EDUCATION
MASTER BY RESEARCH
Master by Research in "Sport Science" at the Edinburgh Napier University.
Thesis: The effects of menstrual cycle phases on running repeated sprint ability.
Mar 2019 - Jun 2021
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Dec 2014 - Mar 2017
Master of Science in "Sciences and Techniques of Sports Activities" at the university of Bologna.
Thesis: Biomechanical analysis of the bench press in elite powerlifting athletes.
Final grade: 110/110 cum Laude.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science in "Exercise, Sport and Health Sciences" at the University of Milan.
Final grade: 108/110.
Oct 2011 - Nov 2014
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LECTURER IN ESPORTS COACHING AND MANAGEMENT, COLLEGE OF ESPORTS
Sep 2022 - Present
Course leader in "Esports coaching and management".
Leading the following units:
"Fundamentals of esports coaching"
"Motor control, motor learning, growth and development"
"Approaches to personal and professional development in esports"
"Foundations of leadership and management in esports"
"Social media management".
ESPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH, FREELANCE
Aug 2020 - Present
I am working as a performance coach, dealing with everything related to health and fitness. I provide warmup and pregame routines, and personalised training sessions to every player and member of the staff. Furthermore, I keep track of the progress and development of every person I work with.
7th Core (former Jaegers Esports): Mar 2021 - Present
Team Xplicit: May 2021 - Nov 2021
Hyve Central: Aug 2020 - Mar 2021
DEMONSTRATOR, EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
Sep 2019 - Mar 2020
Worked as a demonstrator for modules in “Introduction to Exercise Physiology” (2nd years), “Intermediate Exercise Physiology” (3rd years) and “Assessment & Conditioning for Performance” (3rd years), where I also helped during the final assessments with questioning and evaluations.
FITNESS COACH, UL BOHEMIANS WOMEN'S RUGBY CLUB
Nov 2016 - May 2017
I had to deliver fitness sessions during the season. They asked me to combine fitness with technical exercises, to get the best out of the short time we had as a team.
Team’s achievements: All Ireland Cup, All Ireland League
HEAD COACH/S&C COACH, BOLOGNA LIONS RUGBY/RUGBY LECCO
Jun 2011 - Aug 2016
I worked as a Head Coach and as an S&C Coach for different teams of different age from 6 years old to 16 years old, and with a men’s senior team. With the youth teams I set different objectives based on their age, focusing on their growth and not on the results. With the senior team, instead, the main goal was to increase the performance, in order to win our league.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
INDUSTRY FELLOW, QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Apr 2022 - Apr 2023
Working on the creation of a risk-assessment tool for esports participation. To successfully develop this survey, I contacted 4 researchers with different backgrounds, expertise and skillsets to help me. I am currently leading the project under the supervision of Dr. Craig McNulty, from the Faculty of Health, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences at QUT.
MRES STUDENT, EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
Mar 2019 - Mar 2021
As an MRes student I gained experience in every step of the scientific process, starting with the proposal and all the way to the writing of the thesis. I improved my knowledge, my skills, and my abilities as a researcher.
MSC STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA
Jun 2016 - Mar 2017
I worked on a project about a biomechanical analysis of the bench press in elite athletes, learning the basics about how to conduct research properly.
RESEARCH INTERNSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF MILAN
Jan 2014 - Jun 2014
During this internship, I had the chance to learn about 3D motion analysis in difference scenarios. I learnt how to set up and utilise the equipment, how to track and how to analyse the data.
PUBLICATIONS
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Di Nicola, S., Ferrier, B., Florida-James, G., & Kavaliauskas, M. (2022). The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Running Repeated Sprint Ability. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v2i1.137
Di Nicola, S., Di Michele, R., Ferrier, B., Kavaliauskas, M. (2019). Biomechanical analysis of the bench press in elite powerlifting athletes. (Abstract). Graduate Journal of Sport, Exercise & Physical Education Research (2019) Vol. 11, Suppl.1: S73
NON-ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Di Nicola, S. (2020, October 20). Does physical activity impact esports performance? Psychology Today. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/the-psychology-esports/202010/does-physical-activity-impact-esports-performance
CONFERENCES
SPORT, EXERCISE & HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH DAY
Oral presentation - Edinburgh Napier University, UK | Jun 2022
Title: “The effects of menstrual cycle phases on running repeated sprint ability”
BASES STUDENT CONFERENCE 2020 (CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19)
Oral presentation - Solent University, UK | Apr 2020
Title: “The effects of menstrual cycle phases on running repeated sprint ability”
SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES POSTGRADUATE CONFERENCE 2019
Poster presentation - Edinburgh Napier University, UK | May 2019
Title: “The effects of the menstrual cycle phases on running repeated sprint ability”
BASES STUDENT CONFERENCE 2019
Oral presentation - Dundee University, UK | Apr 2019
Title: "Biomechanical analysis of the bench press in elite powerlifting athletes".
MEMBERSHIPS
Oct 2020 - Present
ERN (ESPORTS RESEARCH NETWORK)
May 2020 - Present
ACES (ASSOCIATION FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION IN ESPORTS)
May 2019 - Present
AIRI (INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN RESEARCHERS)
Feb 2019 - Presemt