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Closing Date 02/05/2025

The Department of Sport Science within the School of Psychology and Sport Science at ����ɫ�� are delighted to offer a fully funded Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) (ESRC DTP) studentship in the Sport and Exercise Science Pathway starting in October 2025.������

A major factor that impacts the health of women, girls and people who menstruate and their ability to exercise are menstrual cycle related symptoms, e.g., abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, heavy menstrual bleeding, sleep disturbance, stress, and anxiety. Despite ~80% of active females reporting menstrual cycle symptoms and highlighting the negative impact of these on their health and ability to exercise, there is a lack of literature examining menstrual cycle impacts. The available literature has identified that the most reported symptoms are both physical and psychological, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary research focus by including a psychosocial focus to enhance support for active females.

Despite the high prevalence of menstrual cycle related symptoms reported in active females, there is a dearth of literature examining the effectiveness of easily accessible interventions to reduce these symptoms. As such, sports science and sports medicine practitioners are not equipped to support active females when they present with menstrual cycle symptoms.

Therefore, the aim of the PhD is to develop and evaluate interventions to manage menstrual cycle symptoms that impact the health and performance of active females.

As a PGR you will join the Institute for Applied Human Physiology (/iahp) and will have the opportunity to join the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance (), and receive research and laboratory skills training in human and exercise physiology, biochemical, and questionnaire and interviewing techniques to monitor physiological and psychological responses.

This studentship is also being supported by Sport Wales and the Welsh Institute of Performance Science () and therefore you may have the opportunity to collaborate with these Institutions.

Supervision:

Dr Sophie E Harrison, Dr Eleri Jones and Dr Natalie Brown (Swansea University). Please email informal enquiries to s.harrison@bangor.ac.uk

Research Environment:

The School of Psychology and Sport Science combines two of ����ɫ��’s highly performing departments: Psychology, and Sport and Exercise Sciences. Our world-leading research spans cognitive neuroscience, clinical interventions, psychological wellbeing, elite performance, physical activity, health and applied human physiology, and has significant real-world impact.�� We are also proud of our excellence in teaching and learning which is similarly acknowledged nationally and globally. The School offers postgraduate researchers an excellent research environment, with a large community of PGR researchers and research-active faculty, regular lab meetings, seminars, visiting speakers, and events targeted at broader professional development. There are extensive facilities for physiological studies including research-dedicated lab spaces physiological research and biochemistry.

Our research is defined by four research institutes, which the PGR student will be welcome to join: Institute for Applied Human Physiology (IAHP; link), Institute for Psychology of Elite Performance (IPEP; ), Cognitive Neuroscience Institute (CNI; link), Institute for Wellbeing Research (IWR; link). Most recently, 100% of our research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent by the REF-2021 committee, placing us in the UK top-5 research institutions in sport and exercise science.

����ɫ�� is situated among the breath-taking landscape of North Wales. ����ɫ�� is a friendly and affordable university city, perched on the Irish Sea and with its back against Snowdonia National Park. There is easy access to beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, and beaches while maintaining good transport links to some of the UK’s larger cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and London. ����ɫ�� is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from populations who are underrepresented.

Entry Criteria:  �į��

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equivalent to an UK honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

Essential requirements:

• First or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Sport & Exercise Sciences or a related discipline.
• Experience of conducting research projects.
• Excellent personal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with support from a supervisor.

Desirable qualities:

• An M-level qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of working with female athletes.
• An understanding of female physiology and the menstrual cycle and related symptoms.
• Experience in conducting research in a relevant area.

Duration of study: �į��

The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent). �į �į��

The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study. �į��

Research in practice placement: �į��
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations. �į ��

International Eligibility: �į��

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the eligibility requirements. �į �į��

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:  

WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. �į ��

Assessment: �į��

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions.

How to apply: �į��

Applications should be received no later than 2^nd May 2025 including all required documents. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered. �į ��

All applications should be submitted via – [link here to school application page]

Please include the following documents with your application: �į��

• Academic CV (two pages maximum)��

• 2 academic or professional references (candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application. The reference must detail the applicant’s research strengths).��

• Degree certificates and Transcripts (including translations if applicable) �į��

• If relevant, proof of English Language Competency (see institutional requirements for entry) ��

Funding: �į��

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with (currently £20,780) and includes access to a Research Training Support Grant.��������

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a on top of your studentship. �į ��

Closing date: 14/6/2024

Applications are invited for a three-year fully funded PhD studentship within the School of Psychology and Sport Science, ����ɫ��. ��The studentship covers the full cost of tuition fees for PhD students, plus a maintenance stipend (approx. £19,237 per annum for 3 years) as well as a research allowance of up to £750. The studentship can commence any time between September 2024 and January 2025, but with a preference for an October 1^st��2024 start date.

Project

Women are underrepresented in sports science research; only 34% of participants are women and only 6% of scientific articles exclusively investigate women compared to 31% in men. Although there is limited research in women, emerging data indicates there may be many differences between men and women in physiological responses to sport and exercise. As such, the data we gleaned from research in men, may not apply to women. Additionally, menstrual cycle symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, heavy menstrual bleeding, sleep disturbance, and psychological stress, are major factors impacting the wellbeing, training and performance of female athletes. This PhD aims to examine how the menstrual cycle and related symptoms, and contraceptive use, impact health and performance.

As a PGR you will join the��Institute for Applied Human Physiology,��and receive research and laboratory skills training in human and exercise physiology, biochemical, questionnaire and interviewing techniques to monitor physiological, immunological, cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and psychological responses.

Supervision

Dr Sophie E Harrison and Prof Sam J Oliver. Please email informal enquiries to��s.harrison@bangor.ac.uk.

Requirements

Essential requirements:

• First or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Sport & Exercise Sciences, Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Experience of conducting research projects.
• Excellent personal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with support from a supervisor.

Desirable qualities:

• An M-level qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of working with female athletes.
• An understanding of female physiology and the menstrual cycle.
• Experience in conducting research in a relevant area.

Research Environment

The School of Psychology and Sport Science combines two of ����ɫ��’s highly performing departments: Psychology, and Sport and Exercise Sciences. Our world-leading research spans cognitive neuroscience, clinical interventions, psychological wellbeing, elite performance, physical activity, health and applied human physiology, and has significant real-world impact.�� We are also proud of our excellence in teaching and learning which is similarly acknowledged nationally and globally. The School offers postgraduate researchers an excellent research environment, with a large community of PGR researchers and research-active faculty, regular lab meetings, seminars, visiting speakers, and events targeted at broader professional development. There are extensive facilities for physiological studies including research-dedicated lab spaces physiological research and biochemistry.

Our research is defined by four research institutes, which the PGR student will be welcome to join: Institute for Applied Human Physiology (IAHP;��link), Institute for Psychology of Elite Performance (IPEP;��), Cognitive Neuroscience Institute (CNI;��link), Institute for Wellbeing Research (IWR;��link). Most recently, 100% of Sport and Exercise Sciences research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent by the REF-2021 committee, placing us in the UK top-5 research institutions in sport and exercise science.

����ɫ�� is situated among the breathtaking landscape of North Wales. ����ɫ�� is a friendly and affordable university city, perched on the Irish Sea and with its back against Snowdonia National Park. There is easy access to beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, and beaches while maintaining good transport links to some of the UK’s larger cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and London. ����ɫ�� is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from populations who are underrepresented.

Residency requirements:��This studentship is primarily aimed at UK students. However, those who are interested, but are from outside of the UK, should contact Dr Sophie E Harrison to discuss the conditions for the funding of international students.

General information:��This studentship lasts for three years, conditional upon a positive evaluation by a Review Committee at the end of the first year of studies.����PGR are expected to contribute to teaching in the School. The School provides excellent training in teaching and many students achieve HEA qualifications whilst completing their PhDs. Visit the������ɫ�� Doctoral School Website��for information, including Regulations, concerning PGR programmes at ����ɫ��.

How to apply

All applications must be received through our��.

Applications must contain the following documents:

1. Covering letter: Include your motivation for applying for this studentship, aspirations beyond conducting a PhD, and any reasons that you feel you are particularly suited to undertaking this project.
2. References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include the references with their application.
3. Curriculum Vitae: This should be no longer than two pages. Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).
4. A 500-word research proposal aligned to this advertised PhD studentship that includes a clear description of the background, research question, hypothesis, and approach to collecting and analysing data.

General enquiries:��For general advice about how to apply and eligibility, please visit the������ɫ�� Doctoral School Website.

Closing date: 31/05/2025

Dr. Paul Rauwolf

Applications are invited for a three-year fully funded PhD studentship within the School of Psychology and Sport Science, ����ɫ��. The studentship covers the full cost of tuition fees for PhD students, plus a maintenance stipend (approx. £20,780 per annum for 3 years) as well as a generous research allowance. The studentship can commence any time between October 2025 and January 2026, but with a preference for an October 1^st start date.

Project:

Our ability to cooperate with each other is one of humanity’s greatest evolutionary and societal successes, allowing groups to achieve more than they could individually. However, cooperative interactions are often fragile, and can easily break down due to misperceptions. Research has shown that individuals particularly struggle to cooperate with others in uncertain environments, where it is difficult to assess who is to blame for the break-down of cooperation. In such cases, individuals tend to biasedly redirect blame away from themselves. This is problematic because it further injures the chances of a successful cooperative interaction. If individuals inaccurately blame others for their own uncooperative behaviour, then everyone involved is less likely to cooperate, but if individuals accurately blame themselves for missteps, then behaviour can be altered, improving the outcomes for all parties involved.

This project seeks to understand when and why we biasedly blame others more than ourselves even when it negatively impacts us. We will also seek to find ways to reduce this bias, in order to help individuals improve their outcomes in uncertain, social environments.

To do this, we will use behavioural economic, cooperative games to evaluate how individuals ascribe blame under uncertainty.

Supervision:

If successful, you will be supervised by Dr. Paul Rauwolf, a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at ����ɫ��. Dr. Rauwolf received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Bath. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Mathematics Institute at the University of Oxford. He completed his postdoctoral work in Psychology at ����ɫ��.

Broadly, Dr. Rauwolf seeks to better understand and improve how individuals make decisions in uncertain, social environments. He is particularly interested in environmental psychology and improving sustainable / cooperative behaviours in complex, social environments. Given Dr. Rauwolf’s diverse background in computer science, mathematics, and psychology, his lab uses a combination of experimental psychology, behavioural economics, machine learning, and computational modelling to better understand biases in social decision-making.

Requirements:

Essential requirements:

• First or upper second class undergraduate degree in psychology, economics, computer science or a cognate subject.
• A strong work ethic and genuine enthusiasm for social decision-making.
• The ability to work both independently and cooperatively.
• The ability to communicate effectively, with evidence of strong scientific writing skills.
• A willingness to learn statistical techniques in R.

Desirable qualities:

• A masters level qualification in psychology, economics, computer science, or a cognate subject.
• Experience designing and running human experiments, either in the lab or online.
• Knowledge of game theory, decision-theory or behavioural economics.
• Experience analysing experimental data, using R or a similar statistical tool.
• Programming skills. As many of the projects will be written for online participants, knowledge of Qualtrics, HTML or JavaScript would be helpful, but please apply even if you do not have programming skills.
• Knowledge of, or experience with, online participant pools such as Prolific.

Research Environment:

Dr. Rauwolf’s lab currently consists of 2 other PhD students and several MSc and BSc project students. The lab is always running several projects simultaneously and meets regularly to collaborate and discuss the various projects. The lab has expertise in behavioural economics, programming, and advanced statistical techniques. You will join a collaborative group that helps each other gain the skills required to succeed.

The School of Psychology and Sport Science combines two of ����ɫ��’s highly performing departments: Psychology, and Sport and Exercise Sciences. Our world-leading research spans cognitive neuroscience, clinical interventions, psychological wellbeing, elite performance, physical activity, health and applied human physiology, and has significant real-world impact. We are also proud of our excellence in teaching and learning which is similarly acknowledged nationally and globally. The School offers postgraduate researchers an excellent research environment, with a large community of PGRs and research-active faculty, regular lab meetings, seminars, and visiting speakers, and events targeted at broader professional development. There are extensive facilities for behavioural, physiological and neuroscientific studies.

Our research is defined by four research institutes, which the PGR student will be welcome to join: Institute for Applied Human Physiology (IAHP), Institute for Psychology of Elite Performance (), Cognitive Neuroscience Institute (CNI), Institute for Wellbeing Research (IWR).

����ɫ�� is situated among the breathtaking landscape of North Wales.�� ����ɫ�� is a friendly and affordable university city, perched on the Irish Sea and with its back against Snowdonia National Park. There is easy access to beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches, while maintaining good transport links to some of the U.K.’s larger cities, including Manchester and London.

Residency requirements: This studentship is primarily aimed at UK students. However, those who are interested, but are from outside of the UK, should contact Dr. Paul Rauwolf to discuss the conditions for the funding of international students.

General information: This studentship lasts for three years, conditional upon a positive evaluation by a Review Committee at the end of the first year of studies.�� PGRs are expected to contribute to teaching in the school. The school provides excellent training in teaching and many students achieve HEA qualification whilst completing their PhDs. ��Visit the ����ɫ�� Doctoral School Website (/doctoral-school/) for information, including Regulations, concerning PGR programmes at ����ɫ��.

Further information: Informal enquiries about the studentship and more guidance should you want to prepare a more detailed proposal should be directed to p.rauwolf@bangor.ac.uk.

How to apply:

All application must be received through our online application system.

Applications must contain the following documents:

1. Covering letter: Include your motivation for applying for this studentship, aspirations beyond conducting a PhD, and any reasons that you feel you are particularly suited to undertaking this project.
2. References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include the references with their application.
3. Curriculum Vitae: This should be no longer than two pages. Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).
4. Research Proposal: 3-4 pages describing the design of an experiment. This will include a clear description of the research questions, hypotheses, the approach to collecting and analysing data, and a proposed timeline for all elements of the research and writing up. Prior to starting the research proposal, the applicant must contact Dr. Rauwolf for details on what to write for the research proposal.

General enquiries: For general advice about how to apply and eligibility please visit the ����ɫ�� Doctoral School website.