Rate My Professor Jordan Smith

Dr Jordan Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in 2015 and Bachelor of Teaching (secondary)/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Honours) in 2010, both from the University of Newcastle, and holds a Strength and Conditioning Coaching qualification from the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association. Following his initial training, he worked as a physical education teacher in local high schools before commencing a full-time academic position after his PhD. He currently serves as Deputy Lead of the schools-based research theme within the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition and contributes to the Centre for Active Living and Learning.

Smith's research specializations encompass the physical and mental health benefits of resistance exercise, scalable interventions promoting muscle-strengthening physical activities, school-based obesity prevention for disadvantaged adolescent boys, and high-intensity interval training effects on cognitive and mental health in youth. His PhD evaluated the ATLAS cluster randomised controlled trial, which emphasizes resistance training and is now implemented across New South Wales high schools in partnership with the Department of Education. He co-developed the Resistance Training for Teens program, leads NHMRC-funded projects on HIIT and chronic disease prevention, and has secured grants totaling over $9.5 million. Awards include the University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher of the Year (2018), Sports Medicine Australia Best New Investigator in Physical Activity and Health Promotion (2016), Best Paper in Exercise Science (2015), and Faculty RHD Publication Prize first runner-up (2015). Key publications are 'Integrating High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) into the School Setting: Benefits, Criticisms, and Recommendations' (2024), 'Exercise for Children and Adolescents' (2020), 'Global surveillance of cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness' (2020), and the ATLAS trial report (2013). His work advances youth health through evidence-based programs, with international collaborations and presentations such as at ISBNPA 2025.