Max Nelson

Dr Max Nelson is a Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science with UniSA: Allied Health and Human Performance with a passion for student-focused teaching which places student wellbeing at the forefront of his practice. Max has been teaching at the University of South Australia since 2011, and has coordinated, lecturered and taught into a diverse array of subject areas including Functional Anatomy, Exercise Delivery and Prescription, Exercise Physiology, Human Nutrition, Biomechanics, and Professional Practice in Exercise Science. As a student-focused educator, Max has received multiple citations for teaching of a consistent high quality, and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Max has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, presented at multiple national and international conferences, and has supervised over 20 post-graduate and honours research students to completion.

Max completed his PhD in 2017, with his research focusing on the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on autonomic function in both athletic and clinical populations. Max takes a broad interest in an array of research areas and has previously conducted, or is currently conducting research in areas including training and fatigue quantification, mental health and wellbeing, blood flow restriction, concurrent training, and student education in exercise science. Max's biggest focus as a practitoner and researcher is the impact of exercise and sport on veteran and first responder health and wellbeing, and is one of the original staff members who worked to establish the UniSA Invictus Pathways Program in 2017, and of which he is currently the Physical Performance Coordinator. Relatedly, Max has provided services as team Sports and Exercise Scientist to the Australian Invictus Games team since 2018 and has worked with the team at multiple Invictus Games events. Max has been a member of the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) SA State Chapter since 2019 (including as Co-Chair since 2021), is an ESSA Course Accreditation reviewer, and has sat on the organising committee for multiple ESSA conferences and seminars. As a result of his broad experiences as an Exercise Scientist, Max was named as the ESSA 'Exercise Scientist of the Year' in 2021, and in 2023 was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his services to the Australian Invictus Games Team.