Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career
Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Exercise physiology
  • Muscle physiology
  • Molecular exercise physiology
  • Exercise training
  • Heat Stress and Heat Shock Proteins

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Aaron Petersen

Dr Aaron Petersen obtained his PhD in Exercise Physiology at Victoria University, Melbourne. He undertook post-doctoral training at Deakin University, Melbourne investigating the effects of exercise and diet on skeletal muscle signalling pathways. He has now returned to Victoria University where he is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology in the College of Sport and Exercise Science.

Aaron’s research focuses on muscular responses and adaptation to exercise training and environmental stressors. Additionally, Aaron is interested in the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of muscle mass and identifying strategies to improve muscle mass and function. He is particularly interested in the benefits of chronic heat therapy for the enhancement of muscle function in both sporting and clinical settings.

His research interests include muscle adaptation to exercise training and the benefits of exercise in ageing and disease. Additionally, Aaron is interested in the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in adaptation to exercise and strategies to enhance the adaptive response. He has a particular interest in heat stress and heat shock proteins.

Aaron has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has supervised two Masters by Research and five PhD candidates. He is a member of the Australian Physiological Society and the European College of Sport Science. 

Aaron's first notable scientific achievement was awarded to him at age 11, when he received the Te Aroha Primary School prize for science.

Qualifications

  • PhD (Exercise Physiology), Victoria University, 2008

Key publications

Aaron has over 62 publications, with a selection listed here.


A more comprehensive list of Aaron's publications is available in the VU Research Repository.

Year Citation
2022 Kjertakov, M., & Petersen, A. (221125). Hot water immersion could be an effective alternative to physical exercise in improving cardiovascular fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Physiology, 13

doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1035183
2022 Sostaric, S., Petersen, A. C., Goodman, C. A., Gong, X., Aw, T. J., Brown, M. J., Garnham, A., Steward, C. H., Murphy, K. T., & Carey, K. A. (220801). Oral digoxin effects on exercise performance, K+ regulation and skeletal muscle Na+,K+-ATPase in healthy humans. Journal of Physiology, 600(16), (3749-3774).

doi: 10.1113/JP283017
2022 Tran, C. T., Atanasovska, T., Graff, C., Melgaard, J., Kanters, J. K., Smith, R., Petersen, A. C., Kjeldsen, K. P., & McKenna, M. J. (220301). Plasma potassium concentration and cardiac repolarisation markers, Tpeak-Tend and Tpeak-Tend/QT, during and after exercise in healthy participants and in end-stage renal disease. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(3), (691-702).

doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04870-7
2022 Philp, C. P., Pitchford, N. W., Fell, J. W., Kitic, C. M., Buchheit, M., Petersen, A. C., Minson, C. T., Visentin, D. C., & Watson, G. (220201). Hot water immersion; potential to improve intermittent running performance and perception of in-game running ability in semiprofessional Australian Rules Footballers?. PLoS ONE, 17(2 February),

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263752
2022 Li, Y., Li, J., Atakan, M. M., Wang, Z., Hu, Y., Nazif, M., Zarekookandeh, N., Ye, H. Z., Kuang, J., & Ferri, A. (220101). Methods to match high-intensity interval exercise intensity in hypoxia and normoxia - A pilot study. Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness, 20(1), (70-76).

doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2021.12.003
2021 Campelj, D. G., Timpani, C. A., Cree, T., Petersen, A. C., Hayes, A., Goodman, C. A., & Rybalka, E. (210501). Metronomic 5-fluorouracil delivery primes skeletal muscle for myopathy but does not cause cachexia. Pharmaceuticals, 14(5),

doi: 10.3390/ph14050478
2021 Petersen, A. C., & Fyfe, J. J. (210408). Post-exercise Cold Water Immersion Effects on Physiological Adaptations to Resistance Training and the Underlying Mechanisms in Skeletal Muscle: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3

doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.660291
2020 Campelj, D. G., Timpani, C. A., Petersen, A. C., Hayes, A., Goodman, C. A., & Rybalka, E. (201201). The paradoxical effect of parp inhibitor bgp-15 on irinotecan-induced cachexia and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Cancers, 12(12), (1-28).

doi: 10.3390/cancers12123810
2020 Altarawneh, M. M., Petersen, A. C., Farr, T., Garnham, A., Broatch, J. R., Halson, S., Bishop, D. J., & McKenna, M. J. (200801). Resistance training upregulates skeletal muscle Na+, K+-ATPase content, with elevations in both 1 and 2, but not isoforms. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120(8), (1777-1785).

doi: 10.1007/s00421-020-04408-3
2020 Kim, K., Reid, B. A., Casey, C. A., Bender, B. E., Ro, B., Song, Q., Trewin, A. J., Petersen, A. C., Kuang, S., & Gavin, T. P. (200101). Effects of repeated local heat therapy on skeletal muscle structure and function in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 128(3), (483-492).

doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00701.2019

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

Identification of optimal compression garment characteristics for females
From: DMND Sports Pty Ltd
Other investigators: Dr James Broatch
For period: 2021-2021
 Not disclosed

UPI Postural Support Garment Testing
From: United Pacific Industries
For period: 2019-2020
 Not disclosed

INT - 0498 & Sport Compression Regimes
From: APR Intern
For period: 2018-2018
 Not disclosed
UPI Postural Support Garment Testing
From: United Pacific Industries
For period: 2018-2018
 Not disclosed

UPI Thermoskin testing
From: United Pacific Industries
For period: 2017-2018
 Not disclosed

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Principal supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
6 PhD Associate supervisor
2 PhD Principal supervisor
1 Masters by Research Associate supervisor
1 Masters by Research Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (6) Associate supervisor
PhD (2) Principal supervisor
Masters by Research (1) Associate supervisor
Masters by Research (1) Principal supervisor

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Jan 2010 - Present
Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology
Victoria University
Jan 2008 - Dec 2009
Post-doctoral research fellow
Deakin University
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jan 2010 -
Present
Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology
Victoria University
Jan 2008 -
Dec 2009
Post-doctoral research fellow
Deakin University

Awards

Year Award
2019

Australian Sports Medicine Federation Fellows Award, 2005: Best Paper (Performance Enhancement and Basic Science) - Australian Sports Medicine Federation

Professional memberships

  • Professional member, Australian Physiological Society
  • Professional member, European College of Sports Science

Media appearances

13th August 2019

Hot Yoga or Cool Runnings?

ABC Radio Afternoons with Richelle Hunt Invited expert on exercise in different environments