh Young Investigator of the Year Award. She serves as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance and delivers public lectures and keynotes on sport performance and equity.