Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Performance Psychology

  • Bangor University
  • 8th July 2019
Employer: Bangor University
Contract Type: Full Time, 4 years
Start date: 30 September 2019

YSGOL GWYDDORAU CHWARAEON, IECHYD AC YMARFER
SCHOOL OF SPORT, HEALTH AND EXERCISE SCIENCES

Applications are invited for a four year, full time PhD studentship funded by the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Stuart Beattie and Dr Andrew Cooke from the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance (http://ipep.bangor.ac.uk/).

The successful candidate will examine current themes in Performance Psychology that could include (but not limited to) individual differences in mental toughness and mentally tough behaviour, resilience, psychophysiological indices of stress (e.g., ECG, EMG, EEG), personality, cognitions, emotional and behavioural regulation and preparation strategies for performance.

The studentship will cover UK/EU registration fees plus maintenance stipend of £12,000 per annum paid quarterly and £2,000 per annum paid monthly in return for a contribution to School activities of 100 hours per annum. The successful candidate will also contribute to School activities of 100 hours per annum.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a determined, motivated individual with a strong interest in individual differences in performance psychology. The majority of research will be completed in a lab setting with the possibility of extending research to field settings. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work as part of a team but equally be comfortable working independently. The successful candidate will be expected to work professionally with good inter-personal skills as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Successful applicants will normally have a strong Master’s degree or a good (First-class (1st) or Second-class Upper division (2i) honours) degree in sport science or a psychology related subject. Applicants must also show an ability to work independently with support from their supervisors, and demonstrate enthusiasm to contribute to a stimulating research, applied practice and teaching environment.

Why study at Bangor?

Part of the College of Health and Behavioural Sciences, the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (SHES), has been providing high-calibre undergraduate and postgraduate degrees since 1978. Our research was ranked 7th in UK according to a national assessment of research quality (REF) published in 2014 (Times Higher Education, 18 December 2014).
The department has well-equipped psychology laboratories. The School is ideally situated to local amenities, Snowdonia National Park, and overlooks the beautiful Menai Straits.

Structure of the Programme


The period of registration for this PhD will be four years full-time. During the first year of study, students will normally take our MSc Advanced Research Skills module and take courses from Bangor University’s Graduate Programme.

The first year of registration will be provisional. Under guidance by the supervisory committee, the student will be required to develop knowledge and understanding of performance psychology literature. The student will also receive relevant laboratory training, such as how to measure psychophysiological variables (e.g., ECG, EMG, EEG) during performance psychology experiments. Progression to full registration in Year Two is subject to satisfactory progress, completion of the Graduate Programme and the approval of a research proposal by their Thesis Committee and the School's Board of Studies. For the remaining two years of the studentship, the student will be required to develop the initial proposal into a completed PhD project.

Eligibility


Eligibility depends on your ability to register as a home/EU student (students from other countries may apply but must be prepared to pay Bangor University international student fees).

Application

Applicants should provide a personal statement (max 1000 words) outlining; (i) your experience in respect to this area of research; (ii) reasons for applying. Please do not submit a formal research proposal. Please send your personal statement and full CV to: Stuart Beattie (s.j.beattie@bangor.ac.uk)

Enquiries

Please contact Dr Stuart Beattie if you have any queries:

School of Sport Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University,
E-mail: s.j.beattie@bangor.ac.uk
Tel: (+44) 01248 383963

For further details on PhD programs and research training in the School, look at our Guidelines and Code of Conduct for Research Training.

How to apply

If you meet the criteria outlined above, and you wish to apply for the studentship, you should send a cover letter, CV and include two completed references to Dr Stuart Beattie. The cover letter should include a clear statement detailing how your qualifications, experience and research interests make you a suitable candidate for this scholarship.

The closing date for formal applications will be Monday 8th July. Interview dates will be Monday 22nd July. The PhD will commence on Monday 30th September.

Interview Process

Short-listed applicants will be required to complete the University’s online application form:

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/postgrad/research/...

Short-listed applicants will then be required to attend interview on Monday 22nd July. At interview you will be asked to complete a 15 min presentation on the PhD topic and answer further questions.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications/Training
Essential
• Masters degree or a good (First-class (1st) or Second-class Upper division (2i) honours) degree in sport science or a psychology related subject
Desirable
• Good knowledge of psychological constructs relating to resilient performance under pressure
• Good understanding of psychophysiological research techniques (e.g., ECG, EMG, EEG, eye-tracking).
• Previous experience of eye tracker and/or 3D motion analysis

Experience/Knowledge
Essential
• Experience of conducting relevant research projects;
Desirable
• Experience of measuring and analysing psychophysiological and/or motion capture data.
• Proven track record of disseminating findings to both scientific and lay audiences;
• Research background in relevant area;
• Experience of developing research protocols and completing ethics proposals

Skills/Abilities
Essential
• Able to work flexibly;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to prioritise work load and work to deadlines;
• Good verbal and written skills;
• Proficient computer skills, including MS Office, PowerPoint, and statistical analysis packages;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desirable
• Proven project management skills;
• Good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately;
• Any other skills/abilities relevant to the duties and responsibilities.

Other

Desirable
• Awareness of confidentiality and data protection issues;

Package description

Vacancy website address https://www.bangor.ac.uk/sport-health-and-exercise-sciences/performance-psychology.php.en

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About BASES

BASES stands for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. BASES is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

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