As a biomechanist Emma Millett helps top athletes run faster, jump higher and push their limits. Here’s what a day at her job looks like!
Emma is a senior biomechanist at the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and the national lead of biomechanics for Australian Athletics. She works with Australia’s top track and field athletes to help them perform at their peak. Using data and video, she studies how athletes move and helps coaches fine-tune every step, jump and throw.
“High-performance sport is an iceberg – you only see the results, but there’s a huge team working behind the scenes,” she explains.
Emma says her job isn’t a typical 9-to-5-type gig. One day she might be testing athletes at the track, the next she’s crunching data, or even flying overseas for competitions. While no two days are the same, here are some of the cool things you might find her doing:
9am – At the track
“I start the day at the track working with one of our key squads and coaches here at NSWIS,” says Emma. “That often involves testing and feedback using laser, Optojump, and video to assess and monitor an athlete’s technique.”
Optojump is a sensor system that tracks things like jump height and ground contact time – details
too quick to catch with the naked eye. These tools help Emma and the coaching team fine-tune an
athlete’s movements to improve their performance.
10am – Data deep dive
“Then it’s back to the office to do some number crunching and review from either the session, lab testing, or from a competition I had travelled to on the weekend.”
1pm – Team check-ins
“A coach or performance team member will often stop by my desk to chat through reports, key thoughts, and feedback, and then plan for the next session.”
4pm – Tech and innovation
“Often in the late arvo, I will check in and connect with others in the network I lead, or other discipline leads on key projects. One we are working on at the moment is with our engineering lead at Australian Athletics, where we are working on prosthetic blade or wheelchair adjustments.”
6pm – Packing for the next adventure
Emma’s work takes her across Australia and overseas. “The day will often wrap up with packing for either another training session, national camp, competition, or trip,” she says.
Emma’s Pathway
- Bachelor of Exercise Science (Hons), Australian Catholic University
- PhD in Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University
- Senior sport biomechanist, NSW Institute of Sports
- National lead of biomechanics, Australian Athletics
This profile first appeared in the Exercise Science Job Kit in collaboration with the Australian Catholic University.
