Personal profile
Biography
I am an experienced academic leader and quantitative researcher specialising in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and health across the lifespan, with a particular focus on children and adolescents. My research explores physical activity patterns within physical education and everyday contexts, sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic risk, interventions to reduce prolonged sitting, childhood obesity, and the impact of pedagogical models such as Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) on physical activity, motivation, and self-determination.
I currently serve as Head of School for the School of Sport, Psychology and Social Science at the University of Bedfordshire, providing strategic leadership across education, student experience, and resource management. I have held senior academic leadership roles focused on continuation, retention, and student success, alongside extensive experience in curriculum development, quality assurance, recruitment, and research supervision.
I hold a PhD in Physiology and am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My academic career spans lecturing, programme leadership, and research roles across multiple institutions, with a strong track record in teaching innovation, postgraduate supervision, and applied research in physical activity, health, and obesity interventions.
I have successfully supervised multiple doctoral and postgraduate research projects in the area of sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and cardiometabolic health. PhD completions include research on sedentary behaviour in coronary heart disease, the cardiometabolic effects of breaking up sedentary time in South Asian adults, and workplace sedentary behaviour interventions. I have also supervised postgraduate research examining sedentary behaviour patterns and cardiometabolic risk in children.
I have an established and sustained peer-reviewed publication record in sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and cardiometabolic health, with impactful research spanning children, adolescents, and adults, including workplace, clinical, and educational settings.
Education/Academic qualification
Other Postgraduate qualification (Inc. Professional), Leading Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Bedfordshire)
Award Date: 31 Oct 2017
Other Postgraduate qualification (Inc. Professional), Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (University of Derby)
Award Date: 30 Jun 2014
PhD, The Role of the TGfU Pedagogical Approach in Promoting Physical Activity Levels During Physical Education Lessons and Beyond (University of Bedfordshire)
Award Date: 1 Mar 2011
Bachelor, BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science (De Montfort University, Bedford)
Award Date: 15 Jul 2007
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Substituting sitting with standing and walking in free-living conditions improves daily glucose concentrations in South Asian adults living with overweight/obesity
Dey, K. C., Fruer, J., Smith, L., Jones, R. L., Maylor, B. D., Yates, T. E. & Bailey, D. P., 5 Aug 2025, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 126, 1, p. 579–589 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure) -
The impact of academic success tutors and coaches on first-year student outcomes
Kaya, S., Nethercott, K., Briggs, S., Brunton, J., Smith, L., Reynolds, J., Danbury, A., Factor, F. & Reid, C., 24 Oct 2025, In: London Review of Education.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Learning to learn at Bedfordshire: week 0 to week 7 induction
Nethercott, K., Smith, L. R., Briggs, S., Heritage, R. & Everitt, M., 19 Nov 2024, In partnership, November 2024.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access -
Interrupting sitting acutely attenuates cardiometabolic risk markers in South Asian adults living with overweight and obesity
Chandra Dey, K., Fruer, J., Smith, L., Jones, R. & Bailey, D. P., 11 Nov 2023, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 124, 4, p. 1163-1174 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)5 Downloads (Pure) -
A-REST (Activity to Reduce Excessive Sitting Time): a feasibility trial to reduce prolonged sitting in police staff: [preprint]
Brierley, M., Smith, L., Chater, A. M. & Bailey, D., 13 Jun 2022, Preprints.org.Research output: Working paper
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Thesis
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The role of the TGfU pedagogical approach in promoting physical activity levels during physical education lessons and beyond
Smith, L. R. (Author), Oct 2010Student thesis: Doctoral thesis
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