Michael is a Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology. His main research interest is in the application of physiology to help sport performance. This broad interest has crossed into many sub-themes including exercise metabolism, training in youth, physiology of repeated sprints and football physiology. He has supervised eight PhDs to completion, has examined six research examinations (four PhD) and is currently supervising four PhD students.

Within the Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences he is co-lead (since Oct 2023) for the High Performance Sport Science Research and Innovation group and the leader of the Sport Physiology Hub (since Apr 2023). He has collaborated with Sport Wales (and the national governing bodies of swimming, athletics and triathlon) to gain funding for two PhDs in the immune-metabolic responses to exercise in well trained athletes. He led a major research and consultancy project (2009-2011) funded by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) into football playing surfaces.

Current research interests continue along previous themes of immuno-metabolism, endurance sport and sport science in football. In immuno-metabolism, there is a focus on the physiology of cytokine signalling (Interleukin-6) in exercise and training which has special relevance for prolonged endurance activity. In this area Michael collaborates with colleagues from Cardiff Met (Drs Richard Webb and Rebecca Aicheler). He is also currently supervising three PhD students in professional football who are investigating, player loading, recovery and nutrition.  

Michael has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and is an experienced reviewer for many well-reputed Journals (including Journal of Applied Physiology, Journal of Sports Sciences, International Journal of Sports Medicine European Journal of Sports Sciences) and as a grant reviewer for British Heart Foundation.