Dr Ian Kenny is a professor of biomechanics, within the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences. He is Co-Director of the Sport and Human Performance Research Centre (SHPRC). He teaches biomechanics and musculoskeletal anatomy and specialises in applied sports biomechanics and musculoskeletal modelling. Ian has served on the editorial board for the journals Frontiers, and Sports Engineering, and the Scientific Committee for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports. He is co-Principal Investigator for the Irish Rugby Football Union IRIS injury epidemiology project.                          

Ian lectured previously at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown and was a member of the Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute at UU. He held a DEL CAST research fellowship with Ulster University and golf's R&A, and he worked within the R&D team for the R&A Rules Ltd. in St. Andrews on the topic of biomechanical and modelling analysis of shaft length effects on golf driving performance.

Ian led the design and foundation of the MSc in Sports Performance launched January 2012 which was a finalist in 2015 national PG programme of the year and 2019 national winner, and a dedicated golf biomechanics research facility at the University of Limerick.

Ian's research and professional work has a wide international reach with colleagues across the USA, South Africa, New Zealand, South America, and the UK and Ireland. 

Ian has represented Ireland internationally at junior and senior level in athletics.  

Research Interests:  Injury biomechanics; Injury epidemiology; Rugby Science; Musculoskeletal modelling and computer simulation of movement; Sport and human performance; Effects of equipment parameters on golf performance. Sports Engineering.   

Education: B.Sc. (Hons) in Sports Science, University of Ulster (2003); Diploma in Industrial Studies (Commendation), University of Ulster (2003); PhD in Biomechanics, University of Ulster (2006)   

Research Funding (selected):  €2.4 million

-Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Lero SIP Targeted Work Programme. ‘‘Sprint Spikes Biomechanics” with Danu Sports Ltd. PI Ian Kenny + Tom Comyns + Drew Harrison + Mark Lyons + DJ Collins + Ross Anderson + Evan Crotty (Adidas). 2024-2028. €262,450

-Irish Research Council (IRC) PhD research funding: ‘Integration of Injury and Illness Epidemiology around the Prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport in Ireland.’ PhD supervisor for: Tabitha Billingham. (2024-2028): €124,000

-UPMC Ireland Research CoFund Collaboration. ‘‘Examination of the qualitative symptoms and management of a concussion”. Tom Comyns (PESS), Ian Kenny (PESS), Giles Warrington (PESS), John Mulvihill (Bernal Institute UL) + Micky Collins (UPMC), Anthony Kontos (UPMC). 2024-2028. €198,145

-Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility. Irish Rugby Injury and Illness Surveillance at University of Limerick and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Ian Kenny (PESS) + Tom Comyns (PESS) + Pierre Viviers (Stellenbosch University) + James Brown (Stellenbosch University / Leeds Met). 2024-2025: 26,400

-Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU): Irish Rugby Football Union Injury Surveillance And Prevention Programme: Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRFU-IRIS) Phase II. Ian Kenny (PI), Tom Comyns (Co-PI), Giles Warrington, Kieran O Sullivan, Roisin Cahalan, Drew Harrison, Mark Lyons, Mark Campbell, Liam Glynn, Helen Purtill. (2022-2030): 319,573

-Irish Research Council GOI IRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Rugby injury epidemiology and relation to psychological factors. Postdoctoral mentor. (2020-2023): 91,970

-Education and Health Sciences / Health Research Institute Succeed and; Lead Postdoctoral Fellowship 2019: Rugby injury epidemiology and relation to psychological factors. Postdoctoral mentor. (2019-2021): 200,000

-Health Research Institute PhD research funding: Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance: Amateur Rugby. PhD supervisor with Dr Tom Comyns and Prof Liam Glynn for: Patrick Dolan. (2019-2023): 107,640

-Irish Research Council (IRC) PhD research funding: The development of injury prevention measures in amateur Rugby Union through the examination of training load. PhD co-supervisor with Dr Mark Lyons, Dr Tom Comyns for: Alan Griffin. (2019-2021): 48,000

-PD+PA (Product Design + Performing Arts). The Creative Process meets the Creative Product - enhancing the performance Artist through research, design and technology. HRI Health Research Institute Research Cluster Capacity Building Awards 2018. Louise Kiernan (School of Design), Orfhlaith Ni Nhriain (Irish World Academy), Bernard Hartigan (School of Design), Roisin Cahalan (Allied Health), Ian Kenny (PESS), Drew Harrison (PESS), Briga Hayes (Management and; Marketing). 90,000

-Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility. Rugby concussion injury surveillance at University of Limerick and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Mark Campbell (PESS), Ian Kenny (PESS) + Pierre Viviers (Stellenbosch University). 2018-2020. 2,700

-Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility. High performance training environments at University of Limerick and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Mark Campbell (PESS), Ian Kenny (PESS) + Grant van Velden (Stellenbosch University). 2018-2019. 2,200

-University of Limerick PESS Research Scholarship. The development of injury prevention measures in amateur Rugby through the examination of training load. PhD co-supervisor with Dr Mark Lyons, Dr Tom Comyns for: Alan Griffin (2018-2022): 72,000

-Health Research Institute (HRI) SEED 2018: Development of a process to study concussion recovery using blood based biomarkers. John Mulvihill (Bernal), Eibhlís O Connor (Bernal), Kieran McGourty (Bernal), Tom Comyns (PESS), Ian Kenny (PESS), Peter Boers (UHL). 2018. 17,781.

-Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility Golf Performance Adapted Physical Activity at University of Limerick and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Mark Campbell (PESS), Dr Ian Kenny (PESS) + Professor Liz Bressan (Stellenbosch University). June 2016. 9,412

-Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU): Irish Rugby Football Union Injury Surveillance And Prevention Programme: Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRFU-IRIS) . Ian Kenny (PI), Tom Comyns (Co-PI), Giles Warrington, Kieran O Sullivan, Drew Harrison, Mark Lyons, Mark Campbell, Michael Griffin, Kevin Hayes. (2016-2020): 187,000

-University of Limerick EHS PhD Research Scholarship: Long-term Functional Knee Biomechanics after Total Knee Replacement. Rachel Hanzak + Ian Kenny + Drew Harrison + Galway Clinic + Leeds Metropolitan University. (2015-2019): 19,768

-University of Limerick EHS PhD Research Scholarship: Medial Leg Functional Biomechanics following Traditional Total Knee Replacement. Ciaran McInerney + Ian Kenny + Drew Harrison + Galway Clinic + Leeds Metropolitan University. (2015-2019): 19,768

-Force and Motion paper award Norris, M., Kenny, I.C. and Anderson, R. (2015) Marathon stride rate dynamics: a case study. Proceedings of the 2015 International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Conference, 29 June to 3 July 2015, Poitiers, France. (2015): 500

-Irish Research Council (IRC) PhD research funding: Developing best practice in strength training for athletics: selection and implementation of strength training exercises (2013-2017): 96,000

-University of Limerick PESS Research Scholarship. Developing best practice in strength training for athletics: selection and implementation of strength training exercises. Robin Healy, Drew Harrison and Ian Kenny (2013-2017): 72,000

-University of Limerick UL40 Research Scholarship: Longitudinal examination of movement health indices via wearable sensing technology. Michelle Norris, Ross Anderson + Ian Kenny (2012-2016): 40,000

-University of Limerick PESS Research Scholarship. The Effect of Strength Training on Performance in Competitive Endurance Sports. Kris Beattie, Ian Kenny, Mark Lyons + Brian Carson (2012-2016): 72,000

-Out on a limb amputee biomechanics project commenced February 2012 http://outonalimbproject.weebly.com/ . Biomechanics (Drew Harrison + Ian Kenny, PESS) and Physiotherapy (Karen McCreesh + Neasa Canavan, Clinical Therapies) support for Ireland s first amputee blade marathon runner Simon Baker. Funded by IDS Prosthetics, Otto Bock (2012): 11,100

-Enterprise Ireland (Innovation voucher): Commercialisation feasibility study with Avenir SportsTM for the Biomechanics Research Unit s Video Performance Analysis Academy (VPAA) (2012): 5,000

-EMMAPA (Erasmus Mundus) research grant 10,200. Adapted Physical Activity Biomechanics of Golf, Motor Control and Physiotherapy at University of Limerick and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Mark Campbell (PESS), Dr Amanda Clifford (Clinical Therapies) and Dr Ian Kenny (PESS). February 2012.

-Video Performance Analysis Academy, University of Limerick enterprise (2010-2012): 82,017. -Education and; Health Sciences (EHS) Research Bursary Programme 2011: Projectiles Measurement and Performance: 2,000.

-Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Conference and Workshop Programme Grant: 27th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, University of Limerick (2009): 21,904.75

-Commercial sponsorship for ISBS 2009: 27th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS), University of Limerick (2009), 23 companies: 45,641  -Golphysics: Modelling Analysis of the Golf Swing (2009): 3,842

-University of Limerick SEED award 2008: Qualitative Video Analysis Facilities to Enhance Biomechanics and Physical Education Research (2008-2010): 5,000 -Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) PhD research funding: Creation of Virtual Subjects to Examine Variability within Human Movement (2008-2011): 72,000

-Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) PhD research funding: An investigation into female maturation and its role in ACL injury (2008-2011): 72,000

-DEL CAST award. Department of Education and; Learning N.I. and the Rand;A Rules Ltd. St. Andrews: Biomechanical and modelling analysis of shaft length effects on golf driving performance (2003-2006): 67,500

Injury biomechanics; Injury epidemiology; Musculoskeletal modelling and computer simulation of movement; Sport and human performance; Effects of equipment parameters on golf performance. Sports Engineering. 

Ian teaches undergraduate and postgraduate classes in applied sport biomechanics, musculoskeletal modelling, musculoskeletal anatomy and kinesiology, and research dissertation methods.