ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
DIRECTOR OF THE SPORTS LABORATORY

Qualifications

PhD Exercise Science (University of Arkansas, 2008)

MSc Exercise Science (University of Arkansas, 2004)

Graduate Certificate in Educational Statistics and Research (University of Arkansas, 2008)

BSc Kinesiology with Specialization in Physiotherapy (Szemelweis University, 2001)

Fellow of Higher Education Academy Fellowship reference PR238351

Fellow of the European College of Sport Science

Specialization

Fitness Testing and performance

Employment Track

Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Science (2019 – Present)

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science (2014 – 2019)

Research Fellow, University of Cyprus, Departments of Physiology and Medical Imaging (2011-2014)

Ergophysiologist, Peak Performance Ergophysiology Center (2010 – 2014)

Animal Biologist, University of Cyprus (2005 – 2013)

Health and Wellness Coordinator, Fayetteville Public Schools (2004 – 2010)

Research Interests

Exercise testing and performance in athletes and high-risk professionals

Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)

Teaching and Course Leadership 

• Course Leader of MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences (2018 – 2020)
• Module Leadership/Delivery:
  • Basis of Human Movement
  • Research Methods for Sport Scientists
  • Measurement Techniques in Sports & Exercise Science
  • Physiology of Human Performance
  • Advanced Methods in Performance Assessment & Conditioning

Administrative Roles

• Director of the UCLan Cyprus Sports Lab
• Coordinator of the UCLan Cyprus Fitness Centre

Selected Publications

Michaelides, M., & Parpa, K. (2025). Lactate profiling and the agreement among various lactate threshold methods in professional and youth soccer players. Applied Sciences, 15(3), 1399. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031399

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2024). The relationship between muscular imbalances and injury risk in soccer players. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 28(1), 45-53. DOI: 10.1142/S0218957724500036

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2024). Ventilatory thresholds in professional female soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 64(3), 245-252. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.14187-7

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2024). Lactate threshold as an indicator of physical fitness readiness in soccer. International Journal of Sports Science, 13(2), 123-130. DOI: 10.13189/ijss.2024.130203

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2023). Gender differences in ventilatory thresholds and training implications. Women’s Health Reports, 5(1), 67-74. DOI: 10.1089/whr.2022.0054

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2023). Age-related differences in physical and technical performance in elite youth soccer players: A longitudinal study. Youth, 3(1), 303–318. DOI: 10.3390/youth3010026

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Anthropometric, strength, and aerobic fitness of higher and lower-level soccer referees. International Journal of Sports Science, 12(1), 8-13. DOI: 10.13189/sms.2022.120102

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Anthropometric characteristics and aerobic performance of professional soccer players based on playing position and age. Human Movement, 23(4), 1-8. DOI: 10.5114/hm.2022.111502

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Maximal aerobic power using the modified Heck protocol: Prediction models. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 43, 694-700. DOI: 10.1055/a-1844-7398

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Age-related differences in the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of young soccer players: A cross-sectional study. Children, 9(5), 650. DOI: 10.3390/children9050650

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Relationship of pre-season intra- and inter-limb strength asymmetry, flexibility, and aerobic capacity with in-season lower body non-contact injuries in soccer players. Sport Mont, 22(2), 3-8. DOI: 10.26773/smj.220604

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). The effect of COVID-19 infection on aerobic capacity of soccer players. Scientific Reports, 12, 11850. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16147-4

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). Anterior–posterior and inter-limb lower body strength asymmetry in soccer, basketball, futsal, and volleyball players. Medicina, 58(8), 1080. DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081080

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2022). The effectiveness of an isokinetic training protocol on muscular imbalances in professional soccer players following ACL surgery. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(4), 567-573. DOI: 10.13189/sms.2022.100409

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K., Zacharia, A. (2021). The effects of an 8-week pre-seasonal training on the aerobic fitness of professional soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(2), 356-363. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001810 PMID: 29369953

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2021). The effect of full turnout gear and weighted vest on firefighter’s responses during an ability test. European Experimental Biology, 11(5).

Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on professional soccer players’ body composition and physical fitness. Biology of Sport, 38(4), 733-740. DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2021.109452

Selected Conference and Seminar Presentations

Michaelides M, Parpa K. Lactate threshold as an indicator of readiness in soccer. ECSS. 2024, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Michaelides M, Parpa K. Physical fitness comparison between professional soccer players and U17 elite youth. ECSS. 2023, Paris, France.

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Petrov, D. Identifying the training loads of soccer-related drills. ECSS 2022, Sevilla, Spain

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Zacharia, A. The effects of exercise in the ageing process. Cyprus Bioethics Committee’s first annual conference, 2019.

Michaelides, M.,Parpa, K. Zacharia, A. Age-related differences in anthropometric and performance of young football players. ECSS. 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Assessing changes in aerobic fitness measures over the preseason-training phase in professional football players. ECSS, 2018, Dublin, Ireland.

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Assessment of lower body and abdominal strength in professional soccer players. ECSS, 2017, Metropolis Ruhr, Germany.

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Fitness parameters in professional football players among different divisions. ECSS, 2016, Vienna, Austria.

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Assessment of isokinetic knee strength and its relationship with vertical jump and power in youth basketball players. ECSS, 2015, Malmö, Sweden.

Michaelides, M., Parpa, K. Assessment of physical performance alternation due to pre-seasonal training in elite football league players. ECSS, 2014, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Selected Research Funding/ Grant Capture

2024 – I-SPORT – Innovative Strategies for Promoting Opportunities and Readiness in Training. Erasmus+ KA220-HED. UCLan CY Partner. Unsuccessful

2024 – STAR – Supporting the Transition and Resilience of Retired Footballers into their post-playing career lives. Erasmus+ Sports. UCLan CY Coordinator. Unsuccessful

2024 – GreenSport 2030 – Promoting sustainable practices and green initiatives in sport. Erasmus+ KA2 Sports. UCLan CY Partner. Successful

2024 – WOMEN KICK – Empowering women through football and leadership development. Erasmus+ KA2 Sports. UCLan CY Partner. Successful

2022 – PAM – Physical and Mental Skills in Football. Erasmus+ Sports. UCLan CY Partner. Unsuccessful

Supervision of Projects/PhDs

• Dennis Petrov.  A holistic approach to the analyses of external load in professional football players and the interpretation of injury related risks recorded with GPS tracking technology. Year of completion 2025.
• Zvonko Peljha. Establishing the relationship between selected physical fitness parameters and the efficiency in Olympic clay target shooting. Year of completion 2024.

Consultancy and CPD Training

• Performance Coordinator for several professional athletes and clubs.

Other Scholarly and Outreach Activities

• Annual Be Active conference organizer part of the CSO 2020 program.

Boards & Editorial Committees

2021–Present, MDPI – Reviewer. Journal reviews.

2021–Present, Frontiers – Reviewer. Journal reviews.

2020 –Present, Journal of Science & Medicine in Sports – Reviewer. Journal reviews.

2020–Present, AEK Larnacas FC – Performance Coordinator. Scientific support for players’ performance and rehabilitation.

2019 –Present, PLOS ONE – Reviewer. Journal reviews.