DCU People | Staff Profile | Asli Devrim Lanpir

Her journey began with a strong academic foundation, earning a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics from Ankara University, where she ranked second in her faculty. Asli furthered her studies at Hacettepe University, completing both an MSc and a PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics, with her doctoral research focusing on the effects of probiotics and nutritional status on exercise-induced symptoms and endurance performance in ultra-endurance athletes. This work demonstrated her keen interest in the intersection of nutrition and athletic performance, a theme that has continued throughout her career.

In her professional career, Asli has balanced research with teaching and practical application. Her roles have included serving as an Assistant Professor at Istanbul Medeniyet University and a postdoctoral researcher at Dublin City University (DCU). Asli was awarded the prestigious Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship for two years, a recognition of her contributions and potential in the field. Her supervisor at DCU, Brendan Egan, a distinguished professor in sports science, became a mentor after Asli followed his influential papers on exercise metabolism, used them in her lectures, and eventually sought his collaboration on her research projects. At DCU, under his mentorship, she has been involved in cutting-edge research projects that evaluate dietary intake patterns, physical fitness, and energy availability in endurance athletes, further solidifying her expertise in the sports science field.

Being a postdoc at DCU has also broadened her practical experience in exercise physiology and metabolism labs, helping her develop the skills necessary to become an independent researcher as she progresses in her career path.

Asli's academic prowess is reflected in her numerous peer-reviewed publications, which have contributed significantly to the understanding of nutrition’s role in sports performance, metabolic adaptations, and energy expenditure. Notably, her systematic reviews and original research have explored critical topics such as muscle dysmorphia, the efficacy of popular diets in endurance sports, and the metabolic effects of long-term training in athletes.

Asli's move to DCU represents a significant step in her career, where she continues to expand her research horizons while also contributing to the academic community through mentoring and advising students. Additionally, this move has provided her with the opportunity to work with both Irish and international athletes, broadening her practical experience and enhancing her skills in sports nutrition. Her ongoing research and teaching endeavours not only advance the field of sports nutrition but also ensure that the next generation of researchers and practitioners are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of the discipline.