Congratulations to our newly-awarded Professors, who have been recognised by the Professoriate Committee for their outstanding contribution to Sheffield Hallam and beyond:
Joanne Butt: Professor of Sport Psychology
Joanne joined Sheffield Hallam University in 2005. She is a Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist (British Psychological Society; Health Care Professions Council) and provides sport psychology consultancy to various teams and individual athletes including volleyball hockey, equestrian, tennis and football.
Joanne publishes research in a variety of sport psychology and performance topics including mental toughness, competitive anxiety and stress, talent development in sport. Joanne is the current co-Editor of the International Journal of Sport Psychology. As part of her role in the teaching department Joanne is the current course leader for the Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
Simona Francese: Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry
Simona joined Sheffield Hallam University as a lecturer in 2008, following a post doc at the University of Leeds in 2005 and post as Research Fellow at the Interdepartmental Centre of Mass Spectrometry, University of Florence Italy (2005-2008). She teaches separation and detection techniques, analytical science and bioanalytical methods.
An internationally-known researcher in the area of Bioanalytical and Forensic Mass Spectrometry, Simona’s ground-breaking fingerprint profiling method has been on trial with West Yorkshire Police which saw it successfully implemented during an investigation into a case of harassment. The Home Office has invested funding in the project and researchers hope to see the technology be used in high-profile cases. This research has attracted worldwide coverage in trade and online publications, and broadcast on TV and radio including on BBC’s The One Show, Click, Crimewatch Roadshow, BBC Breakfast, as well as overseas programs.
David James: Professor of Sports Engineering
David is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER). He joined Sheffield Hallam University in 2006 and shortly after established the world-renowned MSc Sports Engineering programme. More recently, David established the Alliance for Sports Engineering Education to create an educational partnership with TU Delft (Netherlands) and TU Chemnitz (Germany).
In addition to his research, which is primarily focused on sports mechanics and injury, David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. David was awarded the very first fellowship in public engagement from the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is a regular voice in broadcast and print media and delivers high profile keynote lectures on the role that technology plays in sport.
