2025 Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy Mentees

The International Society for Physical Activity & Health (ISPAH) and the Journal of Physical Activity & Health (JPAH) are proud to announce the second class of mentees for the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy. This Academy, named in honor of the late Harold W. (Bill) Kohl III, is a mentor-driven program designed to elevate the skills of early career researchers in the realm of scientific manuscript peer review. Through this initiative, participants will gain hands-on experience, working closely with experienced mentors to develop the critical skills necessary for effective peer review. 

About the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy: 

Peer review is a cornerstone of scientific research, ensuring the quality and legitimacy of published work. For early career researchers, navigating the complexities of peer review can be daunting. The Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy addresses this challenge by offering comprehensive training and mentorship. Participants will be matched with senior peer-review mentors and engage in the review of at least two manuscripts over a one-year period. Graduates of the Academy will be recognized on the ISPAH and JPAH websites and celebrated across ISPAH and JPAH social media platforms and at the next ISPAH Congress. 

The Academy’s curriculum includes: 

Learning to evaluate the scientific merit of manuscripts

Deliberating ethical, scientific, and practical aspects of peer review

Writing constructive peer review reports.

Meet the 2025 Mentees: 

We are excited to introduce this year’s class of the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy. These talented researchers come from diverse backgrounds and institutions, reflecting the global reach and inclusivity of the program. 

1. Dr. Esther Frema Oyebola

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Research Interests: My research focuses on understanding the factors that influence the psychosocial well-being of vulnerable groups, and on co-designing interventions (in-person/digital) that support older adults, young people, and intergenerational populations. I am also interested in evaluating these interventions (e.g., psychotherapy, music, physical activity, animal-assisted) and measuring psychosocial well-being markers using mixed methods.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am honoured to be a part of the academy as it is a great opportunity to further develop my peer review skills, build competence, and contribute to upholding the highest standards of scientific rigor in publications. Through the structured training and mentorship, I aim to enhance my confidence and ability to provide constructive, balanced, and ethical feedback to authors as part of my service to the academic community.

Mentor: Dr. Deborah Salvo

2. Dr. Alexandre Silva

Postdoctoral Research Associate, People, Health and Place, Unit, Washington University in St. Louis, USA

Research Interests: My research background and academic training was done in Brazil, focused on the relationship of physical activity and built/perceived environment. Currently I am expanding to public health, inequalities, and sustainability. 
Why I’m participating in the Academy: Peer review is a fundamental part of the continuity and sustainability of credibility in science. Participating in the Academy will be an effective way to ensure adequate training for the next generation of reviewers and contribute to the scientific community.

 Mentor: Dr. Loretta DiPietro

3. Ruirui Xing

PhD Candidate, Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Australia 
Research Interests: I focus on how parental perceptions of neighbourhood environment influence movement behaviours in children and adolescents.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am excited to enhance my skills in evaluating the scientific merit of manuscripts and crafting constructive reviewer reports. I aim to apply and share these peer review competencies within my academic network, fostering a culture of rigorous and constructive scholarly evaluation.

Mentor: Dr. Jasper Schipperijn

4. David Janda

PhD Candidate and Research Fellow, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

Research Interests: I work in movement behaviours epidemiology, focusing on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in children and adolescents, and their associations with health outcomes.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am looking forward to refining my peer-review skills through structured mentorship, while having access to the latest findings in the field.

Mentor:  Dr. Karen Milton

5. Diana Morales

PhD Candidate, Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Research Interests: My research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases and aging, specifically developing and implementing culturally adapted behavioral interventions for Latine populations to improve brain health outcomes. I investigate the synergistic effects of bilingualism, physical activity, and diet in promoting cognitive protection and advancing health equity through tailored, evidence-based strategies.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I hope to establish a trusted network, foster valuable connections, and gain confidence as a capable peer reviewer. I believe this program will significantly shape my identity as a researcher and scholar.

Mentor: Dr. Michael Pratt

6. Dr. Tawonga Mwase-Vuma

Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Malawi

Research Interests: My research focuses on public health, particularly movement behaviour (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) epidemiology and the measurement of physical activity in children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). I am also interested in researching non-communicable and emerging diseases in LMICs.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am excited to join the Academy as it will help me gain in-depth knowledge and experience in writing constructive peer review reports and establish my credentials as a competent reviewer. I hope to use this expertise to mentor my colleagues and research interns and contribute to filling capacity gaps in physical activity research within low-income sub-Saharan African contexts.

Mentor: Dr. David Bassett, Jr.

7. Dr.  Jenna McVicar

Research Officer, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Research Interests: My research consists of physiological and subjective experience assessment within a VR setting. My interests are within physical activity and the understanding of how to promote physical activity within clinical populations.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am excited to be part of the Academy because of the opportunity to work and learn from great scientists in the field and improve my peer reviewing skills.

 Mentor: Dr. Stuart Biddle

8. Dr. Shan Jiang

Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Research Interests: My research explores how eHealth interventions can promote healthy movement behaviors and cognitive development across the lifespan, with a particular focus on early childhood. I design, implement, and evaluate culturally sensitive, technology-enabled physical activity interventions to support sustainable and health-enhancing lifestyles.

Why I’m participating in the Academy: I am excited to join the Peer Review Academy to further develop my skills in critical appraisal and scholarly communication. This experience will strengthen my ability to provide high-quality, constructive peer reviews and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of research in physical activity, public health, and digital health innovation.