PhD Studentship – Investigating the link between cardiovascular health and peripheral and central hearing functions

Application details:
Reference number: SSEHS/CF
Start date of studentship: 1 January 2020
Closing date of advert: 12 November 2019
Interview date: 21 or 22 November 2019

Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Dr Christian Füllgrabe
Secondary supervisors: Dr Laura Barrett, Dr Emma O’Donnell

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship funded by Loughborough University. The studentship will be based within the School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, which has an excellent international reputation for teaching and research across a diverse range of disciplines. The successful applicant will work alongside Dr Füllgrabe (experimental audiology, hearing/speech sciences) and will be co-supervised by Drs Barrett and O’Donnell (cardiovascular health, exercise physiology) to conduct innovative research on the relationship between physical and hearing health. The project will be carried out in the state-of-the-art research facilities of the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, known internationally for translating research in sport, exercise and physical activity into improvements in health and wellbeing.

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014). In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career.

Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/

The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences has been ranked 1st in the world for Sport-related Subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, 2018 and 2019).

Full Project Detail
The studentship will examine the contribution of physical fitness to interindividual variability and age-related changes in hearing functions and will test whether exercise has a preventative and/or rehabilitative effect on hearing loss. The aims of the project are: (1) to characterize the link between cardiovascular health and low-level (e.g. tone detection) and high-level (e.g. speech intelligibility) auditory processing across the adult lifespan; (2) to measure the immediate and long-term impact of exercise on these auditory functions; and (3) to establish and validate guidelines for exercise participation in everyday-life settings.

Over the course of the studentship, the successful applicant will acquire or refine quantitative research skills for the behavioural and physiological assessment of peripheral and central hearing functions as well as cardiovascular health.

Find out more:
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/

Entry requirements
Applicants should have at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Healthcare Science (Audiology), Psychology, or Sports and Exercise Science (or related subjects). A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in testing larger cohorts will be an advantage. It is desirable that the applicant has knowledge of statistics and biology and has experience of behavioural or exercise/physiological testing.

Contact details
Name: Dr Christian Füllgrabe
Email address: [Email Address Removed]
Telephone number: +44 (0)1509 223009

How to apply
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select “School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences”.

Please quote reference number: SSEHS/CF