Dr Petra Kolic

My profile

Biography

I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Programme Lead for the BSc (Hons) Sport: Coaching and Development. My responsibilities include teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate taught units, both campus-based and distance learning, as well as supervision of taught undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and postgraduate research students. As a former figure skater and dancer, I am keen to share with students my interest in understanding individual, interpersonal, and societal situations that affect athletes, coaches, and other participants in sport, exercise and physical activity.

Interests and expertise

I am social scientist and my expertise lies in conducting qualitative research using methods that include ethnography, fieldwork, interviews, and focus groups. I utilise social and behaviour change theory to makes sense of qualitative data.

My main research area focuses on the impact of menstruation and menstrual stigma on activities of daily life (including exercise, physical activity, and education). 

Alongside this, my research interest and experience include understanding the lived experiences of young people and adults with clinical conditions (muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) and coaching-centred topics, including coach education and coach learning and coach-athlete relationships.

Teaching

My teaching and taught supervision in 2024-2025 cover the following units:

  • Level 5 City in the Community Work-Based Learning 2
  • Level 6 Working in High Performance Sport
  • Level 6 Undergraduate project supervision
  • Level 7 Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in Sport and Exercise
  • Level 7 Masters project supervision

Courses

Supervision

I supervise a number of taught Masters students and postgraduate research students (PhD level).

Research outputs

  • Kolić, P., Ives, B.,  O’Hanlon, R., Murphy, R. and Morse, C. I. (2024): Stigma, menstrual etiquette, and identity work: examining female exercisers’ experiences during menstruation, Sport, Education and Society, DOI: 10.1080/13573322.2024.2372002
  • Kolić, P.,  Thomas, L., Morse, C. I. and Hicks, K. M. (2022) ‘Presentation of self, impression management and the period: A qualitative investigation of physically active women’s experiences in sport and exercise.’ Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2022.2032479 Impact factor: 3.585.
  • Kolić, P. , Sims, D. T., Hicks, K., Thomas, L. and Morse, C. (2021) ‘Physical activity and the menstrual cycle: A mixed-methods study of women’s experiences.’ Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29(1) 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2020-0050.
  • Kolić, P., Groom, R., Nelson, L. and Taylor, W. G. (2020) ‘(Dis)joint(ed) action, reciprocity, and professional status: an ethnographic investigation of two UKCC CL4 awards.’ Sport, Education and Society, 25(9) pp. 1043-1057. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2019.1687443 Impact Factor: 1.03.
  • Grant, D., Tomlinson, D., Tsintzas, K., Kolić, P. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2020) ‘Minimising sedentary behaviour (without increasing medium-to-vigorous exercise) associated functional improvement in older females is somewhat dependant on a measurable adaptation in muscle size.’ AGING, 12(23) pp. 24081-24100. doi: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.202265 Impact Factor: 5.440. 
  • Grant, D., Tomlinson, D., Tsintzas, K., Kolić, P. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2020). ‘Displacing Sedentary Behaviour with Light Intensity Physical Activity Spontaneously Alters Habitual Macronutrient Intake and Enhances Dietary Quality in Older Females. Nutrients, 12(8) doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082431  Impact Factor: 4.546.
  • Grant, D., Tomlinson, D., Tsintzas, K., Kolić, P. and Onambele-Pearson, G. L. (2020)‘The effects of displacing sedentary behaviour with two distinct patterns of light activity on health outcomes in older adults (implications for COVID-19 quarantine).’ Frontiers In Physiology, 11(11) https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.574595. Impact Factor: 3.160.