About

I joined the University of Derby as Lecturer in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, bringing a wealth of clinical and academic experiences. I received training in the United Kingdom and Italy and emerged as a prominent researcher in Physiology, Biomechanics and Pedagogy.

I held positions as Clinical Trial Manager at Nuffield Health and the Orthopaedic Research Institute (in Bournemouth). Currently, I hold the roles of visiting researcher at Bournemouth University, University of Naples Parthenope and Riphah Pakistan International University. My broad experiences have been applied to create international collaborations and projects funded by the EU and UKRI. Such as during my PhD, where I studied the effects of inspiratory muscle training upon balance and functional mobility with older adults.

I follow and foster University values of being bold, value people, being future-focused and follow brilliance.

I have a keen interest in using rigorous scientific methods to study physiological and clinical health issues. Recently, I looked at predictive measurements to prevent youth delinquency and antisocial behaviours in high-risk territories. Collaborating with NGOs abroad, I am reporting the effects of distanced learning on adolescents. Whilst from a physiological and biomechanical perspective, I am studying novel holistic interventions to enhance respiratory muscles functions.

Teaching responsibilities

• Level 5: Injury Biomechanics and Corrective Principles
• Level 6: Sport Conditioning

Research interests

• Respiratory Physiology
• Inspiratory Muscle Training
• Biomechanics
• Social Pedagogy

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Sport and Exercises Science [BSc] - Foro Italico University of Rome [ 01/01/2010 – 02/10/2013 ]
• Master’s degree in physical education for Prevention and Wellness [MSc] University of Naples Parthenope [ 01/01/2014 – 23/07/2015 ]
• Doctor of Philosophy [PhD] Bournemouth University [28/01/2016 – 08/11/2019]

Recent conferences

International experience

• In collaboration with the University of Naples Parthenope (ITA), I am researching novel dance-based interventions to foster well-being, facilitate students' experiences and improve learning outcomes
• In collaboration with Associazione Filosifa Fuori le Mura (ITA), I am producing EU funded projects to contrast antisocial behaviours and school drop-outs in high risk territories
• In collaboration with Riphah International University (Pakistan), I am supervising PhD candidate looking at the effects of inspiratory muscle training with diabetes patients.

Recent publications

• Aruta L., Ambra F. I., Ferraro F.V., & Iavarone M.L. (2021). Bodytasking. Analysis and perceptions of a distanced dance experience. Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics. Italian Journal of Health Education, Sports and Inclusive Didactics, 5(1), 46-53, doi: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v5i1.313
• Ambra F. I., Ferraro F.V., Aruta L. & Iavarone M.L. (2020). Distanced learning between educational and technological barriers: A survey in the Campania Region (Italy) with secondary school students. Attualità Pedagogiche. doi: http://www.attualitapedagogiche.it/ojs/index.php/AP/issue/view/3/3
• Ferraro F. V., Gavin, J. P., Wainwright, T., & McConnell, A.K. (2019). The effects of 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training on the balance of healthy older adults: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Physiological reports, 7(9), doi: https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14076
• Ferraro F. V., Ambra, F. I., Aruta, L., & Iavarone, M. L. (2020). Distance Learning in the COVID-19 Era: Perceptions in Southern Italy. Education Sciences, 10(12), 355, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10120355