How one assignment could lead to a career

Admit it. When an assignment topic or report brief lands on your to-do list, you scurry to a search engine like Google to ask at least the first question and probably many more.

ACU student Josh Pearson is no different. After all, you’ve got to start somewhere, right?

What separates Josh from most is that any online search asking, ‘How often should I compete in powerlifting to get stronger?’, is likely to list a research article bearing his name.

The budding exercise physiologist is now a published researcher after his undergraduate assignment developed into a peer-reviewed manuscript, accepted by the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

While honours students often feature in research papers, undergraduate articles are rare, if not unheard of, and Josh was amazed at the prospect his efforts could shape the thinking of those in his field.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I put one-and-a-half years into it which seems crazy,” the now Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology student said. “After four-and-a-half years of uni, I can say not all of it was as high quality as that.

“Everyone has rational questions they pose to Google. So, to think some one could ask that question and up pops my article is really cool.”

The project and the outcomes

With the backing of supervisors Dan van den Hoek and Jemima Spathis, Josh’s research question led to his published article Effect of Competition Frequency on Strength Performance of Powerlifting Athletes.

In examining the results of 1,728 (male n=978 and female n=750) Australian powerlifters over a 12-month period, the study demonstrated that absolute strength (the most weight an athlete can lift in kilograms) improves significantly in athletes who compete multiple times per year. For males, the greatest improvement in absolute strength occurred at competition two. For females, the greatest increase in absolute strength was observed at the fifth competition of the year. 

The findings have significant applications for coaches, athletes, and perhaps administrators, as they navigate the delicate balance between providing enough competition and the need to recover, train and peak between events.

“We found competing two to three times a year is better than once, but there is an upper limit to the number of competitions (four per year) that allow a performance increase,” Josh said. 

“We’re looking at doing some longitudinal data to see if that transfers over 10 – 15 years.”

Seeing the practical applications of the research question, Josh’s lecturers designed the assessment for the Independent Studies unit to mimic the process of creating a manuscript for submission.

Just the beginning

The collaborative approach led to a research outcome that could open further doors for the Bachelor of Physical Activity and Health Science graduate.

“Producing a publication-worthy article from undergraduate unit beginnings is extraordinary,” Dr Spathis said.  “Josh shows great promise towards research, and if he were to pursue a Master of Philosophy or PhD in the future, the experience will provide a good grounding in leading a larger program of research.”

Just weeks away from completing his master’s degree, Josh is considering the future.

Academia is one option. As is serving the community by pursuing his interest in cardiometabolic health.

Recent professional placement stints with the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association and Mates4Mates, a support service for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members, have broadened his opportunities.

“It was eye-opening,” Josh said.

If you have a passion for sport like Josh, find out where our sport and exercise science degrees will take you.