UK – Loughborough University PhD Research Studentships in Sports Technology
PhD Research Studentships in Sports Technology
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University
Comfort Evaluation of Personal Protective Equipment
(REF: JRR011106)
The Sports Technology and Rapid Manufacturing Research Groups have secured a significant research grant concerned with personal protective sports equipment. The research will be concerned with customisation of products for soccer, martial arts, cricket, and other sports using cutting edge technologies. The research is supported by a consortium of collaborators which includes leading sports equipment brands, sports governing bodies and manufacturers. The total project will integrate several individual research projects in engineering, sports science and ergonomics.
A three year research studentship is now available, which will focus on the comfort of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The aims of the research will be to identify characteristics of PPE that are of importance to the athlete, to ascertain their requirements and to evaluate current and prototype designs. Suitable techniques will need to be developed to elicit athletes’ perceptions of the comfort and performance of PPE during play and to analyse and interpret their responses.
Applicants must possess a good upper second or first class degree in Ergonomics, Psychology, Sports Science or a related discipline. Skills related to the measurement of human performance and perception, the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and the use of statistics would be advantageous. Suitable candidates must be able to work as part of a large, multidisciplinary team, have highly effective verbal and written communication skills and if possible should be conversant with research methods.
The successful candidate will join a vibrant research team based within Loughborough University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, which is one of the leading centres for sports equipment research. The studentship will provide a stipend of £12,300/year and cover UK/EU fees, although exceptional international students may also be considered.
Please contact Ms J R Mason, Research Administrator, (j.r.mason@lboro.ac.uk) for an application form and further details. The closing date for receipt of applications will be 1st December 2006.
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