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Professor Mark Wilson

Professor Mark Wilson

Head of Department, Public Health & Sport Sciences

 2891

 Richards Building 14

 

Richard's Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

Overview

I am a professor in psychology, with an applied and theoretical interest in understanding the cognitive and emotional processes that underpin skill acquisition and performance under pressure. I have published over 170 research articles on these topics; supervised 20 PhD students to completion; attracted funding from a variety of sources across UKRI, industry, charities; and work as an applied psychologist in elite sport.  I joined Sport and Health Sciences in 2006, was promoted to chair in 2017 and was director of research (2018-2020) and head of department (2020-2022). I am currently head of department for Public Health and Sports Sciences, one of three departments in the Medical School.

Qualifications

2001-2006 PhD. Manchester Metropolitan University            
2003-2005 PGCE(HE). Manchester Metropolitan University 
2000-2001 M.Sc. (Distinction) Sport and Exercise Science (Psychology). Manchester Metropolitan University
1991-1995 M.Eng. (1st Class) Engineering Manufacture and Management. UMIST (Manchester University)

 

Career

05/17 –  Professor, performance psychology, SHS, University of Exeter.
06/13 – 04/17  Associate professor, psychology, SHS, University of Exeter.
06/09 – 05/13 Senior lecturer, psychology, SHS, University of Exeter.
09/06 – 05/09 Lecturer, psychology, Sport & Health Sciences (SHS), University of Exeter.
09/04 – 08/06

Research associate, Neural and Visual Control of Movement Research Line,

Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University.
09/01 – 08/04

Lecturer, sport psychology, Department of Exercise and Sport Science,

Manchester Metropolitan University.
09/95 – 08/98

Project manager and production engineer, Birds Eye Wall’s, Unilever Ltd.

 

Research

Research interests

As an applied cognitive psychologist, I develop and test theory (e.g., Attentional Control Theory: Sport, Eysenck & Wilson, 2016); examine mechanisms underpinning learning and performance under pressure; and perform trials to test the efficacy of technology or training innovations in groups where impairments may be problematic (e.g., sports performers, military operators, surgeons, clinical groups). My research group is known for their expertise in using technology (eye tracking, psychophysiological measures, virtual reality) to both provide insights into ‘hidden’ cognitive states (e.g., flow, challenge mindset, anxiety, attention), and innovative training solutions (e.g., via feed forward eye movement training in VR).

Research projects

A project grant from the ESRC (2009) and a Fellowship from the Department of Business and Innovation (2010) initiated work applying my early findings in sport into surgical contexts (stress, virtual reality, skill learning). Most of my subsequent research funding at Exeter (~£3m since 2012) has tested training solutions in Defence and Security contexts, via various DSTL frameworks (with colleagues Sam Vine and David Harris). This partnership with Dstl was highlighted as a case study in the government’s 2020 UK R&D Roadmap document (P16). An additional funding stream has explored the experience of anxiety (about falling) and training in clinical groups (e.g., from Parkinson’s UK) with colleague Will Young.

Links


External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

 

2022     Adjunct Professor, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

2010     Honorary Associate Professor in skill acquisition, School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong.

2010     UK-China Fellowship for Excellence; Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, UK.

2008     Philip Read Memorial Award for Recently Qualified Researcher in Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)

 

Professional Memberships

2009-current           Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council of Practitioner Psychologists

2007-current            British Psychological Society: Chartered Psychologist and member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology

2004-2014                 British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists: Accredited Sport Scientist: Psychology Support

 


Committee/panel activities

British Psychological Society (BPS): Chartered Psychologist and member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (since 2007).

Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) of Practitioner Psychologists (since 2009).

Member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Peer Review College (since 2010).


Editorial responsibilities

2018 – current        Psychology of Sport and Exercise (Editorial Board)

2016 - 2017              Guest co-editor (with Prof Vince Walsh) for two volumes of Progress in Brain Research: ‘Sport and the Brain: The science of preparing, enduring and winning.’

2015 – 2016            Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology (Associate Editor)

2013 – 2022            European Journal of Sports Sciences (Section Editor / Associate Editor)

2012 – 2021            Journal of Motor Learning and Development (Editorial Board)

2010 – 2018            Frontiers in Movement Science and Sport Psychology (Associate Editor)


External Examiner Positions

2019                     Brunel University 5 year programme review (sport science UGT and PGT)

2017-2019         Manchester Metropolitan University, Distance Learning Sport & Exercise Science (UGT)

2007-2012        Staffordshire University, Sport and Coaching Science (UGT).


Evidence of impact on policy and professional practice

As an applied scientist, the non-academic impact of my work is an important outcome. My research team’s impact activities were collated as one of three 4* impact case studies for SHS’s REF2021 submission. This impact case study reflected the breadth of impact we have achieved by translating our gaze training research in sport (via EIS support of GB pentathlon – who secured double gold medals in Japan 2021); to surgery (providing training at national curriculum level for urologists); to elite military operators (changing the training delivery of room clearance tasks); to children with dyspraxia

(see http://see2learn.co.uk); to work in industry undertaken with spin out company Cineon Training (https://cineon.training).


External doctoral examining nationally and internationally

PhD Examinations (7 international, 9 national)

2019. Ellmers, T. Brunel University, London, UK.

2019. Brock, K. University of Winchester, UK.

2018. Gallichio, G. University of Birmingham, UK.

2017. Shi, X. University of Birmingham, UK.

2017. Wood, A. Staffordshire University, UK.

2016. Cock, A. Brunel University London, UK.

2015. Sarpeshkar, V. (2015). University of Queensland, Australia.

2015. Renden, P. VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2015. Hadnett, V. University of Bangor, UK.

2014. Nibbeling, N. VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2013. Turner, M. Staffordshire University, UK.

2013. Ruggerio, M. Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia.

2013. Tsie, A. University of Hong Kong, SAR China.

2012. Nieuwenhuys, A. VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2010. Cooke, A. University of Birmingham, UK.

2010. Binsch, O. VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


External positions

2023-current     Academic Advisory Board of Cineon Training Ltd.

2019-current     Member of Immersive Healthcare Collaboration

2017-current     Member of GW4 community, Understanding occupational stress: Performance, health, and well-being in high pressure environments.

2010-current     Member of the Economic and Social Research Council Peer Review College


Invited lectures & workshops

2021. Women in leadership conference. Devon & Cornwall Police, UK (online)

2021. Simulation and Patient Safety Programme, Torbay Hospital, Devon, (Annually since 2014).

2020.  School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, UK.

2018. Asian-South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology (ASPASP) International Congress, Daegu, South Korea.

2018. Department of Health, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands.

2018. Trustee meeting, The Waterloo Foundation. Cardiff, UK.

2018. Exeter Sports Medicine Conference, Sandy Park, Exeter, UK.

2018. Commando Training Center, Lympstone, UK.

2016. Perception and Motion Analysis Group, Psychology, Oxford Brookes University.

2016. Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Chinese University of Hong Kong

2016. School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia

2016. Sport Sciences College, Beijing Sport University, China.

2015. New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress 2015, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2015. International Sports Science and Sports Medicine conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2014. Cognition and Neuroscience Research Group, Brunel University, London, UK.

2014. School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, UK.

2014. Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam. The Netherlands

2014. Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern’s Winter Academy Symposium, Switzerland.

2013. InterACTs (International Archery Coaching and Training Seminar), Brussels, Belgium.

2012. Institute of Sport, Physical Education, and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK.

2012. Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Chichester, UK.

2011. Australasian Skill Acquisition Research Group Conference, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

2010. Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, SAR China.

2009. Southwest Laparoscopic Masterclass, LapCo, Plymouth, UK.

2009. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK. 


Media Coverage

2014: Stress and penalty shootouts.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04584td (5-Live’s, The ultimate guide to World Cup penalty shootouts)

2013: Developing mini-rugby
www.exeter.ac.uk/research/focus/rfu/

2012: Surgery robotics
http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_260218_en.html

2011: Gaze-training in surgery
http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_170527_en.html
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2101344_2101330_2101341,00.html
www.physiciansweekly.com/surgeon-eye-movement-training/

2010:  Putting with a quiet eye
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/7887744/Quiet-Eye-technique-can-greatly-improve-putting-scientists-claim.html
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/keeping-your-eye-on-the-ball/?_r=0

2010:  Why England lose on penalties.
http://sshs.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_84302_en.html
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/7808901/Penalty-takers-should-ignore-goalkeeper-say-scientists.html

2006: Distractions while driving with a Sat Nav.
www.aviva.co.uk/risksolutions/news/2006/04/07/sat-nav-makes-driving-more-difficult/
www.jaama.co.uk/CompanyCar5.aspx

Teaching

Modules

2023/24

Information not currently available


Supervision / Group

Postdoctoral researchers

  • Tom Arthur (2022-2024) unded by a combination of Defence Science Technology Laboratory research grants), Cineon Training Ltd., and an ISSF Wellcome grant.
  • E. Bright (2010-2011) Exeter Surgical Health Services Research Unit (with Mr. J. McGrath).
  • C. Capio (2013-2014) University of Hong Kong. Funded by RGC (with Prof R.S.W. Masters).
  • T. Dutton (2011-2012) Dutton, T. Exeter Surgical Health Services Research Unit (with Mr. J. McGrath).
  • Toby Ellmers (2020-2021) Funded by an ESRC SWDTP Fellowship.
  • David Harris (2022-2025) Funded by Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship.
  • David Harris (2021-2022) Funded by Defence Science Technology Laboratory via research grants.
  • David Harris (2018-2020) Funded by Royal Academy of Engineering and UK Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award.
  • David Harris (2017-2018) Funded by Defence Science Technology Laboratory via research grants).
  • David Harris (2016-2017) Funded by an Intuitive Surgical Ltd. research grant.
  • Sadie Hollins (2014-15) Funded by a research grant from the Football Association (Grassroots).
  • Amy Maslivec (2018) Brunel University. Funded by Parkinson’s UK (with Dr Will Young).
  • Lee Moore (2013-2014) Funded by research grants from Intuitive Surgical / DHCSTC
  • Dr Takayuki Murayama (2014-15) Visiting Fellow from Kanazawa University
  • Harry Ramsey (2023-2025) Funded by University of Exeter.
  • Yuri Russo (2021-2024) Funded by a Parkinson’s UK research grant.
  • L. Uiga (2012) Funded by Innovation Fund / FlyBE.
  • Dr Greg Wood (2012-2013) Funded by The Waterloo Foundation.

Postgraduate researchers

  • Mayowa Olonilua - 2019-2025 - Examining the relationship between presence, cognitive load, and training outcomes in Military Virtual Reality Training systems.
  • Chloe Wang - 2022-2026 - Sensorimotor weighting in balance.
  • Jiaxi Ye - 2021-2025 - The influence of anxiety and visual search on freezing of gait in Parkinson’s Disease.

Alumni

  • Tom Arthur (2022) Perceptual and motor deficits in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. University of Bath / University of Exeter.Post-doctoral research associate in our research group.
  • Brad Cooper (2019)The variability and optimization of mental toughness. University of Exeter CEO of Catalyst Coaching.
  • Manu Ducrocq (2018) Understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms of sports performance under pressure through cognitive training. Birkbeck College, University of London. Post doctoral researcher at Birkbeck College.
  • David Harris (2018) Attentional control and flow states in sport. University of Exeter. Senior Research Fellow at University of Exeter.
  • Adam Kelly (2018) A multi-dimensional exploration of talent in a Football Academy. University of Exeter. Senior lecturer at Birmingham City University.
  • Don Lee (2015) A critical analysis of the quiet eye in golf putting. University of Exeter.
  • Dr Neha Malhotra (2014) Exploring the role of movement specific reinvestment in learning and performing tasks of varying complexity. University of Hong Kong. Applied sport psychologist at Singapore Institute of Sport.
  • Dr Charlotte (Lottie) Miles (2014) Quiet eye, sporting ability and movement clumsiness. University of Exeter. Working in industry.
  • Dr Lee Moore (2014) The role of challenge and threat evaluations in the performance of visuomotor skills under pressure. University of Exeter. Senior lecturer at University of Bath.
  • Midhun Parakkal Unni (2022) Parkinson's disease and motor dysfunction - Advanced mathematical modelling and data analysis for personalized clinical applications. University of Exeter.VP Technology (Research
  • Katie Payne (2019) Quiet eye as a measure of attentional control. University of Exeter. Sports development officer at Team Bath.
  • Nadine Sammy (2018) Helping athletes meet the challenge: Determinants of challenge and threat responses. University of Exeter. Sport psychologist in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Guoxiao Sun (2017) Attentional control and visuomotor performance. Beijing Sports University. Lecturer at Shandong University.
  • Scott Swainston (2023) Player experience in the academy to first team transition in professional football. University of Exeter. Sporting director for a Swedish football club.
  • Dr Gethin Thomas (2013) Introducing children to rugby: Shaping the Game. University of Exeter. Senior lecturer at Cardiff Met University.
  • Liis Uiga (2017) Cognitive control processes during balance and locomotion: Walking an attentional tightrope! University of Hong Kong. Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
  • Professor Sam Vine (2010) Attention, anxiety and performance variability in visuomotor skills. University of Exeter. Professor at University of Exeter.
  • Axel Vitterso (2020) The role of sensorimotor incongruence in pathological pain. University of Bath / University of Exeter. Associate professor in cognitive psychology (Oslo Nye Hoyskole).
  • Rosanna Walters-Symons (2017) Quiet eye, attentional control and performance. University of Exeter. Lecturer at Plymouth Marjons University.
  • Dr Greg Wood (2011) Anxiety, attention and penalty kick performance. University of Exeter. Senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.

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