I am a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology with over 15 years of experience in higher education, research, and student development across Brazil and the UK. My academic journey began with a BSc in Sports Sciences, followed by an MRes and PhD in Human Physiology, specialising in skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism. I am accredited with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr), a member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and a professional member of The Physiological Society.
Following my doctoral training, I spent over a decade teaching and conducting research within sport and health-related programmes in Brazil, before continuing my academic career in the UK in 2021. Since 2025, I have been based at University of Staffordshire, where I teach across Sport and Exercise Science and Biomedical Science programmes and contribute to the Research Centre for Health and Development.
My teaching philosophy is grounded in enthusiasm for the discipline and the belief that education should empower students to become confident, lifelong learners. I adopt a student-centred approach informed by Compassionate Pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning, using problem-based learning, hands-on activities, gamification, case studies, and research-led discussions to connect theory with practice.
My research focuses on nutritional and training interventions to enhance skeletal muscle function and human performance, using in vitro, animal, and human participant research. I also have interests in strength and power training, esports performance enhancement, and creative, active learning approaches in physiology education.
Professional memberships and activities
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr)
- Member of the Physiological Society (PhySoc)
- Member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Academic qualifications
- PhD in Human Physiology. Thesis title: “Effects of short-term creatine supplementation on GH-IGF-I axis, neuromuscular function and muscle protein synthesis and degradation pathways”. University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- MRes in Human Physiology. University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Certification in Education. Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) – Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- BSc in Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil.
Expertise
- Exercise physiology with expertise in human performance testing and assessment
- Skeletal muscle physiology using in vitro systems, rodent models, and human testing
- Sport and exercise nutrition and metabolic regulation
Research interests
- Effects of nutritional interventions on skeletal muscle function and human performance
- Strength and power training for health and performance
- Performance enhancement in esports players
- Student-centred, creative, and active learning approaches in physiology education
Enterprise and commercial interests
My research supports collaboration with industry partners, including nutritional companies and sports organisations, through applied research, product evaluation, and knowledge exchange. These activities aim to translate physiological and nutritional research into evidence-based practices for health and performance.
Teaching
I contribute to teaching across Sports and Biomedical Sciences programmes, with a focus on physiology, nutrition, and research skills–related modules.
Publications
- Tallis, J.; Duncan, M.; Richardson, D.; Clarke, N.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. Caffeine Supplementation for Soccer: A Review of Strengths, Limitations and Knowledge Gaps. International Journal of Sports Medicine (Invited Review), 2025.
- Duncan, M.; Tallis, J.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L.; Martins, R.; Crotti, M.; Pattison, W.; Lyons, M. Improved functional movement skills reduce drop landing injury risk movement patterns: The relationship between Functional Movement Screen and Landing Error Scoring System performance in male and female youth soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2025.
- Duncan, M.J.; Tallis, J.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. Martins, R.; Crotti, M.; Pattison, W.; Hammami, R.; Lyons, M. Improved Functional Movement Skills Reduce Drop Landing Injury Risk Movement Patterns in Male and Female Youth Soccer Players. Pediatric Exercise Science, 21, 1-8, 2025.
- Richardson, D.; Hill, M.; Tallis, J.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L.; Clarke, N. The Acute Effects of Coffee Ingestion on Postural Control and Physical Function in Older Adults: A Randomised Crossover Trial. Experimental Gerontology, 197, 112592, 2024.
- Clarke, ND; Guimarães-Ferreira, L; Tallis, J. Caffeine Supplementation. In: Nutrition and Supplements in Cycling. Gough, L.A. & Sparks, S.A. (eds.). 1 ed. Taylor and Francis, 2024.
- Duncan, M.J.; Crotti, M.; Martins, R.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L.; Tallis, J.; Pattison, W. Construct Validity of the Athlete Introductory Movement Screen in Grassroots Footballers Aged 11-13 Years. Children-Basel, 11, 879, 2024.
- Duncan, M; Heering, T; Tallis, J; Guimaraes-Ferreira, LG; Martins, RM; Crotti, M; Barnett, L; Lander, N; Lyons, M. The Relationship Between Fundamental Movement Skills and Landing Error Scoring System Performance in Youth Soccer Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2024.
- Carvalho, F; Guerra Jr, MA; Maia, AF; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L; Caldas, LC. Effects of acute caffeine ingestion on the physical performance of amateur American football athletes. Journal of Physical Education. 35, 1, 7, e3501, 2024.
- Duncan, M. J.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L.; Tallis, J.; Loturco, I.; Weldon, A.; Thapa, R. Determining and comparing the optimum power loads in hexagonal and straight bar deadlifts in novice strength-trained males. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 15, 229-238, 2023.
- Almeida, R.F.; Oliveira, M.; Furigo, I. C.; Aquino, R.; Clarke, N.; Tallis, J.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. Effects of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Cognitive Performance before and after Repeated Small-Sided Games in Professional Soccer Players: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Crossover Trial. Nutrients, 15, 3094, 2023.
- Tallis, J.; Morris, R.; Duncan, M.J.; Eyre, E.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. Agreement between Force Platform and Smartphone Application-Derived Measures of Vertical Jump Height in Youth Grassroots Soccer Players. Sports, 11, 117, 2023.
- Curty, V.M.; Zovico, P.V.C.; Salgueiro, R.B.; Caldas, L C.; Leite, R.D; Sousa, N.M.F.; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L.; Barauna, V. G. Blood flow restriction attenuates muscle damage in resistance exercise performed until concentric muscle failure. International Journal of Exercise Science, 16, 469-481, 2023.
- Tallis, J., Guimaraes-Ferreira, L., Clarke, ND. Not Another Caffeine Effect on Sports Performance Study—Nothing New or More to Do? Nutrients 2022, 14, 21, 4696, 2022.
- Guerra Jr, MA; Caldas LC; Souza HL; Tallis J; Duncan MJ; Guimaraes-Ferreira L. The Effects of Physical Fitness on Post activation Potentiation in Professional Soccer Athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36, 1643-1647, 2022.
- Almeida, RF; Costa, IT; Machado, G; Rinaldi, NM; Aquino, R; Tallis, J; Clarke, ND; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. The Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Tactical Performance of Professional Soccer Players. Nutrients, v.14, p.1466, 2022.
- Caldas, LC; Salgueiro, RB; Clarke, ND; Tallis,J; Barauna, VG; Guimaraes-Ferreira, L. Effect of Caffeine Ingestion on Indirect Markers of Exercise-Induced Mu