Professor Janice L. Thompson PhD, FACSM

PhD in Exercise Science (Exercise Physiology and Nutrition), Arizona State University, Tempe, 1991.

MSc in Physical Education (Exercise Physiology), California State University, Sacramento, 1987.

BSc in Physical Education (Exercise Physiology), California State University, Sacramento, 1985.

Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM)

Fellow of the European College of Sport Science (FECSS)

Professor Thompson completed her PhD in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition from Arizona State University in 1991. After completing post-doctoral fellowship training at Stanford University in 1995, she worked at University of North Carolina, Charlotte and at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Prior to joining the University of Birmingham in 2012, she was Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Bristol. She is a Fellow and Past Vice President of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She is also a member of the Executive Board of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).

Professor Thompson was awarded the 2015 ACSM Citation Award. This award is granted to an individual or group who has made significant and important contributions to sports medicine and/or the exercise sciences. These contributions may include, but are not limited to, research and scholarship; clinical care; and/or administrative or educational services in sports medicine or exercise science.

Professor Thompson is co-lead for the first-year undergraduate module, Becoming a Researcher. She also contributes lectures to various BSc and MSc courses within the School and across the University. She is the author of 4 nutrition textbooks published in English and Spanish.

Janice has supervised 11 doctoral researchers and more than 60 MSc students to completion. She currently supervises 3 post-graduate research students:

• Brandon Shad (Co-supervisor (30%) with Dr Gareth Wallis) – Expected date of completion September 2019 (currently awaiting viva). Funded by College of Life and Environmental Sciences Exercise as Medicine Studentship. “Influence of Sedentary Time on Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Function, and Metabolic Health.”
• Sekesai Dachi (Primary Advisor (80%) with Professor Peymane Adab, secondary supervisor) – expected date of completion September 2021. Funded by a combination of self-funding and support from the Royal College of Nursing. “Determinants of the Uptake of Bariatric Surgery by Ethnic Minority Patients.”
• Anastasia Shvedko (Secondary supervisor (25%), with Anna Phillips (60%) and Carolyn Greig (15%)) – expected date of completion September 2019 (currently awaiting viva). Funded by a PhD studentship from the Russian government. “Impact of physical activity on reducing social isolation and loneliness in older adults.”
• Benjamin Parry (Secondary supervisor (40%), with Jennifer Cumming (60%) – expected date of completion July 2020. Funded by a matched funded PhD studentship from Public Health England, St Basils Charity, and College of Life and Environmental Sciences. “Examination of influence of changes in physical activity on tackling youth homelessness using Mental Skills Training in homeless young people.”
• Evans Asamane (Primary Advisor (90%)) – expected date of completion November 2019 (currently awaiting viva). “Dietary intake and eating behaviours in community-dwelling ethnically diverse older adults: cultural tailoring of assessment and identification of key social influences.” Funded by EU H2020 Marie Curie Innovative Training Network (PANINI).
• Grace Tidmarsh (co-supervisor (30%) with Jennifer Cumming (70%) – expected date of completion September 2021. “Physical activity and health in homeless young people.” Funded by an ESRC DTP Collaborative Studentship (1+3), in partnership with St Basils Charity.

Research interests

Diabetes prevention and management in diverse communities; public health nutrition and physical activity; mixed methods research; dietary assessment techniques; community-based evaluations and interventions; ageing and ethnic minority health. 

Current projects

• Co-investigator. ACE – Active, Connected and Engaged. NIHR Public Health Research Programme. 42 months. 01/02/21 – 31/07/24. £1,717,757. (Chief Investigator: Dr Afroditi Stathi).
• Co-Investigator. “BY-BAND-SLEEVE: Gastric BYpass, adjustable gastric BANDing, or gastric SLEEVE surgery to treat morbid obesity: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial.” National Institute for Health Research/Health Technology Assessment, 09/127/53. 01/09/2011 – 31/12/2023. £2,874,696. (PI: J Blazeby, University of Bristol).

Professor Thompson currently serves on the Executive Board of the European College of Sport Science and on the Scientific Committee of the British Nutrition Foundation. She is a member of the Diabetes UK Community Education Insight Advisory Group, and is Section Editor for the journal BMC Public Health.

The impact of Professor Thompson's research has been highlighted in the BBC's recent show 'Trust Me Im A Doctor'. Viewer statistics indicate 3.2 million viewers of the original programme, with an additional 200,000 views via BBC iPlayer.

Her research has also featured in a Birmingham brief article highlighting Veganism research at the University.