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Dr. Andrew Lavender

Senior Lecturer, Exercise and Sports Science

Contact

Campus

Mt Helen Campus

Biography

Dr Andrew Lavender is a senior lecturer in exercise and sport science, specialising in motor control and learning. He also teaches applied research skills for undergraduate students, encouraging them to have a practical understanding of scientific enquiry as it relates to exercise and sport science. 

Before joining Federation University, Andrew worked as a lecturer at Curtin University. He taught motor control and learning and played a key role, as course coordinator, in developing the new exercise science course for accreditation. His research addresses exercise-induced muscle damage, exercise in older populations, cortical plasticity and mild traumatic brain injury assessment and recovery. Prior to working at Curtin University, Andrew completed positions as postdoctoral research officer at Adelaide University and postdoctoral fellow at Tokyo University, where he focused on studies in cortical plasticity. 

Andrew’s current research projects look at the phenomenon of mechanically-induced neurophysiological disruption and concussion assessment and rehabilitation. He collaborates with former colleagues at Curtin University through PhD student supervision. 

Andrew has contributed 14 articles on health topics to The Conversation, which have been read more than 2.6 million times.

Fields of research

  • Exercise physiology
  • Motor control
  • Neurology and neuromuscular diseases
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More about Andrew

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (Sports Science)
  • Master of Science (Sports Science)
  • Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching
  • Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education (Management)
  • PhD in Human Physiology

Areas of interest

  • Mild traumatic brain injury
  • Mechanically induced neurophysiological disruption
  • Exercise induced muscle damage
  • Fatigue  
  • Exercise and healthy ageing 

Areas of expertise

Andrew has expertise in brain stimulation techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS & tACS) for investigating brain function. Andrew also works with measurement tools including electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). 

Grants

  • Neurotrauma Research Program: 2021–2022. ‘Prevention of cerebrovascular dysfunction and neuromotor deficits induced by repeated sub-concussion'. CIA Ryu Takechi ($100,000).

Current

  • PhD student, Curtin University, ‘Heading in international women’s football: a video analysis of incidence, characteristics and performance’, co-supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Curtin University, ‘Differences in pedagogy and inclusivity of health & physical education teachers in Australia and Saudi Arabia’, co-supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Curtin University, ’The relationship between 24-hour movement behaviours and health-related physical fitness on educational outcomes among high school students’, co-supervisor 

Past

  • PhD student, Curtin University, ‘Misconceptions and critical thinking ability in undergraduate exercise science students, vocational fitness students and exercise science professionals’, co-supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Curtin University. ‘The lived experience and neurophysiology of fear after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury’, co-supervisor. 

  • Motor control and learning
  • Research in exercise and sport science 

Specialist roles

  • Institute of Health and Wellbeing Safety Officer 

Professional association memberships

  • Accredited exercise scientist with Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA)
  • Australasian Neuroscience Society 

Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC)

Andrew is part of the Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC), which provides training, workshops and mentoring to build capacity and enable organisations to conduct meaningful evaluations.
  • Publications

The incidence and characteristics of heading in the 2019 FIFA Womens World Cup

Children's Perceived Ease of Use of a Projected Augmented Reality Game Designed for Balance and Coordination Training

Heading performance outcomes at the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019

High intensity interval training and its impact on brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a potential mechanism to reduce early onset dementia

Editorial: Assessment and treatment interventions for traumatic brain injury

High intensity interval training and its impact on brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a potential mechanism to reduce early onset dementia