PhD Studentship: Smart Wearables and Textiles for Sensing and Communication in Sports

Join an exciting research journey at the intersection of advanced materials, electronics, and textile engineering. This PhD project will explore smart structural design, manufacturing and integration technologies to create the next generation of smart textile and wearable systems for high performance sports (e.g., running) and rehabilitation applications (e.g., recovery monitoring). The successful candidate will design and prototype intelligent textile/wearable systems capable of sensing, communication, and stimulation. The project will integrate wearable electronics, advanced manufacturing, and sports biomechanics to create soft, conformable, and high-performance e-textiles and wearable devices. Environmental considerations, ergonomic design, and practical testing with athletes or patients will form this multidisciplinary research. You will join an internationally collaborative research environment, working with global partners from universities, research institutes, and leading sports technology companies.

About Us

Our Sports Technology Institute is a multi-disciplinary team and internationally renowned for its work with global brands and sports federations, including Adidas, PING, Head, FIFA, England & Wales Cricket Board, New Balance, Nike, UK Sport, Reebok, Speedo, and others, in the design, simulation, testing, and manufacturing of sporting goods. Our vision is to provide world leading engineering solutions to today’s global challenges. We are ranked 1st in the world for sports-related subjects, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2017-2024). We provide £500 for PhD students each year for attending conferences and buying consumables. 

Who is eligible to apply?:
International students (Chinese national)

Name of primary supervisor
Lulu Xu

Secondary supervisors
Prof. Simon Hodder
Prof. Steph Forrester

Entry requirements:
Applicants should hold a very good undergraduate degree, equivalent to a UK 2:1 honors degree or its international equivalent. Applicants are expected to meet the minimum English language requirements.

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse engineering backgrounds, including wearable electronics, smart textiles, textile engineering, polymer, or related fields. Student with knowledge and experience in wearable electronics, advanced manufacturing, knitting technologies, or functional fibres would be beneficial.

For any inquiries or further information, please direct all queries to Dr. Lulu Xu at l.xu@lboro.ac.uk

Funding information:
As this is a China Scholarship Council (CSC) based scholarship this is only open to Chinese nationals. Full tuition fee scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to students who secure a nomination from Loughborough University and are successfully awarded funding through the CSC-Loughborough scheme. Please check eligibility requirements as follows: China Scholarship Council | Postgraduate study | Loughborough University.

How to Apply:
All applications should be made online. Under Campus, please select ‘Loughborough’ and select Programme ‘Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering’. Please quote the advertised reference number * CSC-26-WS * in your application under the ‘Finance’ section.

Applications must include a personal statement, research proposal, up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), details of two referees (one from your highest degree qualification), certified certificates and transcripts for all completed degree programmes, and a reference to the project ‘CSC-26-WS’. Please find further information on the overall CSC scholarship application process as follows: China Scholarship Council | Postgraduate study | Loughborough University.

Incomplete applications received after the closing date may not be considered for interview.

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