Sarahjane Cullen
Dr
SarahJane is an Associate Professor in Sport & Exercise Physiology in the School of Health & Human Performance in Dublin City University (DCU). Prior to this, she was a Lecturer and Course Leader on the BSc in Sport & Exercise Science in the Department of Sport & Exercise Science in SETU Waterford. SarahJane is a Sport Physiology Senior Consultant providing support to high performance athletes and para-athletes in Ireland through Sport Ireland Institute. She coordinates the jockey research programme in conjunction with The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. SarahJane is Vice Chair of the recently established Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association (ISESA). She is an ISAK-accredited anthropometric instructor (Level 3) delivering internationally accredited courses nationally.
SarahJane graduated from Sport Science & Health in DCU. She spent time as a research assistant in the Centre of Sports Medicine & Human Performance at Brunel University London and the School of Exercise Science at ACU Sydney. She received a scholarship funded by The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board to complete her PhD and Postdoctorate in DCU focusing on the health and performance characteristics of current and retired jockeys. She also completed a MSc in Applied Sports Nutrition in St Mary's Twickenham, focusing on body composition in elite male athletes.
SarahJane’s research interests include: 1) Physiological and psychological impacts of making weight in weight category sports, 2) Female athlete health and performance 3) Musculoskeletal health and body composition in athletes. With 3 PhD students and 1 Postdoctoral researcher successfully completed, she is currently co-supervisor for 4 jockey specific PhD projects (current projects: bone health and body composition, female jockey health, minimum riding weights, behaviour change, transition into retirement, concussion education) and 3 horse racing industry PhD projects investigating mental health and wellbeing and leadership and management in trainers, stable staff and the breeding industry. She co-supervises 2 PhD students investigating menstrual cycle, body composition, performance and weight making in female athletes. She has research ongoing exploring athlete’s perceptions, knowledge, understanding and experiences of body composition as a performance variable.
SarahJane was Tournament Nutritionist for the Women's Rugby World Cup held in Ireland 2017. She was also part of Team Ireland's sport science team at the holding camp for Team Ireland at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and London 2012.
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | King, L.; Cullen, S.; McArdle, J.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Warrington, G.; Losty, C. (2023) 'Barriers and Facilitators to Help-Seeking for Mental Health Difficulties Among Professional Jockeys in Ireland'. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 17 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Kiely, M.; Warrington, G.; Mcgoldrick, A.; Cullen, S. (2022) 'Physical Preparation Strategies of Professional Jockeys'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Cullen, Sarahjane; Fleming, James; Logue, Danielle M.; O'Connor, Joe; Connor, Brendan; Cleary, John; Watson, John A.; Madigan, Sharon M. (2022) 'Anthropometric profiles of elite athletes'. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 17 (1):145-155. [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Dunne, A.; O’Neill, C.; Warrington, G.; Rackard, G.; Cullen, S.J. (2022) 'Variability and accuracy of body fat estimates using skinfolds and DXA in elite Gaelic football players: a validation study and development of novel prediction equations'. Sport Sciences for Health, 18 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Dunne, A.; Warrington, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Harrison, M.; O’connor, S.; O’loughlin, G.; Cullen, S. (2021) 'Physical and lifestyle factors influencing bone density in jockeys: A comprehensive update of the bone density status of Irish jockeys'. International Journal Of Exercise Science, 14 . [Link] | |
| 2021 | King, L.; Cullen, S.J.; McArdle, J.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Warrington, G.; Losty, C. (2021) 'Stressors experienced by professional jockeys'. Sport Psychologist, 35 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | King, L; Cullen, SJ; O'Connor, S; McGoldrick, A; Pugh, J; Warrington, G; Losty, C (2021) 'Racehorse Trainer Mental Health: Prevalence and Risk Factors'. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 101 . [DOI] | |
| 2021 | O’Connor, S.; Warrington, G.; O’Brien, S.; McDermott, E.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Cullen, S.J. (2021) 'Injuries outside of horseracing: is it time to focus on injury prevention of jockeys outside of races?'. Physician and Sportsmedicine, 49 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | King, L.; Cullen, S.J.; O’Connor, S.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Warrington, G.; Woods, G.; Nevill, A.M.; Losty, C. (2021) 'Common mental disorders among Irish jockeys: prevalence and risk factors'. Physician and Sportsmedicine, 49 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | O'Connor, S.; Warrington, G.; Whelan, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Cullen, S.J. (2020) 'Concussion History, Reporting Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge in Jockeys'. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 30 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | Kiely, M.; Warrington, G.D.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Cullen, S.J. (2020) 'Physiological Demands of Professional Flat and Jump Horse Racing'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2020 | Dunne, A; Warrington, G; McGoldrick, A; Pugh, J; Harrison, M; O'Connor, S; O'Loughlin, G; Cullen, S (2020) 'Estimation of Body Fat Percentage in Jockeys: Implications for a Weight Category Sport'. International Journal Of Exercise Science, 13 (4). | |
| 2019 | Kiely, M.A.; Warrington, G.D.; McGoldrick, A.; O’Loughlin, G.; Cullen, S.J. (2019) 'Physiological demands of daily riding gaits in jockeys'. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2019 | Losty, C.; Warrington, G.; Mcgoldrick, A.; Murphy, C.; Burrows, E.; Cullen, S. (2019) 'Mental health and wellbeing of jockeys'. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 14 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2018 | O'Connor, S.; Warrington, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Cullen, S. (2018) 'A 9-year epidemiologic study (2007-2015) on race-day jockey fall and injury incidence in amateur irish horse racing'. Journal of Athletic Training, 53 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2017 | O'Connor, S.; Warrington, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Cullen, S. (2017) 'Epidemiology of injury due to race-day jockey falls in professional flat and jump horse racing in Ireland, 2011 -2015'. Journal of Athletic Training, 52 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2017 | Kenny, John; Cullen, SarahJane; Warrington, Giles D. (2017) 'The Ice-Mile: Case Study of 2 Swimmers' Selected Physiological Responses and Performance'. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12 (5). [DOI] | |
| 2015 | Cullen, S; Donohoe, A; McGoldrick, A; McCaffrey, N; Davenport, C; Byrne, B; Donaghy, C; Tormey, W; Smith, D; Warrington, G (2015) 'Musculoskeletal Health, Kidney and Liver Function in Retired Jockeys'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 36 (12). [DOI] | |
| 2015 | Cullen, S.; Dolan, E.; McGoldrick, A.; Brien, K.O.; Carson, B.P.; Warrington, G. (2015) 'The impact of making-weight on cognitive performance in apprentice jockeys'. Journal Of Sports Sciences, 33 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2015 | Cullen, S.J.; O'Loughlin, G.; Mcgoldrick, A.; Smyth, B.; May, G.; Warrington, G.D. (2015) 'Physiological demands of flat horse racing jockeys'. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2015 | Cullen, S.; Dolan, E.; Brien, K.O.; McGoldrick, A.; Warrington, G. (2015) 'Lack of effect of typical rapid-weight-loss practices on balance and anaerobic performance in apprentice jockeys'. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2014 | Cullen, S; Donohoe, A; McGoldrick, A; McCaffrey, N; Davenport, C; Byrne, B; Donaghy, C; Tormey, W; Smith, D; Warrington, G (2014) 'Physiological and health characteristics of ex-jockeys'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19 (4). [DOI] | |
| 2013 | O'Loughlin, G.; Cullen, S.J.; McGoldrick, A.; O'Connor, S.; Blain, R.; O'Malley, S.; Warrington, G.D. (2013) 'Using a wearable camera to increase the accuracy of dietary analysis'. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2013 | Dolan, E.; Cullen, S.J.; McGoldrick, A.; Warrington, G.D. (2013) 'The impact of making weight on physiological and cognitive processes in elite jockeys'. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 23 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2013 | Greene, D. A.; Naughton, G. A.; Jander, C. B.; Cullen, S. -J. (2013) 'Bone Health of Apprentice Jockeys Using Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography'. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34 (8). [DOI] |
Other Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Noonan-Holohan, S.; Cullen, S.J.; Dunne, A.; Warrington, G.; Fitzpatrick, P.; Pugh, J.; McGoldrick, A.; Losty, C. (2024) The behavioural determinants of weight-making in weight-category sports: A narrative review. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Dunne, A.; Warrington, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Harrison, M.; Cullen, S.J. (2022) Body Composition and Bone Health Status of Jockeys: Current Findings, Assessment Methods and Classification Criteria. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | King, L.; Cullen, S.J.; McGoldrick, A.; Pugh, J.; Warrington, G.; Woods, G.; Losty, C. (2021) Mental health difficulties among professional jockeys: A narrative review. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2019 | Kiely, M.; Warrington, G.; McGoldrick, A.; Cullen, S. (2019) Physiological and Performance Monitoring in Competitive Sporting Environments: A Review for Elite Individual Sports. [Link] [DOI] |
Employment
Research Interests
SarahJane’s research interests include: 1) Physiological and psychological impacts of making weight in weight category sports, 2) Female athlete health and performance 3) Musculoskeletal health and body composition in athletes.