Nick Hamilton BEng
Principal Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow
- School of Sport and Physical Activity
- Sport and Physical Activity Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Centre
- Health Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Institute
Summary
I am a Principal Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow in the Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (SERG) at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow in the internationally renowned Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (SERG) at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
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). . Journal of Sports Sciences.
Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2021). . Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 3, 629606.
Leslie, G., Wang, W., Winwood, K., Liauw, C., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2020). . Proceedings, 49 (1), e84.
Adams, C., James, D., Senior, T., Allen, T., & Hamilton, N. (2018). . Sports Engineering, 15, 42.
Newton-Mann, C., Winwood, K., Driscoll, H., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2018). . Proceedings, 2 (6), 314.
Adams, C., James, D., Senior, T., Allen, T., & Hamilton, N. (2016). . Procedia Engineering, 147, 378-383.
Journal articles
Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2024). . Sport Sciences for Health.
Mitchell, T., Bircumshaw, M., Cryan, C., Kotwica, D., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., & Mclean, S. (2024). . Hand Therapy, 30 (1), 3-18.
Mitchell, T.G.C., Fowler-Davis, S., Rodgers, S., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., & Mclean, S. (2024). . Physiotherapy, 123 (Supp 1), e15.
Mitchell, T., Hamilton, N., Dean, B., Rodgers, S., Fowler-Davis, S., & Mclean, S. (2023). . Hand Therapy, 29 (1), 3-20.
Leslie, G.E., Winwood, K., Wang, W., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2023). . JSAMS Plus, 2.
Leslie, G., Winwood, K., Wang, W., Hamilton, N., & Allen, T. (2023). . Sports Engineering, 26 (1).
Adams, C., Allen, T., Senior, T., James, D., & Hamilton, N. (2021). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.
Trejo Ramirez, M.P., Wheat, J., James, D., Warmenhoven, J., & Hamilton, N. (2019). . Footwear Science, 11 (sup1), S25-S27.
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.
Hamilton, N., & Senior, T. (2006). . .
Hamilton, N.D.R., Senior, T., & Haake, S. (2004). . .
Hart, J., Curtis, D., Hamilton, N.D.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . .
Conference papers
Domone, S., Wheat, J., Choppin, S., Hamilton, N., & Heller, B. (2012). . In 30th Annual Conference of Biomechanics in Sports, Melbourne, Australia, 2 July 2012 - 6 July 2012.
Reports
Gregory, M., Parkes, S., Hamilton, N., & Haake, S. (2019). SCR Active Travel Strategy Review.
Hamilton, N., Gregory, M., & Thomson, I. (2019). Harworth Group plc - developing active environments (Innovate UK report).
Gregory, M., & Hamilton, N. (2018). Active Environments Community Consultation report.
Gregory, M., & Hamilton, N. (2018). Active Environments impact report (HEIF).
Theses / Dissertations
Adams, C. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hamilton, N.
Adams, C. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hamilton, N.
Domone, S.K. (2014). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wheat, J., Choppin, S., & Hamilton, N.
Patents
Hart, J., & Hamilton, N. (2017). . EP2729222B1.
Hart, J., & Hamilton, N. (2016). . CN103717275B.
Presentations
Gregory, M., & Hamilton, N. (2022). Zinc Catalyst Fund: Active Environments, Active Aging. Presented at: Harworth Leadership Team
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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ scholarship
5. Outram, T. Sequencing of segment kinetic energy and segment power in the golf swing. (September 2015)
Funding: 100% Centre for Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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
Media