Professor Glen Lichtwark

Biography

Prof Glen Lichtwark is currently the Head of School of Exercise and Nutrition Science at QUT. Prior to this he has also worked at the University of Queensland (2010-2023), Griffith University (2006-2009), and Imperial College London / The Royal Veterinary College (2005). He has held an ARC Future Fellow (Professorial level, 2020-2024) and a National Health and Medical Research Foundation Peter Doherty Fellowship (2007-2010).

Research

Glen works within the interdisciplinary field of biomechanics, which draws on elements of biology, physiology, physics and engineering. His internationally recognised research focusses on skeletal muscle structure and function. In particular, he research how different muscles have evolved, along with our brains, to enhance our capacity for economical movement (e.g. walking/running), powerful movement (e.g. jumping or throwing), or precise movement (e.g. reaching or stepping). His work is unique in that it addresses a complex interaction of factors across different scales, including cellular mechanisms that drive muscle contraction, architecture and deformation of whole muscles, and neural control of muscles. His recent ARC Future Fellowship integrated these factors to create tools for better prediction of how much energy humans use to move. This work has direct application towards human performance and sport, healthy ageing and a vast array of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. Cerebral Palsy). This research has been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery and Linkage programs, Medical Research Futures Fund, Cerebral Palsy International, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Australian Sports Commission, Cricket Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council.

Some key recent research achievements include –

• Established the key role of the foot intrinsic muscles during walking and running – key publications in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of the Royal Society: Interface. Funded by ARC Discovery Grant (DP160101117) and ARC Linkage grant (LP1601013166 - Asics Oceania and the Australian Sports Commission).
• Developed methods to image muscle in three-dimensions during contraction to quantify the key role of intramuscular tendon (aponeurosis) in modulating muscle fibre function. Published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
• Applied an innovative microendoscopy technique to explore the in vivo relationship between human muscle micro-structure (sarcomeres) and macrostructure (fascicle size and geometry). A collaboration with Prof Scott Delp (Stanford University) and Prof Paul Hodges (UQ) further explores how muscle adapts due to different stress placed on the muscle: ARC Discovery Grant (DP200101476).
• Established key links between the way in which humans prefer to move and muscle-tendon function by using dynamic ultrasound and simulations to measure muscle function under different movement constraints.  Funded by ARC Future Fellowship (FT190100129).

Learning and Teaching

Glen has taught across a range of courses in exercise science (biomechanics, neuromechanics, sport technology and analytics, motor control, research skills) and coordinated different Honours programs. He has demonstrated leadership in teaching and learning by early adoption of blended learning approaches (e.g. EdX platforms) to create flexible learning environment. He has a passion for enabling research and development opportunities for students to work directly with industry (e.g. sports and health technology)