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 units in "Fundamentals of esports coaching", "Approaches to personal and professional development in esports" and "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".