Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern University, ranked 23rd in the UK for Research Power in the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). The Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation has a global reputation for academic excellence that is underpinned by a vibrant, high-quality research-rich environment. As such, Northumbria’s Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation is now ranked 5th in the UK for research power (REF2021), with 90% of our research publications rated as being world-leading or internationally excellent.

We are currently seeking enthusiastic and talented PhD candidates for the following project examining pacing and the development of pacing skills in athletes:

Pacing strategy is considered as a key element of endurance performance both in training and competition (Abbiss and Laursen 2008), with poor pacing acknowledged as being detrimental to performance in many sports (McGibbon et al., 2020). Whilst pacing in endurance sports is considered a skill that can be learnt, longitudinal studies (Menting et al ., 2020, 2024) have shown it to develop through adolescent into adulthood, however the specific physiological and psychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent research has centred around the role of executive control and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the self-regulation of effort (Hyland-Monks et al., 2018, 2022; Robertson & Marino, 2016). Prefrontal cortex activity reflects the anticipatory planning and decision-making processes driving exercise regulation (Radel et al., 2017) and the integration of performance feedback to monitor and self-regulate workload (Wingfield et al., 2018). The importance of these planning and monitoring processes for energy regulation and performance, and the underpinning cognitive and brain-related mechanisms, in young athletes has not been examined. Currently, there are no studies examining how athletes learn to pace or how it is taught by coaches. Furthermore, there are currently no intervention-based studies that have explored how improved performance can be attained in relation to pacing entrainment.

This project will begin by using a qualitative approach to understand both the athletes and coaches’ perceptions of what factors considered important in successful pace judgement. Based upon these findings, there will be an acute and a chronic intervention study to see if pacing performance can be enhanced. Through the combination of leading-edge qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, the project will yield valuable and impactful insights surrounding the physiological and psychological underpinnings of pacing within a sport and exercise context. Overall, the aim is to provide an evidence-based approach and practical recommendations that coaches and practitioners could adopt to enhance athletic performance.

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Dr Karen Johns. For informal academic queries, contact [email protected] . For enquiries relating to eligibility or application process, email [email protected]

Eligibility Requirements:

•       Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.

•       Appropriate IELTS score, if required.

•       Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

•       Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:

•       Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or

•       have settled status, or

•       have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or

•       have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.

Applicants will need to be fully enrolled in the UK before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship, such as the immigration health surcharge , visa costs and English Language requirements. More detail can be found under the Funding Notes about these costs on our RDF webpage.

International applicants (including EU) must have valid immigration permissions to live and study in UK if they wish to study on a part-time basis. Northumbria University does not sponsor part-time student visas.

Apply now at https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/ (Select Full-Time PhD or Part-Time PhD depending on your preference)

In your application, include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words and also the advert reference (e.g. RDF25/…).

Application Deadline: 24 January 2025

Start date of course: 1 October 2025

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.