PhD studentship: The impact of cryotherapy exposures applied across the training cycle of professional soccer players

Employer: Faculty of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary’s University and Southampton Football Club
Bursary: Full-time three-year PhD studentship at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London and Southampton Football Club (February 2019 registration)

Project Details:

The importance of recovery has been well established for athletes in elite level football in order to protect player readiness to perform. Additionally, the long-term use of recovery strategies has been shown to impact upon physiological adaptation during a training cycle. Although data so far in football are sparse, cryotherapy is a tool that may impact upon the recovery process either directly through a physiological action, e.g. an anti-inflammatory effect, or indirectly through its effects on other processes, for example sleep. This exciting PhD opportunity will explore the application of cryotherapy on aspects of recovery in the setting of a premiership football season.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr Charles Pedlar and Dr Jessica Hill (St Mary’s University) and Prof Stewart Bruce-Low (Southampton Football Club) and be based at the Club’s training complex, Staplewood Campus, Southampton. The successful candidate will have a postgraduate degree in sport science or a closely related field. A demonstrable background in applied practice or research in a related area would be favourable, particularly in a team sport environment.

The studentship will provide full-time PhD student fees of £4,900 p.a. and a bursary of £13,000 p.a. Please note that the initial stipend will be paid upon successful registration in February 2019. For International candidates, the difference between the international fees and UK fees must be paid by the candidate (equal to £8,360).

To apply, please download and complete a PhD studentship pre-registration application form - https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/research/degree-students/applying.aspx - and send it via email together with a current CV to: Johanna Neville johanna.neville@stmarys.ac.uk +44 (0)20 8240 4388 

Interviews will be held on October 15^th and 17^th.

Closing date 1st October

Please direct all enquiries to Dr Charles Pedlar (charles.pedlar@stmarys.ac.uk) or Prof Stewart Bruce-Low (sbruce-low@saintsfc.co.uk)

Southampton Football Club and St Mary’s University promote equal opportunities and we positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Southampton Football Club has the Disability Confident Award, which we pride ourselves on with regard to the commitment to employing disabled people and judging people on their abilities alone.

Southampton Football Club recognises that the safety and protection of those children and young people in day to day contact with the Club is paramount. We are committed to creating a safe culture for all. As such, you may be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service and prior to taking up any role.