Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, a distinguished author, triathlete and one of the world's leading sports and exercise nutritionist, is the global senior director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. Dr. Jeukendrup comes to GSSI from his position as Professor of Exercise Metabolism and Director of the Human Performance lab at the University of Birmingham in England. His appointment reflects a commitment to refueling and expanding the brand's scientific work and the resurgence of its prominence as a sports nutrition thought leader globally.

He took some time to share his thoughts on taking the helm of the Institute and his vision for taking it to the next level.

What do you hope to accomplish as the new senior global director of GSSI?

Essentially my role will be to take the Gatorade Sport Science Institute to a new level in terms of its research as well as its educational outreach and service to the athlete.

GSSI is already established as a leading resource for sport nutrition advice but there is room for accelerated growth and improvement.

My mission is to make GSSI the most trusted resource of credible sports nutrition information for the athlete and the academic alike. When leading researchers, sports nutrition practitioners, coaches, and athletes of all levels are looking for the latest, most credible science-based information, we want them to think of GSSI first. And when top athletes need nutrition counsel to improve their performance, we want them to come to GSSI. GSSI will provide a service to the athlete and sports health care professional that is groundbreaking and unlike anything they've seen.

Simply put, my goal is to take what is already a respected institute with the ability to reach a huge audience and make it the number one destination when it comes to sports science.

What attracted you to take on the GSSI senior global director role?

First, being able to enjoy the best of both worlds - I can continue scientific research and discovery in academia and pursue it in industry as well. Joining GSSI allows me to continue the research I was pursuing in the university setting but with a larger team, a more global approach and access to state-of-the-art GSSI facilities. This will empower me to take research to a whole new level.

At the same time, the abilities to translate this science and make sure the findings reach the athletes in the form of nutrition and hydration solutions that they need is much greater than in the world of academia. It will now be possible for me to help turn some of these new findings into products that meet the nutrition and hydration needs of athletes. So, the overall impact of what I am able to do as part of GSSI will be much greater.

On the subject of research, what are your primary areas of interests? Where are the best opportunities to make a difference?

Many areas of sports and exercise nutrition are relatively underdeveloped, so there is a lot of runway to learn and contribute to the existing body of scientific research. Protein metabolism is an example of this. Although, big steps have been made there is still a lot we don't know about the role of protein in sports nutrition. We also don't know much about the interactions between foods or nutrients, the brain and physical performance.

We do know that nutrition influences the adaptation to training. What if we could make this process more efficient? In other words, what if there was a way to get one percent more effect out of every training session to improve the overall efficiency of a training program? Over weeks and months that would make a huge difference.

There is much more and certainly no lack of important new areas for research. The ambition of GSSI is to be at the forefront of these developments and to be leading the way on a global stage.

What role will you play in product development?

The primary role of GSSI is research, education and athlete service, but we also play a role in how products are developed. That role is discovering the research and unlocking the insights allowing Gatorade to continue to make products that are based firmly in science. Essentially, GSSI is behind the science that finds its way into each product - in the athlete locker room, sideline and store shelf.

GSSI has always played an important role in this respect but as the brand evolves, going beyond hydration to address a broader base of sports nutrition needs for athletes globally, our role takes on even greater significance.

It is also possible that GSSI will conduct research to customize nutrition and hydration solutions for specific, individual athletes that may never appear on shelves. This is the type of evolution in GSSI's history I look forward to most.

As an athlete yourself, how do you bridge the line between science and practicality?

It has always been one of my missions to bridge the gap between some of the brilliant science done in controlled laboratories and the practicalities of everyday life for the athlete. How can we translate scientific knowledge into practical advice? If we can translate the science of sports nutrition in a way that is easy for athletes to understand and apply, we'll be doing a great service.

Where will you be based?

I will be based in the UK and also expect to spend a significant amount of time at GSSI's main lab which will remain in Barrington, Illinois. The global nature of my role will literally afford me the opportunity to engage with researchers and athletes all over the world as we expand GSSI's footprint internationally.

Revisiting the best of both worlds theme -- I will keep my position as an honorary chair at the University of Birmingham too. I will stay involved in the supervision of my team of doctoral students and spend some of my time in an office at the University.

What will be the role of third party researchers in GSSI work?

The role of third party researchers is a critical one. GSSI has always partnered with some of the world's most distinguished scientific minds and that tradition will continue. Making sure that GSSI assembles the top minds to collaborate as well as debate will guarantee that GSSI stays on the forefront as the leader in sports nutrition science.

Engaging members of the scientific community will always be a priority for me and those collaborative efforts to continue to elevate sports science will be vital to the success of GSSI. An exciting future lies ahead, not just for me, but for the entire field of sports nutrition.

Asker Jeukendrup announcement press release