PhD Studentship: Understanding Movement Goal Priorities in Adaptive Gait: A Pathway to Integrated Falls Prevention Strategies

We are constantly balancing different movement goals as we walk through the world – maintaining stability, moving efficiently, and perhaps hurrying to catch a bus! Suboptimal control of gait can lead to a trip or fall - a major cause of injury, loss of independence and mortality, particularly in older adults. This PhD studentship offers an exciting opportunity to explore how people trade off different movement goals during locomotion in complex environments across the lifespan, and how these choices may influence falls risk in older adults.

The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience working with adult participants across a wide age range and develop expertise in advanced biomechanical data collection and analysis techniques (e.g. optical motion capture, inertial measurement, electromyography) in the state-of-the-art Institute of Sport laboratories at Manchester Metropolitan University. The project will also provide opportunities to design and deliver innovative movement-based interventions. 

Project aims and objectives

The aim of this PhD project is to understand how people balance different movement goals such as stability, energy economy and speed when walking in challenging situations - and to explore whether this balance differs in people with a history of falls. The objectives are to determine the biomechanical, psychological and environmental factors that influence movement goal priorities, identify which adaptive walking tasks best reveal them, and test whether training or other interventions can shift how people prioritise different movement goals. The findings will support new approaches to improving balance and preventing falls.

Funding

Both Home and International students can apply. Only home tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the 3.5-year award, which is £5,006 for the year 2026/27. Eligible international students will need to make up the difference in tuition fee funding (Band 3 for the year 2026/27).

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26. 

Specific requirements of the candidate

• Applicants will be expected to have a first or upper second class level degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (e.g. sports science, kinesiology, biomechanics, engineering, physiology, human biology, psychology, zoology) and a demonstrable interest in understanding human movement.
• Experience in human data collection would be desirable.
• Experience analysing movement using optical motion capture or inertial measurement systems would be desirable.
• Basic programming skills in Matlab or a similar language would be desirable; willingness to learn these skills is essential. 

How to apply

Interested applicants should contact Dr Kat Daniels (k.daniels@mmu.ac.uk) for an informal discussion. 

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time PhD in Sports & Exercise Science

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, and include your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest. 

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal.

Applications closing date: 4 March 2026

Expected start date: October 2026

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