Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor (IHWB)

Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics at Loughborough University, UK. He is Vice President (Publications) for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS), and an Editorial Board Member for the journal Sports Biomechanics. His passion for sport science stems from a background as a former junior international Judo athlete and a current Netball Superleague umpire.

Stuart graduated from Loughborough University in 2013 with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences. This was followed by a PhD at Loughborough, in the computer simulation of sports biomechanics. He worked as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Suffolk from 2018 to 2022, before re-joining Loughborough University as a Lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.

Alongside a passion for engaging the wider audience in all things sports biomechanics, Stuart’s main area of research focus is the integration of wearable technology and musculoskeletal modelling to provide individual-specific estimates of loading on tissues during training/rehabilitation. Applications of this work include training load monitoring and prescription. Additional areas of research focus have included the analysis of sporting techniques (mostly racket/bat sports) and the mechanics of flywheel resistance exercise.

He collaborates nationally and internationally with researchers and industry partners on these projects, leading to various peer-reviewed publications and conference publications. Stuart gave a keynote lecture at the 2021 Brazilian Congress of Biomechanics and has given invited presentations or workshops for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (Biomechanics Interest Group). He has participated in panel discussions as part of the International Society of Biomechanics conference and the Global Sports Medicine and Science Conclave.

Stuart is also very keen on working to improve teaching practice personally and within the discipline of sports biomechanics. He is a co-organiser of the ISBS Teaching Initiative, has published on the scholarship of teaching and learning, and hosted the online Sports Biomechanics Lecture Series. He is an External Examiner for the University of Hull.