PhD Studentship - Nutrition and Health for Optimal Performance in E-sports

E-Sports are competitive sports in virtual environments, where participants compete at amateur and professional tournaments, as well as socially, with top competitions attracting large audiences and significant prize money. In many ways, e-sports resemble traditional sports, requiring high levels of cognitive capabilities and mental resilience, but typically involve prolonged sedentary time during training and competition.

Due to the paucity of data on nutrition and health needs of e-sports athletes, this project aims to understand the demands of e-sports, lifestyle practices of e-athletes, and potential ergogenic (particularly nutrition) strategies for performance. To achieve this, various methodologies will be used, including cross-sectional and intervention studies, and the collection of biological samples (e.g. blood, urine, saliva etc.), alongside measurement of cognitive and e-sports performance.

This studentship is funded by an industry partner (Mars, Incorporated) in collaboration with Loughborough University and based full-time at the university. Alongside formal research training/activities, the doctoral researcher will have the opportunity to spend time at Mars’ facilities, develop a strong understanding of the nutrition industry, and present findings to a wide array of industry professionals.

Entry requirements:

Essential criteria:

• Have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in human nutrition, sport and exercise sciences, psychology, human physiology, or another health-related subject.
• Experience of human nutrition or cognitive research.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong communication/inter-personal skills.
• Enthusiasm, passion and interest in human health and performance.
• A CV and covering letter submitted with your application.

Desirable criteria:

• An MSc in a relevant subject (e.g. nutrition, exercise, or psychology-related degrees).
• A strong interest in e-sports.
• Experience of nutrition, cognitive or exercise assessments.

English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website

Funding information:
The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

How to apply:

All applications should be made online. Under Campus, please select Loughborough and select Programme Ph.D. Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Please quote the advertised reference number SSEHS/LJ26 in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents. The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.

Advert information