Bridgette O'Malley

Bridgette O’Malley is a PhD candidate at QUT and Teaching Fellow (Associate Lecturer) in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Her doctoral research investigates the mechanistic and physiological determinants of oxygen uptake (VO₂) kinetics during incremental exercise, with a focus on refining athlete testing methodologies and improving performance diagnostics.

She co-founded the Motorsport Research Group, a collaborative initiative between UniSC and QUT partnering with industry stakeholders including Motorsport Australia and the FIA Girls on Track program. This research stream investigates driver performance physiology, including cardiovascular and metabolic demands, fatigue under thermal and cognitive stress, and the development of evidence-based training strategies to enhance race performance and competitive outcomes.

Bridgette has also assisted Motorsport Australia in delivering Girls on Track initiatives aimed at increasing female participation in STEM and motorsport pathways. Her industry background includes working as a driving instructor with Skid Control and co-founding, She’s in Control, Queensland’s first dedicated all-female grassroots driver training events.