In 2016 Dr Burleigh graduated from UWS with a first-class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science. During this time she was awarded studentships from the Carnegie Foundation and the Physiological Society to complete preliminary research on the effects of nitric oxide on cardiovascular health and seasonal uptake of nitric oxide via UVA light in humans. In 2020 Dr Burleigh completed a PhD studentship supported by a grant from the Hannah Research Foundation. This work focussed on the interactions between dietary nitrate, the oral microbiome and cardiovascular health. She is currently working as a Lecturer in the Division of Sport and Exercise in the School of Health and Life Sciences, she is an Accredited Sport and Exercise Physiologist via the British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists and holds Charted Scientist status with the Science Council. She has experience in biochemistry, microbiology, bioinformatics, conducting exercise tests and measuring a range of physiological outcomes in adults, trained athletes, Olympic and Paralympic champions. 

Nitric oxide, cadivascular health, bioinformatics, microbiology, exercise physiology

Dr Burleigh's research is broadly centred on exercise and health with a specific focus on the microbiome, dietary nitrate, oral and cardiovascular health. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has also been working with tensARC Ltd. who have received funding from the Scottish Funding Council and Innovate UK to support testing of a novel fabric face mask. 

She is currently Director of Studies for the following PhD students and second supervisor to an MRes student:

• 2021 - Present: Miss Annabel Simpson (PhD): BEET Periodontitis – the effect of nitric oxide producing bacteria on oral health (Funded by the University of the West of Scotland)
• 2022 - Present: Ms Siobhan Moran (PhD): Nitrate supplementation as an alternative to antiseptic mouthwash and a method to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance (Funded by the University of the West of Scotland)

• 2021 - Present: Mr Andrea Danieli (MRes): The effect of nitrate-rich vegetables on oral health, a mechanistic investigation (Self-funded)