Liam Sweeney

Dr Liam Sweeney jointed Maynooth University in October 2023 as an Assistant Professor in Sport Science. Prior to joining Maynooth University, Liam held academic and research roles at Dublin City University (DCU), including as a Lecturer and as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Liam’s primary research interests are focused on the broad area of athlete development in sport, with a particular focus on the physical, physiological and psychosocial factors that influence development, and their interactions. In line with these research interests, Liam's primary teaching interests relate to biological maturation in sport and exercise, performance coaching, exercise physiology, and supporting youth athlete development in sport. Liam is module coordinator for the following modules: SN153 Physiology and Exercise and SN251 Coaching and Performance Science 2; and is joint module coordinator for the SN151 Coaching and Performance Science 1 module on the MH412 - BSc Business with Sport Science and MH221 - BSc Sport Science and Health courses. Liam is also the Department of Sport Science and Nutrition First-Year Student Co-Ordinator.

Liam completed his PhD at the School of Health and Human Performance in DCU between 2020-2023, which was funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. Liam’s PhD examined athlete development in the Football Association of Ireland’s male player pathway. This PhD research undertook a mixed-methods approach, examining various aspects of athlete development, including physical, physiological and psychosocial elements, with a particular focus on biological maturation. Liam’s PhD thesis was titled, “Maximising potential through the pathway: An interdisciplinary and mixed-methods investigation of player development in Irish male football”.

Prior to the completion of his PhD, Liam attained a first class master’s degree with honours in Exercise Physiology at the University of Galway, and a first class undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science with honours at the University of Bedfordshire. During his undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Liam won all three special student achievement awards; including the award for the highest undergraduate thesis grade in the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity, the highest overall undergraduate degree grade, and the highest overall grade at the University of Bedfordshire Discipline of Exercise Physiology poster presentation and oral defence. During his master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, Liam was awarded the highest overall grade in his cohort for his MSc thesis.

In addition to his academic role, Liam continues to work in a number of research and consultancy roles with several sporting National Governing Bodies, including the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Irish Football Association (IFA), and the Swedish Football Association.