About

I have taught at Sheffield Hallam University as an Associate Lecturer since October 2014 and in June 2018 was appointed as a full-time Lecturer in Nutrition.

My research interests are nutrition and bone health, with particular interest in vitamin D. I was Chief Investigator on a National Osteoporosis Society funded clinical trial at the University of Sheffield that investigated changes to vitamin D metabolites in postmenopausal in response to bolus doses of vitamin D. The study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanism for why some people fall more frequently after receiving a large dose vitamin D. This study formed the basis of my PhD.

Previously, I have worked on a Department of Health funded Policy Research Program (PRP) project which aimed to understand the potential causes and consequences of low vitamin D levels in obesity.

I have also worked as a Research Project Manager and Bone Densitometry Technician at the University of Sheffield. In this role I was responsible for several research studies which aim to better characterise the rare bone disease hypophosphatasia.

Teaching

Food.

I teach on a wide range of modules:

• Nutrition Through the Lifecycle (Level 5)
• Physiology and Biochemistry of Health and Disease (Level 5)
• Academic Research Skills (Level 5)
• Physical Activity and Health (Level 5)
• Issues in Nutrition (Level 6)
• Research methods (Level 7)
• Work-related Learning (Level 7)
• Life-Course Approach to Nutrition (Level 7)

Research

I am currently involved in a number of research projects:

• Vitamin D levels in football players
• The effect of perceived socioeconomic status on energy intake
• The effect of bolus dose vitamin D on vitamin D metabolites and calcium metabolism

My recent publications are:

Schwartz, J. B., Gallagher, C., Jorde, R., Berg, V., Walsh, J., Eastell, R., Evans, A.L., Bowles, S., Naylor, K. E., Jones K. S., I. Schoenmakers, M. Holick, E. Orwoll, C., Nielson, M. Kaufman, G., Jones, R., Bouillon, J. Lai, D. Verotta, D., & Bikle D. (2018) Determination of free 25(OH)D concentrations and their relationships to total 25(OH)D in multiple clinical populations. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2018-00295

Walsh, J. S., Bowles, S., & Evans, A.L. (2017). Vitamin D in Obesity. Current Opinions in Endocrinology Diabetes & Obesity, 24, 389-394.

Walsh, J. S., Evans, A.L., Bowles, S., Naylor, K .E., Jones, S. I., Schoenmakers, R. M. Jacques &. Eastell R. (2016). Free 25-hydroxyvitamin D is low in obesity, but there are no adverse associations with bone health. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103, 1465-1471.

Publications