Find out more about our innovative, self-funded PhD projects in areas of sport and exercise science.
We already have supervisors active and engaged in the research topic in our School of Psychology, Sport and Sensory Science.
Research Group
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team
Theme
Endurance Physiology, Exercise
Summary of the research project
Marathon running is one of the biggest mass participation sports in the world, with the London marathon alone attracting around 38,000 runners each year. Within this population the largest grouping are the non-elite runners who are either running for personal goals or for charity.
When considering the physiology of the marathon runner, three components dominate, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), aerobic capacity as denoted by the lactate turn-point and the economy of the athlete. Yet when we consider the wealth of literature that has been published in this field the majority either uses small sample sizes or focuses on athletes who complete the distance in times of 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours.
Recent work from our group has focused on how runners pace the marathon, in respect of age, experience and sex across a sample of 1900 runners. Additionally we have amassed a data set from 97 non-elite runners relating to their training habits, underlying physiology and race performance. This project would aim to move from this laboratory data set and apply the findings to athletes wishing to increase their race speed (#30minutes_faster).
The study will follow a group of 300 runners as they prepare over a 9 month period for a spring to summer marathon. The runners will be required to follow prescribed programs based on bespoke training loads which have been derived from our previous works. The study will compare different modalities of training whilst ensuring that the load across groups remains the same. A sub-sample will be assessed on a regular basis for key physiological responses including cardiac function, haematology, respiratory responses, and metabolic responses and training characteristics. This project has an enormous real—world application as the outcomes will better inform the mass participation runner how to use their training time effectively whilst avoiding the negative consequences of training.
Where you'll study
Funding
This project is self-funded. Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Research Group:
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team:
Dr Jade Salim (external; St Mary’s University, Twickenham)
Theme:
Learning and Teaching Research in Sport & Exercise Sciences
Summary of the research project:
Background: The initial weeks of a student’s HE life is their most important (Gale and Parker, 2014). This view is used to support targeted sessions, (‘induction activities’), during the student’s first day/week. An alternative viewpoint (and that of the supervisory team) is that transition should be viewed as a more fluid and enduring component of the learning experience, a longer process developing throughout the student’s first year. Central to this understanding is the idea that when entering HE, ‘student’ is not something one is by default, but something one becomes through a complex learning process, requiring navigation of ongoing, context-specific, social situations (Gregersen et al., 2021). This project forms part of a wider body of research being undertaken at Anglia Ruskin University which is seeking to understand the transitional needs of students as they enter HE.
Project aim: Identify the transitional needs of underrepresented students within SES and develop sector-wide specific resources to facilitate transition and improved continuation.
Project outline & indicative research methodology: This project requires a student with a background in qualitative research methods. There are 3 distinct phases of the project.
Phase 1: With support from our PSRB (The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences - BASES), institutions teaching SES will be invited to participate. Responses from students' experiences of transitioning into HE, along with descriptive information (e.g., gender, ethnicity) will be collected to better understand the sample. Narrative Thematic Analysis (i.e., examining cultural themes portrayed in the text) will be used to analyse data from a sociocultural perspective, identifying narrative typologies representing the diverse experiences of students transitioning into HE.
Phase 2: Digital resources will be created, and participating institutions will implement the resources to support the key transitional moments; pre-transition, early transition (e.g., welcome week), and throughout first year of study (e.g., PDT sessions). Evaluation of the success with implementing the resources will take place.
Phase 3: Continuation and performance metrics obtained from participating institutions will be used to evaluate the success of this project (compared to sector average and own institution’s historic data). In addition, as students enter their second year, they will be asked to reflect upon the usefulness of the resources for facilitating transition; reflections occurring via focus groups, or one-to-one interviews.
Where you’ll study:
Next steps:
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled ’Outline research proposal’, please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Funding Notes:
This project is self-funded. Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Research Group
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team
Theme
Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Probiotics and Gut Health
Summary of the research project
It is known that the bacteria of the intestinal tract differs between obese and non-obese cohorts (Dibaise et al., 2008). It has been proposed that such differences may explain transient gut wall permeability leading to conditions associated with increased circulating toxins. Additionally, with increased visceral fat stores in obese conditions (Depres et al., 2008), there would appear to be a connection between gut health and hormonal ‘messaging’ from adipose tissue. Increased levels of inflammatory hormones (e.g., resistin) have been demonstrated to result in higher concentrations of circulating low density lipoprotein (Steppan et al., 2001; Steppan et al., 2002; Al-Daghri et al., 2005) cholesterol (LDL-c), so called ‘bad cholesterol’. Levels of ‘bad cholesterol’ have been implicated alongside increased cardio-metabolic health risks.
It is proposed that nutritional strategies to support the gastrointestinal bacteria and provide competitive exclusion of endotoxins may alter such ‘messaging’, leading to a reduction in cardio-metabolic risk either with or without exercise. The use of omega-3 fatty acids combined with probiotic strains may offer practical interventions to support gastrointestinal health (Das, 2002). Improvements in cardio-metabolic risk offer considerable economic and societal impact considering evident obesity trends in the United Kingdom.
Resources required: the programme would require access to exercise physiology laboratory space for standard exercise testing/training, as well as access to the saliva laboratory for storage of plasma samples. Additionally, access to the main analytical laboratories would be required for assessment of endotoxin assays, cholesterol assessment and resistin assessment using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA).
The project would require sponsorship of nutritional supplementation throughout the research programme (omega-3 fatty acid, probiotic formulas), and we have an excellent working collaboration with a leading clinical nutrition company. Purchase of, and training in, assay use would be required, if applicable.
Where you'll study
Funding
This project is self-funded. Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Research Group:
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team:
Dr Neil Maxwell (University of Brighton)
Theme:
Integrative Strategies for Functional Health & Performance
Summary of the research project:
Each year millions of people visit areas of altitude across the globe for tourism, sporting and/or occupational reasons. However, the UK and Ireland-based 'Altitude Traveller', defined as those planning on visiting altitude for tourism, challenges or athletic events but have no prior experience, require educational and evidence-based preparation strategies, in an attempt to estimate and lessen the risks associated with altitude-related illnesses.
This is important as recent evidence suggests large populations visiting altitude are potentially naïve to the dangers of hypoxia and may lack the awareness of the signs/symptoms of altitude illnesses. Of which, acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common, yet less severe form of altitude-related illnesses and occurs in areas of altitude around +2500m. However, if AMS is undetected or untreated, it can lead to more life-threatening illnesses, such as high-altitude pulmonary/cerebral edema. As such, Altitude Travellers should possess a minimum level of altitude knowledge prior to their departure and may benefit from the generation of new tools to estimate the risk of AMS and informed altitude awareness via educational strategies.
To date, it is extremely difficult to predict an individuals’ susceptibility to AMS prior to their departure to altitude. Whilst preparing for altitude exposure, many predictive tests / methods have been investigated and may offer some benefit, but it is essential these practices are combined with a range of tools to estimate and educate the Altitude Traveller on the risks of AMS. Furthermore, aside of preparation strategies, experimental research is required to investigate the use and efficacy of 'in field' technology to support Altitude Travellers during their activities and highlight potential risks or provide feedback/education in 'real time', such as using wearable devices and mobile phone applications.
Therefore, this PhD project will examine/evaluate current AMS prediction methods, develop an evidence-informed preparation strategy and generate a tool to effectively estimate the risk of AMS, and then investigate the use/efficacy of wearable technology and altitude-specific mobile phone applications in field conditions. This PhD project will therefore attempt to improve altitude awareness, estimate and lessen the risks associated with altitude-related illnesses and enhance Altitude Travellers pre-planned outcome measures (e.g. a safe, enjoyable challenge and summit success).
This project will closely align with the vision and mission of the UK Altitude Awareness Charity, Para-Monte. Of which, includes raising awareness about altitude illness, disseminating/translating knowledge to the public and undertaking scientific evidence-based research. As such, the PhD candidate will gain valuable experience and applied skills across academic, research and charitable/industry organisation. The project will also be in collaboration with the Environmental Extremes Laboratory (EEL) at the University of Brighton.
Where you’ll study:
Funding:
This project is self-funded. You may be eligible for doctoral funding through government funding scheme.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps:
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled ’Outline research proposal’, please quote the above title and include a research proposal. Please contact Dr Ash Willmott ([email protected]) for further enquiries and to discuss the PhD project in more detail.
Research Group
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team
Dr Marie Gernigon (External - University of Paris-Saclay)
Theme
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Exercise
Summary of the research project
Ischaemic pre-conditioning (IPC) is characterised by brief episodes of ischaemic followed by reperfusion and appears to offer both cardiac and vascular protection against prolonged ischaemia and ischaemia reperfusion injury (Murray et al 2015). Recent works have also offered some insight into potential ergogenic benefits within sport (Marcolo et al 2016, 2017). Such an approach has been cited as enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, capillary density and promoting enzymatic adaptations key to cardiovascular control and regulation. The study of oxygen kinetics during exercise offers insight into the mechanistic basis of muscle energetics by assessing the integration of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems at the onset of exercise (Gordon et al 2011). To date, little is known about how IPC effects both on and off-transit VO2-kinetics with the majority of work focusing on the impact of an IPC intervention pre-exercise. However, understanding from work on prior-priming exercise (Burnely et al. 2012) informs that the application of the IPC either during a preceding bout of exercise or in the recovery period could have profound effects on the subsequent VO2 kinetic response. The implications of these findings will be of significant interest to both clinicians and athletic populations as a speeding of the VO2-kinetics at the onset of exercise, contributes to a reduction on the local muscular strain and enhances O2 availability. This study will bring together world leading expertise from ARU and also the University of Paris-Saclay to investigate the impact of IPC during exercise on VO2-kinetics. The programme will focus on the following themes:
This project will make use of the extensive facilities within the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences and will focus on the assessment of the integrated responses of cardiovascular, respiratory and muscular systems during exercise. As such we will make use of such approaches as breath-by-breath analysis, thoracic impedance cardiography, near infrared spectroscopy and localised blood sampling.
Where you'll study
Funding
This project is self-funded. Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Research Group:
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team:
Dr Neil Maxwell (University of Brighton)
Theme:
Integrative Strategies for Functional Health & Performance
Summary of the research project:
Each year millions of people visit areas of altitude across the globe for tourism, sporting and/or occupational reasons. However, the UK and Ireland-based 'Altitude Traveller', defined as those planning on visiting altitude for tourism, challenges or athletic events but have no prior experience, require educational and evidence-based preparation strategies in an attempt to prevent or lessen the risks associated with altitude-related illnesses. Recent evidence suggests large populations visiting altitude are potentially naïve to the dangers of hypoxia and may lack the awareness of the signs/symptoms of altitude illnesses, therefore, Altitude Travellers should possess a minimum level of altitude knowledge prior to their departure.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common, yet less severe form of altitude-related illnesses, and occurs in areas of altitude around +2500m. However, if AMS is undetected or untreated, it can lead to more life-threatening illnesses, such as high-altitude pulmonary/cerebral edema. To date, there is a need for greater awareness and translation of evidence-based recommendations for UK and Ireland Altitude Travellers whilst preparing effectively for the extreme conditions they are likely to face at altitude.
Therefore, this PhD project will investigate how best to interact with UK and Ireland-based Altitude Travellers prior to their departure, understand their current altitude awareness knowledge, and implement effective preparation strategies to reduce the prevalence of altitude related illness and improve their pre-planned outcome measures.
This project will closely align with the vision and mission of the UK Altitude Awareness Charity, Para-Monte. Of which, includes raising awareness about altitude illness, disseminating/translating knowledge to the public and undertaking scientific evidence-based research. As such, the PhD candidate will gain valuable experience and applied skills across academic, research and charitable/industry organisation. The project will also be in collaboration with the Environmental Extremes Laboratory (EEL) at the University of Brighton.
Where you’ll study:
Funding:
This project is self-funded. You may be eligible for doctoral funding through government funding scheme.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps:
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled ’Outline research proposal’, please quote the above title and include a research proposal. Please contact Dr Ash Willmott ([email protected]) for further enquiries and to discuss the PhD project in more detail.
Research Group:
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team:
Theme:
Integrative Strategies for Functional Health & Performance
Summary of the research project:
The term, 'cardiometabolic disease' describes a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). These conditions share similar risk factors, such high blood pressure and, overweight and obesity. With CVD being the leading cause of non-communicable death globally and, an estimated ~30% of humans worldwide either overweight or obese, alternate interventions are desperately required aside of, or in combination with those which have been traditionally focussed upon (e.g. increasing physical activity, improving diet quality). Despite advocating and implementing exercise interventions to prevent and/or treat risk factors associated with cardiometabolic disease, there remains many challenges for the public, including low adherence, time constraint, accessibility, cost and confidence. As such, researchers are investigating alternative interventions that overcome these limitations in hope of providing more tools and strategies to reduce this serious health concern and economic burden worldwide.
Heat therapy strategies and nutritional supplementation of plant-based polyphenols demonstrate promising efficacy in improving markers of cardiometabolic health (e.g. reducing blood pressure and inflammation). However, current methods of heat therapy are restricted to specialist and expensive facilities/equipment that are difficult to access for the public and have only been studied in isolation. Portable sauna pods however offer a simple, accessible and inexpensive alternative for heat therapy (Willmott et al., 2023), but require further investigation into their efficacy following long-term use. Plant-based polyphenol supplementation (via olive-derived fruit water phytocomplex that is rich in hydroxytyrosol [Roberts et al., 2022-2023]) has shown promising effects on markers of health and exercise-induced oxidative stress. However, there is a lack of evidence supporting its combined efficacy alongside the use of heat therapy and thus warrants further investigation.
Therefore, this PhD project will aim to determine the long-term efficacy of both heat therapy and polyphenol-rich supplementation (such as olive-derived fruit water), through a series of independent and combined research designs, on markers of cardiometabolic health (including oxidative stress, inflammation, blood pressure and body composition).
Where you’ll study:
Funding:
This project is self-funded. You may be eligible for doctoral funding through government funding scheme.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps:
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled ’Outline research proposal’, please quote the above title and include a research proposal. Please contact Dr Ash Willmott ([email protected]) for further enquiries and to discuss the PhD project in more detail.
Research Group
Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Proposed supervisory team
Theme
Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Green Tea Extract, Fat Oxidation
Summary of the research project
There is current scientific and public interest in the health benefits of functional foods, particularly with reference to green tea and related extracts. A recent publication by Roberts et al (2015) demonstrated that the acute use (4 weeks) of a high strength, decaffeinated green tea extract promoted significant improvements in the ability to use fat as an energy source during exercise, as well as increasing short term aerobic performance. Additionally, this study demonstrated that in recreationally active individuals, bodyfat was significantly reduced following short term green tea extract supplementation. It is proposed that the potential health and ergogenic benefits of green tea use stems from the active catechins, of which (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may have profound bioactive properties.
Following this recent publication, there has been widespread media and public interest in the longer term use of green tea with particular reference to population level studies. The aim of this research project will therefore be to undertake collective studies leading to a larger population based study investigating the use of specific green tea formulas in conjunction with exercise training on body composition, fat oxidation and cardio-metabolic health.
Resources required: the programme would require access to exercise physiology laboratory space for standard exercise testing/training, as well as access to the psychology laboratory for storage of plasma samples (HTA authorised facility). Additionally, access to the main analytical laboratories would be required for assessment of pertinent blood assays.
The project would require sponsorship of nutritional supplementation throughout the research programme (green tea extract capsulation) – we currently have a good collaboration with a leading clinical nutrition company who will be supporting this research through product supply. Purchase of, and training in, assay use would be required.
Where you'll study
Funding
This project is self-funded. Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
Next steps
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.