Tom joined the PESS Department in August 2015 as a lecturer in Human Movement Science. His research and teaching interests involve all aspects of Human Movement Science with a particular focus on Strength and Conditioning (S&C). Tom is a graduate of the PESS Department in UL. He has a BA in Physical Education (1996), an MSc in the area of motor skill acquistion (1999) and a PhD in the area of strength training for Rugby Union (2006). His research was funded by the IRFU and provided scientific evidence for optimising the potentiation benefits of complex training for Rugby players. Following the completion of his PhD, Tom worked as an S&C coach with Munster Rugby and the IRFU before taking up the post of Head of S&C at the Irish Institute of Sport, leading S&C provision and strategy for Ireland's Olympians and Paralympians. He is currently S&C coach to a number of Ireland's Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In addition, Tom is himself an Olympian and an accomplished Irish sprinter. He competed in the 4 x 100 m relay for Ireland at the Sydney Olympic Games.