Vacancy Details

Description

Masters by Research Studentship in Sport & Exercise Science (Physical and psychological qualities of fast bowling performance in T20 cricket: Precursors to injury risk and athletic development) at the University of Gloucestershire, starting in October 2021

The University of Gloucestershire is offering a Masters by Research studentship in Sport & Exercise Science, to cover the full payment of tuition fees for home students for two years and a stipend of £15,285 for one year. This is a unique opportunity to conduct an exciting novel Masters by Research with a vibrant productive research team.

Fast bowlers in Cricket have high physical and biomechanical demands due to the complexity of the bowling action and high ground contact velocity forces during the landing action. Excessively high bowling workloads and large changes to bowling workloads influence injury risk, but there is no evidence in fast bowlers to indicate if physical characteristics influence changes to workload variables linked to injury. Further, stress is the biopsychosocial (BPS) construct that has a strong relationship with injury risk. Stress causes attentional changes (e.g., narrowing of attention, increased self-consciousness, mental fatigue) that undermine performance. The BPS model of challenge and threat states could highlight how fast bowlers evaluate physical and biomechanical demands (e.g., perceived exertion) and its contribution towards injury.

Our project is seeking to determine the influence of bowling workload on injury risk and if this can be tracked effectively with objective physical characteristics and subjective psychological well-being measures.  The successful candidate would be expected to learn how to assess key markers of bowling performance, via analysis of GPS metrics during both training and competitive match-play. There will be further skill development in evaluating the psychological constructs of challenge and threat states in bowlers.

Successful applicants will form part of a well-established research team led by Dr Jonathan Hughes and may have an opportunity to upgrade the research to a PhD.

Applicants must have a BSc (Hons) of at least 2.1 standard or equivalent in a Sport & Exercise Science related degree. A specific interest in strength and conditioning and GPS analysis is essential.  

How to apply: 

Please send a brief CV and covering letter outlining your suitability to:

Dr Jonathan Hughes

School of Sport & Exercise

jhughes1@glos.ac.uk

Selection process: 

Short-listed candidates will be invited for interview to the University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus (GL2 9HW) or by video conference, in the week commencing 6^th September 2021.

Academic Contact: 

For informal enquiries and further information, please contact Dr Jonathan Hughes (jhughes1@glos.ac.uk)