Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences: Research Studentships

October 2017 - September 2020 

PhD Title: Optimising polyphenol supplementation for exercise responses and performance

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.

This studentship carries 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.

Details of the available projects and who to contact for informal enquiries are provided below.

 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 

Optimising polyphenol supplementation for exercise responses and performance 

Intake of non-traditional nutritional ergogenic aids (e.g. berries, beetroot, and cherries) received interest due to the potential of combined health and exercise benefits. Observational studies on the intake of New Zealand blackcurrant revealed beneficial effects on whole-body fat oxidation, cardiovascular function, insulin sensitivity and exercise performance. This applied research programme will elaborate on our observational work. The study will examine the effects of dose and duration of polyphenol intake on exercise responses and performance. Focus of the project will be on the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant intake on blood parameters, cardiovascular functioning, substrate oxidation and exercise performance. Electromyography, ultrasound, hemodynamic monitoring, indirect calorimetry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and performance testing techniques will be used.

The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Prof. Mark Willems (Professor of Exercise Physiology, Dr Sam Blacker (Reader in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition), and Dr Ben Lee (Research Fellow).