Ira Jacobs

Dr. Ira Jacobs is a full professor and the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. He received his Doctorate from the Department of Clinical Physiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where he specialized in skeletal muscle metabolism and exercise physiology. For the next 25 years, he carried out extensive applied human physiology research and was appointed to roles with increasing leadership responsibilities at the Canadian federal government’s human sciences research centre operated by the Department of National Defence, where he attained the position of centre Chief Scientist. During that period, he received scientific research awards for his initiation and leadership of a unique international research group of physiologists and physicians who provided physiological support and advice about physiological, nutritional, and pharmacological strategies to sustain and enhance the performance of military personnel. He has published over 200 scientific articles, reports, and book chapters about his research interests which include: performance enhancement through pharmacological, physiological, and nutritional manipulation of metabolism, the physiological responses to physical exertion in environmental extremes, and energy metabolism. He is a past President of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and a recipient of its Honour Award for his research, and is an inducted Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the US National Academy of Kinesiology. He also has prior experience as Vice-President of R & D in the nutraceutical industry. His senior leadership roles have included managerial, administrative, and fiduciary responsibilities and accountabilities for large numbers of scientific, technical, administrative, and academic staff.

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