MRC Epidemiology UnitResearch Assistant
Study Coordination team
Left the Unit in 2020
Work and interests
Sofie joined the Unit’s Study Coordination team in January 2018 and worked as a research assistant with the GoActive Evaluation Study, – a school-based physical activity promotion project, which encourages students to try new physical activities to increase activity levels and reduce sedentary behaviour. She was involved in carrying out the primary outcome measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, body fat percentage and the fitting of an axivity monitor) at schools across Cambridgeshire and Essex. Sofie left the Unit in February 2020.
Background and experience
Prior to joining the Unit, Sofie completed a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science with a professional placement year from Loughborough University. Throughout the degree course Sofie mainly focused on undertaking modules relating to physiology, physical activity promotion and psychology. During her final year she carried out a physiology project investigating the effects of fish oil supplementation on hamstring structure and functioning following a Nordic hamstring exercise training programme.
Sofie’s one year professional placement involved working as a Sport Scientist for British Swimming in the final year programme preparing the GB swimming team for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The role involved working with the support team to track, monitor and collect data on the athletes to best impact individual performance. Sofie also carried out performance analysis roles throughout her time as an undergraduate, recording and analysing footage in elite swimming, football and netball to provide objective feedback to understand performance.
Sofie has an array of research interests including evaluating different physical activity measures, interventions to promote physical activity, social media and social networking use and the implication on physical activity.