About
Zoe is an Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Southampton and an honorary researcher at University Hospital Southampton. A former international rugby player and one of the UK’s first Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologists, her work focuses on exercise in long-term condition management, respiratory health, and athlete welfare.
She leads the Physiology of Health, Lifestyle & Exercise (PHLEX) team within the Active Living Research Group, and teaches across the Physiotherapy, Cardiac Physiology, and MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology programmes. She holds leadership roles with Clinical Exercise Physiology UK, the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, and the Rugby Players’ Association. Zoe is also Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Sport Science, flagship journal of the European College of Sport Science.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Physical activity and exercise in the prevention and treatment of long-term conditions
- Clinical exercise testing and mechanism(s) of exercise limitation in long-term conditions
- Paediatric exercise science
- Long-term athlete health / Female athlete health / Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport
Publications
Teaching
Zoe currently works with colleagues to deliver teaching on the following modules:
- Research Project in Cardiac Physiology – Year 3
- Anatomy & Physiology - Year 1
- Introduction to Professional Practice - Year 1
- Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice - Year 1
- Undergraduate research project supervisor for Physiotherapy & Cardiac Physiology
- MPhil and PhD Research Supervisor
Externally, she has contributed to the development of national and international training on clinical exercise testing and training, and delivers teaching to key stakeholder groups (medical staff, patients and caregiver forums) globally.
She delivers invited teaching on a number of courses focused on clinical exercise physiology and rehabilitation, including the Cambridge – UCLA Course on Clinical Exercise Testing and Interpretation, Edinburgh Practical Course on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Paediatric Respiratory Disease, and various courses for physiotherapists and exercise professionals via the European Cystic Fibrosis Society and CFPhysio.com.
Biography
Zoe is an Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Southampton, and an honorary researcher at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. She was one of the first registered Clinical Exercise Physiologists in the UK and a former international rugby union player. Her work bridges clinical research, applied physiology, and athlete welfare, with a strong focus on the role of physical activity and exercise in the prevention, treatment, and management of long-term conditions across the lifespan.
Zoe holds a BSc in Sports Science and an MSc in Exercise Rehabilitation from Bangor University, and a PhD in Paediatric Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Exeter, where her doctoral work focused on exercise limitation in children with cystic fibrosis. From 2014 to 2024, she established and led the Physical Activity, Health and Rehabilitation research group at the University of Portsmouth. In 2024, she joined the University of Southampton’s School of Health Sciences, where she established and now leads the Physiology of Health, Lifestyle and Exercise (PHLEX) team within the Active Living Research Group.
Her work spans the core clinical conditions within the scope of practice for Clinical Exercise Physiology, including respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurological, frailty, mental health, and cancer. She is a recognised world leader in exercise and respiratory disease, particularly in understanding its multisystemic impacts, and in developing evidence-based strategies to assess and support long-term health and quality of life across the lifespan. She also specialises in long-term athlete health, with a particular focus on female athletes.
Zoe is Research Lead for the European Cystic Fibrosis Society’s Exercise Working Group and holds leadership roles across professional bodies including The Physiological Society, European College of Sport Science, Clinical Exercise Physiology UK (where she now sits on the board), and the Rugby Players’ Association. She is Chair of the Rugby Players’ Association Women’s Welfare Advisory Board and advisor to the UK Government's DCMS Board of Women's Sport, contributing to national and international policy and advocacy in sport and health.
She is currently Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Sport Science (the flagship journal of the European College of Sport Science), and serves on several editorial boards and funding review panels. A passionate educator and mentor, she lectures globally and supports the development of future clinical and academic leaders. Her work is driven by a commitment to enabling safe, equitable, and effective physical activity and exercise for all.