PhD Studentship: Physiological and Nutritional Interventions for Effective Acclimation Strategies in a Climate-Changed World

The sports industry accounts for about 1% of global carbon emissions, mainly focused at the highly visible elite level of sport such as mega sporting events and major leagues, providing opportunities for sport to be an important driver and influencer of action on climate change. Sport is also vulnerable to climate change, with 120 out of 180 Olympic nations potentially unable to facilitate sport in the future due to projected changes in environmental conditions.

Sports for Climate Action and Nature (SCAN) is a vibrant new research cluster bringing together expertise in sport sociology, physiology, nutrition, management, ecology and engineering. Together with the United Nations Environment Programme and collaborators across the sport sector, Loughborough University is pioneering work that will ensure sport’s continued existence in a climate-changed world and position the sector to contribute meaningfully to environmental solutions. There has never been a more important time to shape a better environment for current and future generations through the medium of sport.

Project details

Climate change, particularly extremes of hot and cold conditions, has increased the thermoregulatory stress many athletes experience when training and competing. To protect athlete health whilst maximising performance, integrated acclimation protocols, body cooling manoeuvres and nutritional interventions are key effective strategies. As one of five collective studentships in the SCAN cluster, this PhD will focus on optimisation of these strategies to support athletes training and competing in a climate-changed world.

The successful candidate will utilise a variety of investigative techniques to increase understanding of the physiological responses and adaptations to exercise in challenging environmental conditions. Working in collaboration with the supervisory team, you will undertake a series of studies in the environmental laboratories in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) investigating physiological and behavioural responses, the impact of biological sex, risk of acute and chronic environment related illnesses (such as heat illness, renal injury and hypothermia etc.) and the effect of nutritional interventions on adaption and performance. This will include developing your analytical skills using a variety of biochemistry techniques and will include a combination of acute interventions and exploring longer-term effects. The findings from this studentship will contribute to and support the overarching climate action goals of SCAN.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Dr Stephen Mears

Secondary supervisors: Dr Lee Taylor, Dr Lewis James

Entry requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in sport and exercise science, human nutrition, human physiology, biochemistry, food science or a related subject. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the above subjects will be an advantage. For more information, visit the Loughborough University website.

How to apply

All applications should be made online and must include a personal statement. The personal statement should be no longer than two sides of A4 and should state clearly how you meet the essential and desirable criteria, your motivation to complete the project, future career aspirations and any other relevant skills or training that you feel will be beneficial.

Under the programme name, select ‘School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences'. Please quote the advertised reference number SSEHS/SM/SCAN in your application and ensure you submit the minimum supporting documents. For more guidance, see also the studentship assessment criteria.

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