Studentships

1 PhD studentship in the Longitudinal, physiological tracking of the elite youth footballer

1 PhD studentship in the Evaluation of the movement patterns of the elite youth footballer during training and match-play

3 year, full-time Ph.D. studentship / Bursary £14,000 / Interviews March 2012 dates to be confirmed

The two, 3 year Ph.D. studentships will be based at Stoke City Football Club’s Academy. The studentships are being offered as a unique opportunity to evaluate the development of the young footballer from both a physiological? and match-play perspective.

The Ph.D. studentship in Physiological tracking will involve the evaluation of growth and development parameters and how these changes impinge upon the changing physiologic characteristics of the elite youth footballer.  A combination of field and laboratory testing will be utilised as part of this studentship. 

The match-play and training analyses studentship will involve the analyses of training and matches using techniques such as GPS, with a view to identifying patterns and trends in the movement characteristics that could inform training and rehabilitation practices at the Academy.

Each student will also be involved in the day-to-day support of the Head of Sports Medicine at the Academy. 

General Information: The student will register initially for the award of MPhil and will be expected to transfer to PhD registration within 12-15 months (subject to satisfactory progress and approval of the transfer report).

A tax-free PhD stipend is available for three years at £14,000 each year. Tuition fees will be paid for EU students (non EU students will have to fund the difference between home fees and international fees). The anticipated start date is April 2012.

Applicants are expected to have:

1.         At least an upper second Honours degree in a suitable sports science discipline or related field or a relevant Masters degree. 

2.         An in-depth knowledge of paediatric exercise science

3.         Previous experience of working in an elite sport environment is desirable, but not essential.

4.         Previous match analyses experience would also be desirable, but not essential.

Applications should be in the form of:

1.         A covering letter outlining your interest in the position (maximum one page). For non-EU candidates there must be a clear statement explaining how you would expect to pay the difference in EU and overseas fees.

2.         A C.V. (maximum two pages) including the names of two referees.

Informal enquiries and applications should be submitted to Professor Vish Unnithan by 25th February 2012. Applications should be sent, preferably electronically, to Vish Unnithan   (v.unnithan@staffs.ac.uk) or by post to Professor Vish Unnithan, Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research, Faculty of Health, Staffordshire University, Brindley Building, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DF, UK

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/faculties/health/research/csher/index.jsp