Nick Hamilton BEng
Principal Research Fellow
- School of Sport and Physical Activity
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre
- Health Research Institute
Summary
I am a Principal Research Fellow in the Sports Engineering Research Group (SERG) at Sheffield Hallam University, the world’s largest centre for sports engineering. I also serve as Innovation Lead for the South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub, driving digital technologies for healthcare. With over 25 years in sports consultancy, I’ve designed diverse products, including carbon fibre bikes and the world’s fastest gravity sled. I lead the Design Engineering Research Theme, enhancing performance, accessibility, and safety in sport. A passionate mountain biker, I organise races and write for the international mountain biking press.
About
As a Principal Research Fellow in the internationally renowned Sports Engineering Research Group (SERG) at Sheffield Hallam University, I contribute to a world-leading team of 20 staff, supported by 20 PhD and 10 MSc students. SERG is the largest research centre in the world dedicated to sports engineering, combining cutting-edge research with industry impact.
With over 25 years of experience as a consultant to the sports industry, my work focuses on sports product design, innovation, analysis, and manufacture. I’ve developed a wide range of products for leading companies, from ice skates and carbon fibre time trial bikes to golf clubs and hang glider components. One of my most curious achievements was contributing to the design of the world’s fastest gravity-powered snow sled.
In addition, I lead the Design Engineering Research Theme (DERT), which delivers world-class applied research guided by three key aims: enhancing athletic performance by optimising equipment design, broadening participation in physical activity through accessible and user-friendly innovations, and reducing the risk of injuries by designing safer equipment using advanced materials and rigorous testing methods.
My role also extends to being the Innovation Lead for the South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub, where I focus on driving the development of transformative digital technologies for healthcare. This includes innovations in disease diagnosis and treatment, integrating advanced digital health solutions with real-world applications.
I am also passionate about teaching, particularly through our MSc in Sports Engineering and other programmes. My research-led teaching approach incorporates real-world challenges to inspire and equip students with practical, hands-on experience in design and innovation.
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the hills around Sheffield, the Peak District, and beyond with friends and family. As a keen mountain biker, I organise both official and unofficial races in and around the city. I also contribute to the international mountain biking press, sharing stories from my adventures and reporting on events.
Teaching
School of Sport and Physical Activity
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
- Msc Computer Simulation of Sports Equipment
- Msc Innovation and Enterprise in Sports Engineering
Msc Sports Engineering
Design and Innovation
Research
South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub
1. Welcome to the world of wrist pain: https://engineeringsport.co.uk/2024/03/27/welcome-to-the-world-of-wrist-pain/
2. Mountain bike hubs: how do they survive downhill world cups? https://engineeringsport.co.uk/2023/10/19/mountain-bike-hubs/
3. How a wrist guard might have saved Katie Ormerod’s wrist in Pyeongchang: https://engineeringsport.co.uk/2018/02/08/how-a-wrist-guard-might-have-saved-katie-ormerods-wrist-in-pyeongchang/
4. The need for speed: the downhill toboggan world record https://engineeringsport.co.uk/2014/01/19/the-need-for-speed-attempting-the-downhill-toboggan-world-record/
Publications
Key Publications
Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2021). Agreement between methods and terminology used to assess the kinematics of the Nordic hamstring exercise. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1968127
Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2021). Development of a novel Nordic hamstring exercise device to measure and modify the knee flexors’ torque-length relationship. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 3, 629606. http://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.629606
Leslie, G., Wang, W., Winwood, K., Liauw, C., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2020). Effect of Surrogate Surface Compliance on the Measured Stiffness of Snowboarding Wrist Protectors. Proceedings, 49 (1), e84. http://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2020049084
Adams, C., James, D., Senior, T., Allen, T., & Hamilton, N. (2018). Effect of surrogate design on the measured stiffness of snowboarding wrist protectors. Sports Engineering, 15, 42. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-018-0266-1
Newton-Mann, C., Winwood, K., Driscoll, H., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2018). Finite element model of an impact on a palmar pad from a snowboard wrist protector. Proceedings, 2 (6), 314. http://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2060314
Adams, C., James, D., Senior, T., Allen, T., & Hamilton, N. (2016). Development of a method for measuring quasi-static stiffness of snowboard wrist protectors. Procedia Engineering, 147, 378-383. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.320
Journal articles
Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2024). Examining the effect of verbal feedback vs. real-time software feedback on kinetic and kinematic metrics of the Nordic hamstring exercise. Sport Sciences for Health. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-024-01294-6
Mitchell, T., Bircumshaw, M., Cryan, C., Kotwica, D., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., & Mclean, S. (2024). A scoping review to map public-facing websites for non-traumatic wrist disorders with quality evaluation. Hand Therapy. http://doi.org/10.1177/17589983241287082
Mitchell, T.G.C., Fowler-Davis, S., Rodgers, S., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., & Mclean, S. (2024). CSP2023: 92 A Scoping Review to Map Evidence Regarding Key Domains and Questions in the Management of Non-traumatic Wrist Disorders [abstract only]. Physiotherapy, 123 (Supp 1), e15. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2024.04.019
Mitchell, T., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., Rodgers, S., Fowler-Davis, S., & Mclean, S. (2023). A scoping review to map evidence regarding key domains and questions in the management of non-traumatic wrist disorders. Hand Therapy, 29 (1), 3-20. http://doi.org/10.1177/17589983231219595
Leslie, G.E., Winwood, K., Wang, W., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2023). Effect of limb surrogate surface compliance on the impact response of wrist protectors. JSAMS Plus, 2. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsampl.2023.100023
Leslie, G., Winwood, K., Wang, W., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2023). Repeatability of a bending stiffness test for snowboarding wrist protectors. Sports Engineering, 26 (1). http://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-022-00397-y
Adams, C., Allen, T., Senior, T., James, D., & Hamilton, N. (2021). Impact testing of snowboarding wrist protectors. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. http://doi.org/10.1177/17543371211054752
Trejo Ramirez, M.P., Wheat, J., James, D., Warmenhoven, J., & Hamilton, N. (2019). Evaluation of the effects of traction on ankle kinematics during a side cut using bfPCA (abstract only). Footwear Science, 11 (sup1), S25-S27. http://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2019.1606059
Adams, C., James, D., Senior, T., Allen, T., & Hamilton, N. (2018). Correction to: Effect of surrogate design on the measured stiffness of snowboarding wrist protectors. Sports Engineering, 21 (3), 227. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-018-0275-0
Hamilton, N., & Senior, T. (2006). Development of equipment to compare novel ice skate blade materials. . http://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-45951-6_24
Hamilton, N.D.R., Senior, T., & Haake, S. (2004). The rolling resistance of wheelchairs. .
Hart, J., Curtis, D., Hamilton, N.D.R., & Haake, S. (2004). Scanning large geometries for use in computational fluid dynamic analysis. .
Conference papers
Domone, S., Wheat, J., Choppin, S., Hamilton, N., & Heller, B. (2012). Wavelet based de-noising of non-stationary kinematic signals. In 30th Annual Conference of Biomechanics in Sports, Melbourne, Australia, 2 July 2012 - 6 July 2012. http://w4.ub.uni-konstanz.de/cpa/issue/view/ISBS2012
Theses / Dissertations
Adams, C. (2018). Development of methods to evaluate the performance of snowboard wrist protectors. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hamilton, N. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00166
Domone, S.K. (2014). Validation and uncertainty of inverse dynamics analysis applied to high acceleration movements. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wheat, J., Choppin, S., & Hamilton, N.
Patents
Hart, J., & Hamilton, N. (2016). Shuttlecock. CN103717275B. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/52/6a/92/37fc9ebdff2cd2/CN103717275B.pdf
Postgraduate supervision
Current PhD student supervision:
1. Sconce, E. Use of the Nordic ‘break point’ angle to predict hamstring muscle injury
Funding: 100% Vice Chancellors Scholarship – Part time
(Completion Due: 2025)
2. Mitchell, T. Diagnosis and treatment of non-traumatic wrist disorders.
Funding: 100% Graduate Teaching Associate scheme
(Completion June2025)
Completed PhD student supervision:
1. Leslie, G. Development of an instrumented synthetic wrist impact surrogate for sports applications
Funding: 100% Manchester Metropolitan University Research scholarship
(June 2022)
2. Trejo Ramirez, M. Biomechanical effects of football shoe's cleats on the ankle joint
Funding: 100% Vice Chancellors Scholarship
(July 2021)
3. Newton-Mann, C. Finite Element Modelling of Snowboard Wrist Protectors
Funding: 100% Manchester Metropolitan University Research scholarship
(October 2019)
4. Adams, C. Development of a method to evaluate the performance of snowboard wrist protectors (October 2018)
Funding: 100% Centre for Sports Engineering Research scholarship
5. Outram, T. Sequencing of segment kinetic energy and segment power in the golf swing. (September 2015)
Funding: 100% Centre for Sports Engineering Research scholarship.
Current appointment: Lecturer, University of Derby
6. Domone, S. Validation and uncertainty of inverse dynamics analysis applied to high acceleration movements (April 2014).
Funding: 100% Golphysics Ltd.
Current appointment: Sport Intelligence Consultant at English Institute of Sport