PhD Studentship: Evaluating Pressure Inurement Training: An Examination of the Relationship Between Challenge and Threat States, Athlete Performance and Well-being (SSEHS/JB/18)

Application details:
Reference number: SSEHS/JB/18
Start date of studentship: October 2018
Closing date for applications: Monday 6th August 2018
Interview date: Wednesday 29th August 2018

Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Dr Jamie Barker
Secondary supervisor: Dr Karl Steptoe
Additional supervisors: Dr Robin Jackson and Dr David Fletcher

Applications are invited for an exciting PhD studentship to start in October 2018. The studentship will be based in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University and will be conducted in partnership with the Sport Development Centre (SDC) also at Loughborough University. This PhD is a chance to be a part of the vibrant and world leading sport and exercise psychology group and an opportunity to engage in a novel and impactful programme of research in elite sport.

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 Graduate School, 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 and 2018).

Full Project Detail:
In performance sport, developing athlete resilience, enhances performance under pressure, and improves well-being over-time (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2016). One approach to better understanding resilience in sport is the Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes (TCTSA; Jones et al., 2009). To date, TCTSA researchers have focussed primarily on what leads to challenge and threat states and less on the specific processes through which these states affect performance. Accordingly, the aims of the studentship are (1) to examine the attentional and cognitive mediators between challenge/threat state responses and performance under pressure, and psychological well-being; (2) to examine potential dispositional moderators of TCTSA responses and performance and well-being outcomes.

Find out more:
General information about the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/

Entry requirements:
Students will normally need to hold, or expect to gain, at least a 2:1 degree and Master’s degree (or equivalent) in sports science, and or (sport) psychology. A relevant postgraduate degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: psychophysiological assessment, psychometrics, research methods motion analysis, and or eye tracking.

Contact details:
For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Jamie Barker ([Email Address Removed]) and or Dr Karl Steptoe ([Email Address Removed])

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/JB/18