Click this [LINK] to read the online version.

Or read the pdf below.

0.1 About the role

ISBNPA is seeking a highly organized and proactive Assistant to support the Executive Director in the day-to-day management of society operations, communications, membership support, and annual meeting activities. This role also includes support for ISBNPA’s website, social media, newsletters, and selected journal-related activities.

The position is well suited to a PhD student or PhD holder in exercise and health, sport science, or a related field who has strong administrative, communication, and digital content skills, and who is comfortable working in an international scientific environment.

0.2 Eligibility requirements

Applicants must have:

• PhD student status or a completed PhD in exercise and health, sport science, or a closely related field.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

0.3 Preferred qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Experience managing social media content related to behavioral nutrition, physical activity, or health science.
• Experience providing editorial or secretariat support for scientific journals.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Experience working with academic, scientific, or professional societies.

0.4 Key responsibilities

Executive support and office operations

• Support the Executive Director in the daily management of ISBNPA activities and administrative operations.
• Route mail, invitations, referrals, requests, and other correspondence to the Executive Director within two to five working days; urgent items should be handled on the same day or within one working day.
• Provide administrative support for Executive Committee conference calls.
• Maintain, in consultation with the Executive Director, a database of current and former ISBNPA members. This database and its contents remain the property of ISBNPA.
• Attend meetings as requested by the Executive Director or Executive Committee. Travel and related expenses will be covered by ISBNPA when applicable.
• Collaborate with the Secretary and Executive Director to record minutes of ISBNPA Board conference calls.
• Assist the Executive Director, President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee with additional administrative tasks as needed.

Membership and special interest group support

• Respond to membership-related enquiries by email or phone within two to four working days.
• Support the Membership Committee Chair in preparing analyses of membership trends, needs, and desired services.
• Assist ISBNPA Special Interest Groups with funding requests.
• Support Special Interest Groups with requests related to their activities, social media, newsletters, and webinars.

Website, social media, and communications

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the ISBNPA website and social media channels to ensure regular weekly activity.
• Prepare 4 to 6 ISBNPA newsletters per year in coordination with the Executive Director.

Annual meeting and journal support

• Provide administrative and organizational support to the Executive Director and the Annual Meeting Committee in coordination with the ISBNPA Executive Committee.
• Support the Editors and secretariat of the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical ActivityIJBNPA
• Assist in the development of a new ISBNPA publication outlet.

CIDEFES-related support

• Provide support for CIDEFES activities related to social media and events.
• Provide support for CIDEFES activities related to the management of the Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto or similar activities.
• Time allocated to CIDEFES support must not exceed 4 hours per week.

Contract and compensation

• Contract period: June 15, 2026 to June 14, 2027.
• Compensation: USD 1700 per month.
• The contract may be renewed for subsequent two-year periods, subject to performance and organizational needs, at a rate to be determined.

Work location

• The work location will be at CIDEFES, the University Lusófona Lisbon Campus, Portugal.

Application process

Applications should be sent by email to executivedirector@isbnpa.org no later than May 15, 2026.

Please include:

• A motivation letter.
• A current curriculum vitae

Selection process

• Applications will be evaluated between May 15 and June 1, 2026.
• Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview.
• Final results will be published on the CIDEFES website.

Equal opportunity

ISBNPA welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences and is committed to fostering an inclusive and international scientific community.

How would you describe your program of research and its significance?

My program of research focuses on social inequalities in health. Health is not equally distributed across society. Individuals and communities with fewer resources and less structural power often experience a disproportionate burden of disease, shaped by intersecting social and environmental determinants. The significance of this research lies in its commitment to identifying, understanding, and addressing these inequities. By highlighting where and why inequalities occur, and by working alongside communities and policymakers, the goal is to contribute to public health approaches that are not only effective, but also equitable.

How do you envision your research impacting public health policies or practices? (What recommendations do you have for others hoping to translate their research into policy or practice?)

Through our work with co-creation with local stakeholders, we aim to develop a practical guide that is meaningful and usable for local governments. Rather than introducing new interventions, the goal is to help stakeholders make effective use of existing national strategies and policies by providing a structured guide to support implementation. Including, strengthening connections between stakeholders, understanding the community’s needs, and raising awareness of existing resources to make interventions more sustainable and impactful. Translating research into practice requires engaging stakeholders early, listening to their priorities, and designing outputs that are directly relevant to their daily work.

What is the most important advice you received as an early career researcher? (And why do you say that?)

While often feeling like an individual journey, a PhD is truly a collective effort. As an international student, it can sometimes feel isolating or overwhelming, and the scope of the work may seem larger than what one person can manage alone. However, science is inherently collaborative. Supervisors, colleagues, community partners, and peers all contribute perspectives, support, and knowledge that shape our research process. Understanding that I did not have to do everything alone helped me embrace the experience. It reinforced the idea that research is not just about producing knowledge, but about learning together and contributing to a shared purpose.

Connect with Juanita on LinkedIn.

Click on this [LINK] to read the online version.

Or read the pdf below.

Click this [LINK] to read the online version.

Or read the pdf below.

How do you explain your current research/job to friends and family?

Women engage in significantly lower levels of physical activity (PA) due to structural, social, and environmental barriers that are intertwined and perpetuated throughout the life cycle. Our work consists of analysing these inequalities from a socio-ecological and intersectional perspective in Madrid, exploring the influence of access to exercise resources in PA levels, and how this association may be modified by gender, age, socioeconomic status and women’s perceptions. Based on qualitative and quantitative evidence, we will develop an index to assess access to physical activity resources in urban environments for women at different stages of life.

What inspired you to pursue a career in research? What drives you to continue in this path?

My motivation for research stems from a statement we often hear in the field of PA: ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ This presupposes that physical activity depends solely on individual willpower, but evidence has shown that the answer to this question is much more complex. There are structural, social and environmental barriers that limit the population, especially women, throughout their lives. After studying a Physical Activity and Sports Sciences degree and Sports Management Master, and from a gender and socio-ecological perspective, my research seeks to reduce gender inequalities in access to and participation in physical activity, and, consequently, to have a positive impact on the health of the population.

How do you envision your research impacting public health policies or practices?

The research has clear implications for public policies aimed at reducing gender inequalities in physical activity. A tool for monitoring physical activity deserts could be developed, with a special emphasis on those environments that facilitate access to exercise for women, as well as the need for strategies to reduce gender inequalities in the promotion and practice of physical activity. Policy briefs could also be published and disseminated to make this knowledge accessible. I recommend a good strategy for communicating results, differentiating between the target audience (public entities, stakeholders, athletes, the general public, etc.) in order to use different strategies.

What is your #1 piece of advice for emerging early career researchers?

My advice to those starting out in research is to be patient and learn to enjoy the process. An academic career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you find meaning in each stage – reading, analysing, writing, debating – you will build a solid and sustainable foundation. Constant curiosity, daily discipline, and maintaining the non-professional activities you enjoy are the keys to relish a career in research.

Interested in connection with Paula? Check out her LinkedIn.

Click this [LINK] to read the online version.

Or read the pdf below.

The Ageing Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) invites nominations for two Publication Awards recognizing impactful research that advances solutions to improve physical activity and/or nutrition for healthy ageing.

These awards aim to highlight research that contributes to interventions, programs, strategies, or actionable approaches, rather than research that solely documents problems.

Awards are given to the author team of the publication.

Two awards will be presented:

• Outstanding Publication (2025): For papers published in 2025
• Outstanding Publication (Past 5 Years): For papers published between 2020–2024

Recipients will be featured in the SIG newsletter and one member of the team will also be awarded an annual membership with ISBNPA.

Nominations due: May 15, 2026

Submit applications to: ageing_sig@isbnpa.org

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. The publication must be a peer-reviewed publication with a focus on solutions to improve physical activity and/or nutrition among middle-aged or older adults, or strategies that support healthy ageing.
2. Any study design is eligible, provided the focus is on interventions, programs, strategies, or actionable approaches.
3. At least one author must be a member of the Ageing SIG.
4. The nominating author must hold active membership in the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
5. Publications may be self-nominated or nominated by colleagues.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on two criteria:

1. Quality of the Research

Reviewers will consider:

• Scientific rigor and methodological quality
• Innovation or contribution to advancing solutions for healthy ageing
• Strength and clarity of the evidence presented

2. Impact of the Publication

Reviewers will consider evidence that the publication has contributed to advancing research, policy, or practice related to healthy ageing.

Applicants should provide evidence demonstrating the impact of the work where possible. Impact may include, but is not limited to:

• Influence on policy or guidelines
• Implementation or uptake in programs or services
• Scaling or adaptation of the intervention
• Influence on subsequent research
• Citations or scholarly influence
• Media engagement or public dissemination
• Partnerships with communities, practitioners, or organizations

Application Requirements

Applications should include:

1. Completed application form (see file below)
2. Full citation of the publication
3. PDF of the publication
4. Short statement (maximum 400 words) including:
5. Description of the solution
   Briefly describe the intervention, program, strategy, or actionable approach addressed in the publication.
6. Quality of the research
   Describe the scientific strengths and contribution of the research.
7. Impact of the publication
   Describe the impact of the work and provide evidence demonstrating this impact where possible.

Click on this [LINK] to read the online version.

Or read the pdf below.

What is a paper you recently published? What excited you about the question you answered?

In a recent study, we wanted to know whether intensity, volume, or duration of physical activity measured using accelerometers is more relevant for longevity. Specifically, we looked at all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. We found that the intensity of physical activity may be more important than the volume or duration for longevity. Including activities of higher intensity into daily routine may optimise health. We also investigated whether it matters if the most active minutes are spread throughout the day or performed in a single, continuous session. We found that accumulating intense activity in bouts was linked to better health outcomes than performing the same activity sporadically. What excited me about this work was that it shows how very simple choices in daily life, such as taking a purposeful 5-minute brisk walk after lunch or during a commute, rather than just moving a little bit here and there, may make a difference for long-term health. Based on these findings, turning such activities into regular habits might be a valuable way to support health over time, even though we did not study habit formation directly.

Fabian Schwendinger, Denis Infanger, Eric Lichtenstein, Timo Hinrichs, Raphael Knaier, Alex V Rowlands, Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss, Intensity or volume: the role of physical activity in longevity, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Volume 32, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 10–19, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwae295

How do you explain your current research/job to friends and family?

I tell them that I’m a researcher who uses data from activity trackers to understand how signals from everyday life can be used to support healthier ageing and to identify opportunities to prevent heart disease earlier and more effectively.

Given unlimited funding, what would your dream research project be?

If I had unlimited funding, I’d love to lead a research project that combines established and upcoming wearable sensors to identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease and combine this with a targeted, individualised intervention to deliver the right behavioural or clinical support at the right time, when risk is rising, capacity is changing, or intervention is most likely to be effective.

What is your #1 piece of advice for emerging early career researchers? (And why do you say that?)

There are two pieces of advice, I think are important, but early career researchers often tend to forget.

1) Take regular breaks, not just when you feel exhausted. Stepping away now and then helps you stay clear-headed, motivated, and effective over the long term.

2) Allocate more energy to activities that move you closer to your sense of purpose and long-term direction and, if possible, be selective about commitments that absorb time without meaningfully contributing to your growth or goals.

Interested in connecting with Fabian or checking out his recent work?

Linkedin

Google Scholar