A prestigious EIT research award could propel senior lecturer Carl Paton onto the world stage.

A lecturer for EIT’s Bachelor of Recreation and Sport programme, Dr Paton was recently announced as 2008’s recipient of EIT chief executive Chris Collins’ Research Excellence Award.

While Dr Paton continues to investigate the impact of shoe cleat position on performance cycling, the honour acknowledges a number of his published articles rather than any specific research project.

Dr Susan Jacobs – Dean of the Faculty of Health and Sport Science, which nominated him for the award – said his article in the Journal of Applied Physiology was of particular note.

“This is a top-rated international journal which publishes relatively few sport physiology articles.  The other three articles are in well-regarded sport physiology journals published by Human Kinetics.”

Dr Jacobs said Dr Paton was a highly productive researcher and an excellent teacher, inspiring Bachelor of Recreation and Sport students to participate in his research studies.

Last year, he also taught in EIT’s Master of Nursing research paper and assisted a thesis candidate with her statistical analysis.

Dr Paton said receiving the award meant he would most likely be able to present some of his research at an overseas conference this year.

His research abilities are already well-recognised, with invitations to chair sessions at international conferences and requests to examine or advise external postgraduate students.

“I also hope to use some of the (award) funding to support ongoing research projects,” Dr Paton said.

The avid competitive cyclist, who has a specialist knowledge of endurance exercise physiology and performance profiling, moved to Hawke’s Bay to take up his senior lecturer’s position at EIT in early 2007.

Prior to that, while employed as a lecturer at the Waikato Institute of Technology, he helped set up one of the first sport science degrees to be offered at a New Zealand tertiary institute other than a university.

Personal highlights of a coaching career that began at club level in 1987 include working with Olympic, world and Commonwealth athletes in cycling and athletics.