Derek joined the University of Worcester in 2001 as a Lecturer in PE & Sports Studies, having previously completed a PhD in ‘Body fatness and fat distribution during the early years of maturation’ at the University of Exeter in 1995, and having then worked for six years as an Exercise Physiologist in the Public Sector. In his 15 years in the School of Sport & Exercise Science Professor Peters published research across nearly all academic disciplines associated with sport & exercise science and taught research methods modules and training on nearly all of the courses offered within the School at HND, Undergraduate and Taught and Research Postgraduate levels.
He was awarded his first Professorship by the University of Worcester in January 2011 and then his second by the University of Agder, Norway, in the Faculty of Health & Sport Sciences later the same year. He was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2004 (FHEA); a University of Worcester Teaching Fellowship in 2005; a Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship in 2008 (NTF), and a University of Worcester Senior Teaching Fellowship in 2010.
In 2013 Professor Peters received accreditation as a Level 5 - Academic Expert from the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport, following on from the previous five years being an Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist by the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences. In June 2014, he was fortunate enough to be invited to the UK Technology Industry reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.
In 2015 Professor Peters was bestowed with the title of Fellow of the European College of Sport Science (FECSS) for his ‘significant contribution to the development of sport science through research’. In 2016 he moved into the School of Health & Society and then into the School of Allied Health & Community in 2018 where he was awarded the title Fellow of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (FBASES).
Derek is passionate about research and teaching research methods in all things sport, exercise, health & wellbeing and is finding his varied experiences extremely valuable now that he is teaching mostly across programmes in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nutritional therapy in addition to supporting postgraduate research students and staff across the broad spectrum of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, health & wellbeing.