Simran Sidhu

Dr Simran Sidhu

Senior Lecturer

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Simran Sidhu is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Physiology and leader of the Integrative Human Neurophysiology Laboratory in the Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

Dr Sidhu was awarded her PhD in Neuroscience (School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Australia) in 2012. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Integrative Physiology at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA (2013-2015) and during this time was also awarded the American Heart Association Fellowship (2014-2015). Dr Sidhu was appointed Lecturer in the Discipline of Physiology at The University of Adelaide in June 2015.

Dr Sidhu's research bridges three disciplines: neuroscience, physiology, and exercise science – with a focus on elucidating neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise intolerance. Her research involves the application of non-invasive neurophysiological tools at the cutting edge of integrative neurophysiology, for e.g. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in healthy, aged, and clinical populations.

Current projects available for research students in my laboratory:

Overarching background to the available projects:

A hallmark of people with neurological and cardiovascular conditions such as multiple sclerosis and heart failure is premature fatigue, which not only impairs their quality of life, but also depicts a major source of morbidity. In advancing age, exercise intolerance and disability remains high. We understand little about the brain areas involved in the development of fatigue, and the impact of centrally driven fatigue on movements that are vital for interaction with our environment. Having a detailed understanding of the neural mechanisms and interactions that occur between the components in the brain during physical activity is critical to establish the anatomical sites of intervention that will reduce the effects of fatigue and increase movement tolerance. Furthermore, in many social and economic contexts, including vehicle driving, manual industrial operations and defence, physical fatigue has important influence on cognitive performance during goal directed movements. To improve human work productivity in health and disease, both the neurophysiological and psychophysical aspects of fatigue need to be addressed.

The series of projects currently implemented in my lab (details below) allow us to address the overarching aim of gaining a deep understanding of the relationship between exercise-related fatigue and physical activity, neural correlates, and motor-cognitive performance in humans.

Project 1:

  • Title: Brain mechanisms underlying effects of exercise-related fatigue on physical and motor-cognitive performance.
  • Available for: Third-year research placement students/Honours/PhD/Masters
  • Location: Helen Mayo South
  • Research project availability: Semester 1/2

Project 2:

  • Title: Neuromodulation, Neural fatigue and physical activity in multiple sclerosis.
  • Available for: Honours/PhD/Masters
  • Location: Helen Mayo South
  • Research project availability: Semester 1/2

Project 3:

  • Title: Age-related impact of physical activity on the brain.
  • Available for: Honours/PhD/Masters
  • Location: Helen Mayo South
  • Research project availability: Semester 1/2

Example Research

 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2015 - 2018 Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2012 - 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Utah

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Fellowship Fellow - Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Advance HE United Kingdom -
    2018 Award 2018 Women's Research Excellence Award The University of Adelaide Australia 5000
    2016 Recognition American Physiological Society (APS) select award for distinction in scholarship American Physiological Society (APS) United States -
    2014 Award American Heart Association Fellowship Award The University of Utah United States -
    2012 Honour Warren Walsh Memorial Award for outstanding academic performance during doctoral studies The University of Queensland Australia -
    2007 Achievement Class I Honours In Physiology The University of New South Wales Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2009 - 2012 University of Queensland Australia PhD (Neuroscience/Neurophysiology)
    2007 University of New South Wales Australia BSc Hons 1 (Exercise Neurophysiology)
    2003 - 2006 National University of Singapore Singapore BSc (Biomedical Science)

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    2012 - 2015 Postdoctoral Fellowship (American Heart Association Fellowship) University of Utah United States

  • Research Interests
    Exercise Physiology Motor Control Neurosciences Physiology Systems Physiology Ageing, Frailty and Mobility Cardiac, Respiratory and Vascular Health Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health

My research has been funded by the following schemes and/or funding bodies:

  • The Hospital Research Foundation (2024-2026)
  • MS Research Australia (2020-21)
  • The University of Adelaide Women’s Research Excellence Award, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2019)
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructure Funding Awards, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-2023)
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Committee Early Career Researcher Mentored Project Development Program, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-18)
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Travel Awards, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-2023)
  • German Research Foundation (DFG) International Collaboration Grant (2017)
  • Adelaide Medical School Equipment Grant, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2016)
  • Priority Partner Grant, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2015)
  • School of Medical Sciences Kick-Start Funding, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2015)
  • American Heart Association Fellowship Grant, American Heart Association, USA (2014-2015)
  • The University of Utah Postdoctoral Travel Grant (2013)
  • Technische Universität München, Germany. Research Opportunity Week Grant (2013)
  • Sports Medicine Australia Research Foundation Grant, Sports Medicine Australia, Australia (2011)
  • School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland Postgraduate Travel Grant (2008)
  • The University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship, The University of Queensland, Australia (2008-2012)
  • Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, Department of Education, Australia (2008-2012)

Teaching Interests: Neurophysiology, Human Motor Control and Learning, Exercise Science, Integrative Human Physiology

Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Program Honours Coordinator (Biomedicine Cluster)

Course Coordination & Teaching:

  • Human Motor Behaviour and Learning (Semester 2)
  • Research Placement Part 1 (Semester 1 & 2)
  • Research Placement Part 2 (Semester 1 & 2)
  • Research Integrated Learning (Semester 1 & 2)

Teaching contribution in other courses:

  • Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism (HLTH SC 3100; Semester 1)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Principal Supervisor The interaction between diet, physical activity and neuroplasticity in multiple sclerosis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Madison Boda

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Impact of Fatiguing Exercise on Corticospinal Excitability and Motor Performance in Young and Older Adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lavender Achieng Otieno
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Motor Cortex Plasticity and Skill Acquisition in Endurance-Trained Athletes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brodie Hand

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - ongoing External Supervisor Neural contributions to motor impairment in people with painful knee osteoarthritis University of South Australia MPhil Master Part Time Johanna Paddick
    2019 - 2020 External Supervisor The interaction between neuromodulation and fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis The University of Verona, Italy MSc Master Full Time Chiara Barbi

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - Health Safety and Wellbeing Committee The University of Adelaide Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member Big Science Adelaide (Sub Committee of NSW Committee) - Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member Low-Risk Human Research Ethics Committee The University of Adelaide Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member National Science Week Committee (South Australia) - Australia
    2013 - 2015 Board Member The University of Utah Postdoctoral Association The University of Utah United States
    2010 - 2011 Chair School of Human Movement Studies Postgraduate Students Executive Committee The University of Queensland Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2017 - ongoing Member Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member Exercise and Sports Science Australia Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member American College of Sports Medicine United States
    2013 - ongoing Member Society for Neuroscience United States
    2013 - ongoing Member American Heart Association United States

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2020 - ongoing Review Editor for Frontiers in Physiology (Exercise Physiology) Editorial Frontiers -
    2019 - ongoing Brain Sciences - Special Issue Guest Editor Editorial MDPI Switzerland
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83131235
  • Email: simran.sidhu@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Helen Mayo South, floor 4
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences
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