Dr Stuart Miller

Profile

Dr Stuart Miller is a Reader in Human Biomechanics at Queen Mary University of London. His expertise spans biomechanics, motor control, and applied physiology, with a particular focus on how the body responds and adapts to physical demands in both clinical and high-performance environments. Stuart studied Sport and Exercise Science at Bath University before completing a PhD at Brunel University exploring the mechanical modelling of muscle function. Before joining QMUL in 2018, he spent over a decade at Middlesex University, where he led teaching in biomechanics and supported research across sport science and rehabilitation.

Stuart’s research bridges clinical and performance domains, with collaborative work across engineering, computer science, and sport medicine. His projects have explored neuromuscular function, gait analysis, load tolerance, and injury risk, alongside emerging work on AI in education and digital health. He manages the Human Performance Lab and has secured funding for innovations in both biomechanics and pedagogy. Stuart is also a Mental Health First Aider and a committed advocate for inclusive practice, supporting students and staff across academic, wellbeing, and EDI-focused initiatives.

Stuart is currently accepting enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in topics related to human movement, injury risk, adaptation and recovery, particularly within running, athletic, and physically demanding populations. He welcomes applicants with interests in biomechanics, motor control, applied physiology, and quantitative modelling approaches to complex performance and clinical questions.

Research

Stuart’s research investigates how humans respond and adapt to physical training, stress, and recovery over time, with a particular emphasis on running and load-bearing activities. His work spans biomechanics, motor control, and applied physiology, examining the interactions between movement, tissue loading, neuromuscular performance, and injury risk across athletic and general populations.

Rather than viewing injury and recovery as binary outcomes, Stuart’s research examines them as continuous, adaptive processes shaped by time, context, and individual variability. His work investigates adaptation trajectories, dose-response relationships, and the accumulation of mechanical and physiological stress. Current projects focus on identifying patterns of recovery and performance fluctuation over time, aiming to detect early signs of maladaptation and optimise return-to-training strategies.

Methodologically, he integrates tools such as 3D motion capture, electromyography (EMG), force analysis, and cardiopulmonary testing with advanced modelling approaches, including longitudinal trend modelling, time-series analysis, and predictive analytics. His work also includes systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesise evidence across complex MSK presentations.

Stuart’s broader aim is to build frameworks that connect mechanistic insights with practical applications, informing training strategies, rehabilitation programmes, and digital health solutions.

He has a consistent record of publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals with students actively involved in all outputs. His work is underpinned by methodological rigour, with a focus on generating insight that is both theoretically grounded and practically applicable. He actively embeds research into his teaching and mentorship, ensuring translational impact across academic, clinical, and performance settings.

Publications

Collaborators

• Prof Shafaq Sikandar
• Prof Gareth Ackland
• Dr William Marsh
• Mr Trevor Prior
• Dr Simon Lack
• Mr Ian Griffiths 

Teaching

Stuart is an experienced educator across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine. He leads modules in biomechanics and research methods, and currently oversees the development of the MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology programme. His teaching blends blended and project-based learning with inclusive assessment design, consistently earning strong student feedback.

He supervises 10-15 iBSc and MSc student research projects annually and supports systematic review projects across both cohorts. He has also acted as a regular SSC4 supervisor and MBBS OSCE examiner.

Stuart has led several curriculum development initiatives, including the redesign of core modules to enhance inclusivity, relevance, and applied learning. He has introduced structured processes for early-stage research planning and improved module design in response to student and examiner feedback, contributing to more robust and inclusive learning environments. As part of this work, he is also developing resources to support clinical reasoning through generative AI, helping students to engage more critically and creatively with complex cases.

In all his teaching, Stuart integrates research and practice, involving students in real-world projects, supporting their progression into research and clinical careers, and encouraging critical, reflective thinking.

Module Lead:
WHR6021 – Biomechanics and Rehabilitation (iBSc)
WHR7026 – Research Methods (MSc)

Intercalated BSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary University of London

MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary University of London