About Joseph
PhD, Applied Exercise Science, Queens University, 2003
Dr. Joe Baker is the Tanenbaum Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sport Analytics at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on optimal human development, examining how individuals achieve, maintain, and extend high levels of performance across the lifespan. His work spans talent development, skill acquisition, expertise, athlete learning, and performance pathways in sport and other performance domains. Beyond high-performance sport, Dr. Baker applies developmental and learning models to understand healthy aging and maximize function, participation, and performance among older adults, including Masters athletes. Detailed bio at DiscoverResearch.
Human skill acquisition
Sport performance
Visual perception
Talent identification and development
Expertise and expert performance
Aging
Masters athletes
Baker, J., Cattle, A., McAuley, A., Kelly, A., & Johnston, K. (2026). Will artificial intelligence solve the riddle of athlete development? A critical review of how AI is being used for athlete identification, selection, and development. Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Johnston, K., Robertson, S., Gollish, S., & Baker, J. (2026). The data dilemma: determining ownership of professional athlete data. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy.
Kelly, A. L., Johnston, K., Till, K., McAuley, A. B. T., Reeves, M. J., Dugdale, J. H., … Baker, J. (2026). Principles of talent identification in sport: The Talent Identification and Development Environments in Sport (TIDES) Society position statement. Journal of Sports Sciences.
Baker, J., & Johnston, K. (2025). Pushing your luck: on chance, serendipity, and athlete development. Sports Medicine-Open.
Baker, J., Cattle, A., McAuley, A., Kelly, A., & Johnston, K. (2025). Will artificial intelligence solve the riddle of athlete development? A critical review of how AI is being used for athlete identification, selection, and development. Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Korf, J., Johnston, K., Wang, Y., & Baker, J. (2025). Best of the best: A cohort study of race performance characteristics of eminent endurance cyclists. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching.
Baker, J. & Johnston, K. (2025). An evolutionary psychology perspective on athletic development and performance: Differences between proximate and ultimate explanations. Sports Medicine.
Johnston, K. & Baker, J. (2025). Take Your Pick! Examining decision-making behaviour in athlete selection: A methodological description and pilot study. Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology.
McAuley, A., Doncaster, G., Johnston, K., Baker, J., & Kelly, A. (2024). Selection and re-selection throughout a national talent pathway: Exploring longitudinal relative age effects in Northern Ireland male soccer. High Ability Studies.
Grainger, A., Kelly, A., Garland, S.W., Baker, J., Johnston, K., & McAuley, A. (2024). Athletes’, ‘Talents’, and ‘Players’: Conceptual distinctions and considerations for researchers and practitioners. Sports Medicine.
Mazhar, A., Patelia, S., & Baker, J. (2024). Perceived benefits of curling in older Canadian women. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Baker, J., Johnston, K., & Till, K. (2024). Is it time to retire ‘talent’ from discussions of athlete development? High Ability Studies.