Sport and Exercise PhD Positions at Heriot-Watt University

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME PROJECTS HAVE AN EARLIER CLOSING DATE OF 28 JUNE 2024

The Sport and Exercise Science department at Heriot-Watt University was launched in 2022, with an ambitious teaching and research strategy, to produce high quality, industry-ready sport and exercise science practitioners, as well as to undertake and produce basic, translational and strategic research which will beneficially impact people, society and inform policy.

At Heriot-Watt University, we have several PhD positions available within our Sport and Exercise Science department within the Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) school. The available research projects are listed below, with details of how to apply at the end. 

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The effects of supplementation and exercise on the synergistic interplay between vitamins D and K, Dr Hannah Lithgow

REF: EGIS2024-HL

CLOSING DATE - 12 JULY 2024

Vitamins D and K are both essential nutrients that play a crucial role in human health. Low levels of the fat-soluble vitamins have, independently, been associated with impaired physical health in numerous populations, i.e. older adults. Not only has older age been associated with deficiency in terms of the status, but also in the downstream metabolites such as the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The VDR plays a pivotal role in the up or downregulation of protein transcription. Vitamin K then has a role in post-translational transcription of these proteins. The literature suggests there is a synergistic interplay between vitamins D and K, therefore it could be hypothesised that a combination could provide additive health benefits specifically in older adults who are at risk of deficiency.

Possible interventions to increase VDR expression and activity are supplementation with vitamin D and K and a bout of exercise. Therefore, this PhD project will aim to establish the extent of the benefit of novel supplementation and exercise interventions on VDR expression

Contact: Dr Hannah Lithgow, H.Lithgow@hw.ac.uk

The human microbiome: Interactions with diet, health, and performance, Prof Chris Easton

REF: EGIS2024-LK

CLOSING DATE - 28 JUNE 2024

We have previously shown that ingestion of green leafy and root vegetables such as beetroot can improve markers of cardiovascular health and exercise performance. The vegetables absorb nitrate from the soil, which the body can convert to nitrite by the actions of bacteria that reside in the mouth. The nitrite can then be converted to nitric oxide, a potent signalling molecule that plays a key regulatory role in vascular function, muscle metabolism, and immune function. The composition of the oral microbiome can influence how an individual responds to dietary nitrate supplementation  and have further shown that regular ingestion of nitrate-rich vegetables alters the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria and improves markers of oral and cardiovascular health. Conversely, antibacterial mouthwash abolishes the oral bacteria and increases blood pressure.

This PhD project will further explore the interplay between the composition and actions of the human microbiome and markers of human health and performance. The research will encompass several studies which require the collection of biological samples and other experimental outcomes in human participants before and after nitrate and placebo supplementation. Biological samples will be analysed for markers of nitric oxide availability and the composition of the microbiome determined using next generating sequencing and bioinformatics.

The PhD student will receive full training in all techniques and will develop comprehensive and multidisciplinary knowledge and practical skills.

Contact: Dr Leena Kerr, Leena.Kerr@hw.ac.uk

Role of nonlinear movement analysis in the understanding of injury onset and rehabilitation in women's football, Dr Marcus Dunn

REF: EGIS2024-MD

CLOSING DATE - 28 JUNE 2024

In women’s football, concern is mounting around ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury and rehabilitation. Women footballers are 4–6 times more likely to suffer ACL injury than men. During the 2019 Women's World Cup, 15% of players had previously sustained ACL rupture and 20% of players were playing in the tournament with ACL-deficient knees.

An objective biomarker, to help support RTS (return to sport) decision making is important, to help to improve the consistency of rehabilitation practice, treatment outcomes, and minimise players returning with ACL-deficient knees. In women’s football training, the accumulation of training bouts above a habitual level can yield functional performance benefits (e.g., functional overreaching). However, prolonged exposure can lead to a long-term reduction to performance capacity (e.g., nonfunctional overreaching and overtraining).

Monitoring training periods, to identify when a footballer has become functionally overreached, is important to be able to adjust training load, to facilitate positive adaptation and avoid overtraining. Both are key injury challenges that affect performance, health, and well-being in women’s football. Both challenges might benefit from an improved understanding of sensitive, nonlinear movement analyses, to aid decision making in rehabilitation and training. There is a growing body of evidence on the role of nonlinear movement analyses – to understand complexity of movement – in rehabilitation and early identification of pathological movement patterns. To address these challenges, prospective and routine movement assessments in applied settings are needed. The aim of this PhD scholarship is to develop prospective understanding around nonlinear biomarkers in the identification of safe RTS and the identification of training status in women’s football.

Contact: Dr Marcus Dunn, Marcus.Dunn@hw.ac.uk

Promoting workplace physical activity: Exercise snacking for cardiometabolic health, Dr David King

REF: EGIS2024-DK

CLOSING DATE - 12 JULY 2024

The mental and physical health benefits of a more physically active lifestyle are well documented, yet the behaviour of populations in the United Kingdom is becoming more sedentary. Not enough time is often the most commonly cited barrier to becoming more physically active, due in part to many hours spent sedentary in the workforce. Indeed, the UK worker spends longer at work and accrues fewer days of annual leave per annum. Workplace settings therefore represent great potential for the implementation of “exercise snacks”, an isolated short-duration bout of vigorous exercise and performed periodically throughout the day. Such short bursts of activity have shown promise in improving measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and indices of cardiometabolic health. Furthermore, adoption of intermittent exercise behaviours may improve workers’ health and wellbeing and productivity, with reductions in sickness leave.

Incorporating systematic reviews and patient/public involvement, this project aims to develop feasible and ecologically valid protocols for future interventions. By utilizing digital technologies, such as wearable devices and mobile applications, the studies of this PhD studentship may refine how populations engage with home and workplace exercise therapies. In addition to parallel group research designs, longitudinal data will be captured to measure the effect of biometric screening on physical activity and related health outcomes. This comprehensive approach seeks to establish scalable and personalized exercise interventions that can significantly improve public health in sedentary settings, potentially leading to widespread changes in health policy and corporate wellness programs.

Contact: Dr David King, D.King@hw.ac.uk

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Eligibility

These scholarships are open to all students, whether home, EU or overseas.

Applicants should be educated to BSc or MSc level (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) in Sport and Exercise Science or a relevant subject. Candidates should demonstrate good English language skills, attention to detail, a disciplined and methodical approach to completing their workload, computer literacy, excellent communication skills and the ability to write reports and present information in a clear and engaging manner to academic and industry audiences.

Funding

This is a full scholarship which will cover tuition fees (Home and Oversees) and provide an annual stipend (currently £18,622, increasing to £19,237 in 2024-25) for 42 months. Thereafter, candidates will be expected to pay a continuing affiliation fee (currently £130) whilst they complete writing up their thesis.

How to Apply:

To apply you must complete our online application form.

Please select Life Science as the programme and include your full project title and reference number on your application form. Ensure that all fields marked as ‘required’ are complete.

Once have entered your personal details, click submit. You will be asked to upload your supporting documents. You must complete the section marked project proposal; please provide a written proposal (3-5 A4 pages), including a supporting statement outlining your suitability and how you would approach the project.

You must also upload your CV, a copy of your degree certificate and relevant transcripts and an academic reference in the relevant section of the application form.

You must also provide proof of your ability in the English language (if English is not your mother tongue). We require an IELTS certificate showing an overall score of at least 6.5 with no component scoring less than 6.0, or a TOEFL certificate with an overall score of at least 85, including reading 20, listening 19, speaking 20 and writing 21. Alternatively, if you have received an English-taught Bachelors or Masters degree from one of the countries listed on the UK Government Guidance under ‘Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English’, and it was obtained less than two years from your intended start date, you should provide evidence of your award that clearly states it was delivered and assessed in English language.

Please contact egis-pgr-apps@hw.ac.uk for technical support with your application.

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The successful candidates will be expected to start by October 2024. We expect interviews to take place in July/August 2024.