Ant graduated from Bangor University with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and an MSc in Exercise Rehabilitation. He was awarded his PhD from the University of Exeter in 2015. Shortly after starting a post-doctoral research positon and teaching fellow post at the university of Exeter Medical School. He joined the School of Sports Health and Exercise science, here at the University of Portsmouth in 2016 as a Lecturer in Physical Activity, Exercise and Health.

His current role involves supervising a team of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. He also lecturer in Advanced Sports Nutrition, Clinical Exercise Physiology and consults for professional sports teams. 

During his career, he has designed bespoke training programmes and / or run clinical trials in a range of different clinical conditions including; type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and rheumatoligcal disorders such as raynaud’s phenomenon.

Ant Shepherd is an Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology whose research is dedicated to improving metabolic and cardiovascular health, physical function, and overall quality of life across a range of clinical and at‑risk populations. His work centres on translating innovative, evidence‑based interventions—such as targeted nutritional strategies and passive heating paradigms, and controlled exposure to extreme or atypical environments—into practical approaches that can deliver meaningful ‘patient’ benefit.

A key thread running through Ant’s research is the integration of mechanistic physiology with applied clinical science. He is particularly interested in understanding the pathophysiological processes underpinning chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic disorders and conditions characterised by impaired metabolic flexibility. By probing these underlying mechanisms, his work aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and optimise interventions that can be deployed in clinical and community settings.

Ant collaborates widely across disciplines including nutrition science, environmental physiology, rehabilitation medicine, and biomedical engineering. His research contributions span acute experimental studies through to longer‑term intervention trials, with a consistent focus on enhancing patient outcomes, informing clinical practice, and shaping public health guidance.