Dr Sam Oliver

Sam is Deputy Head of School (Impact), a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Environmental Physiology and a founder member of the Extremes Research Group (http://extremes.bangor.ac.uk). Sam’s research focuses on how human performance and health are affected by extreme environments (e.g. altitude, heat, cold, dehydration, nutrient restriction and sleep loss). Sam provides expert reviews for grant awarding bodies, many journals and has completed PhD examination duties in the UK and Australia. Sam is also the Environmental Physiology lead for Welsh Institute of Performance Sciences that is currently supporting Sport Wales athletes prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

Professional Qualifications

PhD Exercise Physiology; MSc Applied Exercise Physiology; BSc (Hons) Sports Science; Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching Modules

Practical Research Skills (JXC/JXH1043); Environmental Physiology (JXC/JXH3039); Project Proposal (JXC/JXH2041); Research Project (JXC/JXH3001).

Postgraduate Supervision

Sam has supervised 6 PhD and >20 Master students to completion of their studies and currently co-supervises another 5 PhD and 4 Masters students

Sam's research focuses on how extreme environments (e.g. altitude, heat, cold, dehydration, nutrient restriction and sleep loss) affect how human performance and health. Much of this research has focused on the development of non-pharmacological interventions to alleviate the burden of environmental stress. This research is supported by Sam’s undergraduate and postgraduate students and is completed in state-of-the-art environmental chambers and field locations like Nepal, Himalayas (Press here for more information). For more information about current and previous research projects please visit the Extremes Research Group website (http://extremes.bangor.ac.uk).

Editorial Duties

Sam is currently Associate Editor for Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. Sam also regularly reviews for journals including Brain, Behavior and Immunity; British Journal of Nutrition; Comprehensive Physiology; European Journal of Sport Sciences; Journal of Applied Physiology; Nutrition; Wilderness and Environmental Medicine.

Consultancy

Sam has previously worked with several national and international athletes, expeditions, and businesses. Sam also contributes to TV and magazines like the BBC and Runners World.

2017

• Dietary nitrate supplementation increases acute mountain sickness severity and sense of effort during hypoxic exercise
  
  Rossetti, G, Macdonald, J, Wylie, LJ, Little, S, Newton, V, Wood, B, Hawkins, K, Beddoe, R, Davies, HE & Oliver, S 2017, 'Dietary nitrate supplementation increases acute mountain sickness severity and sense of effort during hypoxic exercise' Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 123, no. 4, pp. 983-992. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00293.2017
• MEDEX2015
  
  Rossetti, G, Macdonald, J, Smith, M, Jackson, A, Callender, N, Newcombe, HK, Storey, H, Willis, S, van den Beukel, J, Woodward, J, Pollard, J, Wood, B, Newton, V, Virian, J, Haswell, O & Oliver, S 2017, 'MEDEX2015: Greater sea-level fitness is associated with lower sense of effort during Himalayan trekking without worse Acute Mountain Sickness' High Altitude Medicine and Biology, vol 18, no. 2, pp. 152-162. DOI: 10.1089/ham.2016.0088
• Unexpected reductions in regional cerebral perfusion during prolonged hypoxia
  
  Lawley, J, Oliver, S, Macdonald, J & Mullins, P 2017, 'Unexpected reductions in regional cerebral perfusion during prolonged hypoxia' Journal of Physiology - London, vol 595, no. 3, pp. 935-947. DOI: 10.1113/JP272557

2016

• Anxiety and motor performance: More evidence for the effectiveness of holistic process goals as a solution to the process goal paradox
  
  Mullen, R, Jones, E, Oliver, S & Hardy, L 2016, 'Anxiety and motor performance: More evidence for the effectiveness of holistic process goals as a solution to the process goal paradox' Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol 27, no. November 2016, 27, pp. 142. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.08.009
• Portable prehospital methods to treat near-hypothermic shivering cold casualties
  
  Raymond-Barker, P, Dolci, A, Oliver, SJ, Brierley, JL, Raymond-Barker, PC, Doci, A & Walsh, NP 2016, 'Portable prehospital methods to treat near-hypothermic shivering cold casualties' Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, vol 27, no. 1, pp. 125-130. DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2015.11.012
• A randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status: development of a beverage hydration index
  
  Maughan, RJ, Watson, P, Cordery, PA, Walsh, NP, Oliver, SJ, Dolci, A, Sanchez, NR & Galloway, SD 2016, 'A randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status: development of a beverage hydration index' American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 103, no. 3, pp. 717-723. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.114769

2015

• Exercise, immune function and respiratory infection: An update on the influence of training and environmental stress
  
  Walsh, NP & Oliver, SJ 2015, 'Exercise, immune function and respiratory infection: An update on the influence of training and environmental stress' Immunology and Cell Biology, vol 94, no. 2, pp. 132-139. DOI: 10.1038/icb.2015.99
• Development of a hydration index: a randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status
  
  Oliver, SJ, Walsh, NP, Maughan, RJ, Watson, P, Cordery, PA, Dolci, A, Rodriguez-Sanchez, N & Galloway, SD 2015, 'Development of a hydration index: a randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status' Toledo, pp. 7. DOI: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.sup2.10264
• Two nights of sleep deprivation with or without energy restriction does not impair the thermal response to cold
  
  Oliver, SJ, Smith, AD, Costa, RJ, Maassen, N, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2015, 'Two nights of sleep deprivation with or without energy restriction does not impair the thermal response to cold' European Journal of Applied Physiology. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-015-3184-y
• Beetroot Juice Does Not Enhance Altitude Running Performance in Well-Trained Athletes
  
  Arnold, JT, Oliver, SJ, Lewis-Jones, TM, Wylie, LJ & Macdonald, JH 2015, 'Beetroot Juice Does Not Enhance Altitude Running Performance in Well-Trained Athletes' Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2014-0470

2014

• Is This Elderly Patient Dehydrated? Diagnostic Accuracy of Hydration Assessment Using Physical Signs, Urine, and Saliva Markers
  
  Fortes, MB, Owen, JA, Raymond-Barker, P, Bishop, C, Elghenzai, S, Oliver, SJ & Walsh, NP 2014, 'Is This Elderly Patient Dehydrated? Diagnostic Accuracy of Hydration Assessment Using Physical Signs, Urine, and Saliva Markers' Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol 16, no. 3, pp. 221-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2014.09.012
• Prolonged (9 h) poikilocapnic hypoxia (12% O2) augments cutaneous thermal hyperaemia in healthy humans
  
  Lawley, JS, Oliver, SJ, Mullins, PG, Macdonald, JH & Moore, JP 2014, 'Prolonged (9 h) poikilocapnic hypoxia (12% O2) augments cutaneous thermal hyperaemia in healthy humans' Experimental Physiology, vol 99, pp. 909-920. DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2013.076562
• Normobaric hypoxia and symptoms of acute mountain sickness: Elevated brain volume and intracranial hypertension
  
  Lawley, JS, Alperin, N, Bagci, AM, Lee, SH, Mullins, PG, Oliver, SJ & Macdonald, JH 2014, 'Normobaric hypoxia and symptoms of acute mountain sickness: Elevated brain volume and intracranial hypertension' Annals of Neurology, vol 75, no. 6, pp. 890-898. DOI: 10.1002/ana.24171

2013

• Investigation of whole-brain white matter identifies altered water mobility in the pathogenesis of high-altitude headache
  
  Lawley, J, Oliver, SJ, Mullins, PG & Macdonald, JH 2013, 'Investigation of whole-brain white matter identifies altered water mobility in the pathogenesis of high-altitude headache' Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, vol 33, no. 8, pp. 1286-1294. DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.83
• High altitude impairs in vivo immunity in humans
  
  Smith, AD, Oliver, SJ, Macdonald, JH, Harper Smith, AD, Lawley, JS, Gallagher, CA, Di Felice, U & Walsh, NP 2013, 'High altitude impairs in vivo immunity in humans' High Altitude Medicine and Biology, vol 14, no. 2, pp. 144-149. DOI: 10.1089/ham.2012.1070
• Effect of extreme environments on immune responses to exercise
  
  Walsh, NP, Oliver, SJ, Gleeson, M (ed.), Walsh, NP (ed.) & Bishop, N (ed.) 2013, Effect of extreme environments on immune responses to exercise. in Exercise Immunology. Routledge.

2012

• Influence of fluid intake on soccer performance in a temperate environment
  
  Owen, JA, Kehoe, SJ & Oliver, SJ 2012, 'Influence of fluid intake on soccer performance in a temperate environment' Journal of Sports Sciences, vol 31, no. 1. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2012.720701
• Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Is Not Related to High Altitude Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  
  Lawley, JS, Oliver, SJ, Mullins, PG, Morris, D, Junglee, NA, Jelleyman, C & Macdonald, JH 2012, 'Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Is Not Related to High Altitude Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial' High Altitude Medicine and Biology, vol 13, no. 3, pp. 193-199. DOI: 10.1089/ham.2012.1019
• Physiological and Psychological Illness Symptoms at High Altitude and Their Relationship With Acute Mountain Sickness: A Prospective Cohort Study
  
  Hardy, LJ, Arthur, CA, Roberts, RJ, Oliver, SJ, Sanders, SJ, Williams, CJ, Smith, ZA, Lloyd-Davies E.*, NV, Roberts, R, Arthur, C, Hardy, L & Macdonald, JH 2012, 'Physiological and Psychological Illness Symptoms at High Altitude and Their Relationship With Acute Mountain Sickness: A Prospective Cohort Study' Journal of Travel Medicine, vol 19, no. 4, pp. 210-219. DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2012.0060
• Carbohydrate Supplementation and Exercise Performance at High Altitude: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  
  Oliver, SJ, Golja, P & Macdonald, JH 2012, 'Carbohydrate Supplementation and Exercise Performance at High Altitude: A Randomized Controlled Trial' High Altitude Medicine and Biology, vol 13, no. 1, pp. 22-31. DOI: 10.1089/ham.2011.1087

2011

• Position statement. Part two: Maintaining immune health.
  
  Walsh, NP, Gleeson, M, Pyne, DB, Nieman, DC, Dhabhar, FS, Shephard, RJ, Oliver, SJ, Bermon, S & Kajeniene, A 2011, 'Position statement. Part two: Maintaining immune health.' Exercise Immunology Review, vol 17, pp. 64-103.

2010

• The effects of two nights of sleep deprivation with or without energy restriction on immune indices at rest and in response to cold exposure.
  
  Costa, RJ, Smith, AH, Oliver, SJ, Walters, R, Maassen, N, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2010, 'The effects of two nights of sleep deprivation with or without energy restriction on immune indices at rest and in response to cold exposure.' European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 109, no. 3, pp. 417-428. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-010-1378-x

2009

• Body composition at high altitude: a randomized placebo-controlled trial of dietary carbohydrate supplementation.
  
  Macdonald, JH, Oliver, SJ, Hillyer, K, Sanders, S, Smith, Z, Williams, C, Yates, D, Ginnever, H, Scanlon, E, Roberts, E, Murphy, D, Lawley, J & Chichester, E 2009, 'Body composition at high altitude: a randomized placebo-controlled trial of dietary carbohydrate supplementation.' American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol 90, no. 5, pp. 1193-1202. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28075
• One night of sleep deprivation decreases treadmill endurance performance.
  
  Laing, S, Oliver, SJ, Costa, RJ, Laing, SJ, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2009, 'One night of sleep deprivation decreases treadmill endurance performance.' European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 107, no. 2, pp. 155-161. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-009-1103-9
• Influence of Timing of Postexercise Carbohydrate-Protein Ingestion on Selected Immune Indices.
  
  Laing, S, Costa, RJ, Oliver, SJ, Laing, SJ, Walters, R, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2009, 'Influence of Timing of Postexercise Carbohydrate-Protein Ingestion on Selected Immune Indices.' International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol 19, no. 4, pp. 366-384.
• No effect of a 30 h period of sleep deprivation on leukocyte trafficking, neutrophil degranulation and saliva IgA responses to exercise.
  
  Laing, S, Costa, RJ, Cartner, L, Oliver, SJ, Laing, SJ, Walters, R, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2009, 'No effect of a 30 h period of sleep deprivation on leukocyte trafficking, neutrophil degranulation and saliva IgA responses to exercise.' European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 105, no. 3, pp. 499-504. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-008-0931-3
• Body composition changes during high altitude exposure are not reversed by increasing energy intake.
  
  Macdonald, JH & Oliver, SJ 2009, 'Body composition changes during high altitude exposure are not reversed by increasing energy intake.' Paper presented at Hypoxia conference. Lake Louise, Canada, 3/01/01, .
• Dietary factors associated with acute mountain sickness.
  
  Sanders, S, Macdonald, JH & Oliver, SJ 2009, 'Dietary factors associated with acute mountain sickness.' Paper presented at Hypoxia conference. Lake Louise, Canada, 3/01/01, .
• Ecologically valid exercise performance at high altitude.
  
  Lawley, JS, Oliver, SJ & Macdonald, JH 2009, 'Ecologically valid exercise performance at high altitude.' Paper presented at Hypoxia conference. Lake Louise, Canada, 3/01/01, .
• Endurance Performance After Modest Hypohydration Evoked By Prolonged Fluid Restriction And Exercise Or Diuretics.
  
  Heaney, J, Jibani, M, Milne, J & Oliver, SJ 2009, 'Endurance Performance After Modest Hypohydration Evoked By Prolonged Fluid Restriction And Exercise Or Diuretics.' Paper presented at American College of Sports Medicine 2009 Annual meeting, 3/01/01, .
• Maintaining euhydration at high altitude.
  
  Oliver, SJ, Wright, A, Leventi, M & Macdonald, JH 2009, 'Maintaining euhydration at high altitude.' Paper presented at Hypoxia conference. Lake Louise, Canada, 3/01/01, .

2008

• Effect of carbohydrate supplementation during a high altitude expedition.
  
  Macdonald, JH & Oliver, SJ 2008, 'Effect of carbohydrate supplementation during a high altitude expedition.' Paper presented at Hypoxia Symposium, Oxford, 2008., 3/01/01, .
• Neutrophil-Degranulation and Lymphocyte-Subset Response After 48 hr of Fluid and/or Energy Restriction.
  
  Laing, S, Laing, SJ, Oliver, SJ, Wilson, S, Walters, R, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2008, 'Neutrophil-Degranulation and Lymphocyte-Subset Response After 48 hr of Fluid and/or Energy Restriction.' International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol 18, no. 5, pp. 443-456.
• Saliva indices track hypohydration during 48 h of fluid restriction or combined fluid and energy restriction.
  
  Oliver, SJ, Laing, S, Wilson, S, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, N 2008, 'Saliva indices track hypohydration during 48 h of fluid restriction or combined fluid and energy restriction.' Archives of Oral Biology, vol 53, no. 10, pp. 975-980. DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2008.05.002
• Effect of acute on chronic carbohydrate supplementation during sub-maximal exercise at high altitude.
  
  Lawley, J, Lloyd-Davies, E, Oliver, SJ & Macdonald, JH 2008, 'Effect of acute on chronic carbohydrate supplementation during sub-maximal exercise at high altitude.' Paper presented at Hypoxia Symposium, Oxford, 2008., 3/01/01, .
• Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on body composition during a high altitude expedition.
  
  Macdonald, JH, Hillyer, K & Oliver, SJ 2008, 'Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on body composition during a high altitude expedition.' Paper presented at Hypoxia Symposium, Oxford, 2008., 3/01/01, .
• Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on exercise performance during a high altitude expedition.
  
  Roberts, E, Macdonald, JH & Oliver, SJ 2008, 'Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on exercise performance during a high altitude expedition.' Paper presented at Hypoxia Symposium, Oxford, 2008., 3/01/01, .
• Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on hydration status and peripheral oedema during a high altitude expedition.
  
  Ginnever, H, Scanlon, E, Macdonald, JH & Oliver, SJ 2008, 'Effect of chronic carbohydrate supplementation on hydration status and peripheral oedema during a high altitude expedition.' Paper presented at Hypoxia Symposium, Oxford, 2008., 3/01/01, .
• The effects of a 30 hour period of sleep deprivation on selected immune responses to exercise.
  
  Laing, S, Costa, RJ, Blanchfield, A, Oliver, SJ, Laing, SJ, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2008, 'The effects of a 30 hour period of sleep deprivation on selected immune responses to exercise.' Paper presented at European College of Sport Sciences, conference proceedings, 3/01/01, pp. 2738.
• The effects of carbohydrate supplementation on multi-day wilderness expedition performance
  
  Oliver, SJ & Macdonald, JH 2008, 'The effects of carbohydrate supplementation on multi-day wilderness expedition performance' Paper presented at Conference Presentation at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences., 3/01/01, .
• The effects of fifty-two hours of sleep deprivation with and without energy restriction on thermoregulation during cold stress.
  
  Harper-Smith, AD, Costa, RJ, Oliver, SJ, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2008, 'The effects of fifty-two hours of sleep deprivation with and without energy restriction on thermoregulation during cold stress.' Paper presented at Conference Presentation at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, 3/01/01, .

2007

• Salivary immunoglobulin A response at rest and after exercise following a 48 h period of fluid and/or energy restriction.
  
  Oliver, SJ, Laing, SJ, Wilson, S, Bilzon, JL, Walters, R & Walsh, NP 2007, 'Salivary immunoglobulin A response at rest and after exercise following a 48 h period of fluid and/or energy restriction.' British Journal of Nutrition, vol 97, no. 6, pp. 1109-1116. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114507682919
• Endurance running performance after 48 hours of restricted fluid and/or energy intake
  
  Oliver, SJ, Laing, S, Wilson, S, Bilzon, JL & Walsh, NP 2007, 'Endurance running performance after 48 hours of restricted fluid and/or energy intake' Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol 39, no. 2, pp. 316-322. DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000241656.22629.57, 10.1249/01.mss.0000241656.22629.57

2005

• Re: Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist effects on skeletal muscle: How hormonal therapy in prostate cancer affects muscular strength
  
  Marcora, S, Oliver, SJ, Callow, N, Lemmey, A & Stuart, N 2005, 'Re: Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist effects on skeletal muscle: How hormonal therapy in prostate cancer affects muscular strength' Journal of Urology, vol 174, no. 5, pp. 2068-2069. DOI: 10.1097/01.ju.0000176813.58533.32, 10.1097/01.ju.0000176813.58533.32

2004

• Saliva parameters as potential indices of hydration status during acute dehydration
  
  Walsh, NP, Laing, S, Oliver, SJ, Montague, JC, Walters, R & Bilzon, JL 2004, 'Saliva parameters as potential indices of hydration status during acute dehydration' Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol 36, no. 9, pp. 1535-1542. DOI: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000139797.26760.06, 10.1249/01.MSS.0000139797.26760.06
• Psychological effects of progressive resistance training in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy
  
  Callow, N, Marcora, SM, Oliver, SJ, Lemmey, AB & Stuart, N 2004, 'Psychological effects of progressive resistance training in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy' Paper presented at 3rd Research forum of the European Association of palliative care, Stresa, Italy., 3/01/01, .
• Weight training has beneficial physical and psychological effects in prostate cancer (PC) patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
  
  Stuart, NS, Marcora, SM, Callow, N, Oliver, SJ & Saxton, W 2004, 'Weight training has beneficial physical and psychological effects in prostate cancer (PC) patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)' British Journal of Cancer, vol 91, no. Supplement 1, pp. S37.
• Weight training has beneficial physical and psychological effects in prostate cancer (PC) patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
  
  Stuart, NS, Marcora, SM, Callow, N, Oliver, SJ & Saxton, W 2004, 'Weight training has beneficial physical and psychological effects in prostate cancer (PC) patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).' British Journal of Cancer, vol 91, no. Supplement 1, pp. S37.

2017

• ESRC IAA Sport Wales Showcase talk
  8 Dec 2017
  Activity: Invited talk (Invited speaker)
• Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (Journal)
  Associate Editor
  Sep 2017
  Activity: Editorial activity (Editor)

2015

• Welsh Institute of Performance Science (External organisation)
  Welsh Institute of Performance Science
  2015 →
  External Organisation: Welsh Institute of Performance Science
  Activity: Membership of board (Member)