Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences: Research Studentships

October 2017 - September 2020

PhD Title: Physical activity participation in coronary artery disease rehabilitation patients 

This bursary offer students the opportunity to undertake a programme of doctoral research whilst also, potentially, developing their experience of learning and teaching in higher education in a supportive and supervised environment. 

The studentship carry a tax-free stipend of GBP 12,500 and a full-time home-fees waiver. Students accepting the bursary may also undertake teaching duties up to a maximum of 6 hours per week (120 hours per annum), subject to availability. Such duties will be remunerated (currently at GBP 25.83 per hour). The bursary is funded for 3 years, subject to satisfactory annual review.

The preference is for students to undertake full-time research starting on the 1st October 2017.  Part-time research is possible and will be considered on a case by case basis.

The Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences has a strong research environment and has achieved excellent results in the most recent Research Evaluation Framework (with 97% of our research deemed to be internationally recognised and over 50% deemed to be internationally excellent). We have 28 full-time members of staff researching various topics within sport and exercise sciences (with particular research strengths and interests in Occupational Performance, Developing Coaches and Athletes, Health and Well-Being and Nutritional Supplementation). We currently have a cohort of 22 MPhil/PhD students.

The Application Process 

Applicants should hold a minimum of good upper second class honours degree and a Masters degree in relevant subject areas.  We welcome applicants with relevant industry experience who do not possess a masters level qualification. 

Non UK/EU students are eligible to apply however the usual processes for applying to study in the UK will be required (please see International Student pages. Students will also be expected to pay the difference between UK/EU fees and Overseas Fees and appropriate visa, if required. 

Each applicant will apply through the normal HR recruitment process i.e. online application, or hard copy of the online form.  In addition to asking for personal details, education history, 'other information' and references, the application requests detailed information about the research proposal.  Applicants are encouraged to make contact with the relevant individual(s) in the subject area to discuss the research proposal. 

Application deadline: 20th August 2017 

Interview dates: w/c 4th September 2017

Physical activity participation in coronary artery disease rehabilitation patients

Considerable evidence exists to support the relationship between increased levels of physical activity and reduced coronary artery disease (CAD) morbidity, making physical activity an integral part of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) programmes. During the later phases of CR (phase III and IV), the levels and intensity of physical activity should increase to enhance aerobic fitness and reduce CAD progression. There is concern that this does not occur, in particular because of patients not carrying out a sufficient amount of physical activity and physical exertion outside of scheduled rehabilitation, in addition to high levels of sedentary time. This PhD programme will assess: 1) the progression of physical activity participation and objectively-measured sedentary time throughout the later phases of CR (phase III and IV); 2) the effects of physical activity on physiological and psychological outcomes; 3) as well as exploring the factors that inhibit or motivate individuals to participate in physical activity as part of their rehabilitation.

The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Dr Mandy Gault (Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and Dr Sarah Edmunds (Senior Lecturer in Exercise Psychology).