Rate My Professor Samantha Birse

Dr. Samantha Birse serves as a Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science within the School of Science and Technology at the University of New England, having joined the institution in 2024 upon completing her Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Newcastle. Her robust academic qualifications also encompass a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Rehabilitation), a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours) from Charles Sturt University, and a Master of Applied Science (Research) from La Trobe University. Drawing on her professional experience across five Australian universities, Birse delivers instruction in functional musculoskeletal anatomy and biomechanics, coordinating key units including Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy (ANAT120), Introductory Biomechanics (EXSC210), and Advanced Biomechanics (EXSC310).

In her research, Birse specializes in biomechanics, with emphasis on gait and movement analysis. Her scholarly interests include movement and coordination variability, nonlinear dynamics applied to athlete performance, and youth athlete development. Her prior investigations utilized nonlinear dynamics to examine the effects of gameplay on elite youth basketball players, and she now aims to apply these methods to broader youth athletic contexts. As an Accredited Exercise Scientist with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), and a member of the Australia and New Zealand Biomechanics Society, Birse also expresses interest in consultancies related to exercise and sports biomechanics. Selected publications feature Blyton, S. J., Snodgrass, S. J., Pizzari, T., Birse, S. M., Likens, A. D., & Edwards, S. (2023). Differences in running variability between individuals with and without current or previous musculoskeletal injury: A systematic review. Gait & Posture, 101, 124-133; Birse, S. M., Webster, K. E., Middleton, K. J., & McClelland, J. A. (2022). Differences in accuracy and consistency in elite lawn bowlers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41(11), 1214-1219; and Dooley, K., Snodgrass, S. J., Stanwell, P., Birse, S., Schultz, A., Drew, M. K., & Edwards, S. (2020). Spatial muscle activation patterns during different leg exercise protocols in physically active adults using muscle functional MRI: a systematic review. Journal of Applied Physiology, 129(4), 934-946.