Professor Rob Duffield is part of the Sport and Exercise Discipline Group in the Faculty of Health at UTS and undertakes extensive research within two broad themes, including; i) fatigue, recovery and performance in sport and ii) exercise for improved fitness and health. .

His research focuses on performance and recovery aspects of sports science; in particular, fatigue and recovery in sport, exercise in the heat, pre- and post-cooling, the effects of travel and sleep on recovery, injury factors in sport and the efficacy of various recovery and training techniques. These research foci are often undertaken conducted in collaboration with industry partners in high-performance sport, including several football codes, tennis and cricket.

He also investigates the role of exercise and sport in the reduction of risk factors related to chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease amongst sedentary populations, including Indigenous Australians and smokers. Particular areas of foci are the effects of different exercise modes and intensities on chronic systemic inflammation, glucose regulation, body composition and fitness in sedentary populations.