Sam joined the department in September 2015, she is an early years researcher who completed both her undergraduate degree and PhD at Liverpool John Moores University in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. Sam’s PhD investigated physical activity, sedentary and playtime behaviours in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Throughout her PhD Sam worked closely with a number of Primary and Secondary Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools around Merseyside. In addition Sam has been involved in other physical activity research projects involving youth without SEN working with numerous mainstream schools and also with the World Challenge. Sam is passionate and enthusiastic about promoting physical activity to the general population and specifically special populations. Sam’s personal interest include travel, outdoor adventure and organising fundraising events.