2 Fully Funded PhD Positions in Sport Research at Loughborough University, UK — 2026
Loughborough University is inviting applications for fully funded PhD opportunities in sport coaching, sport business, cycling aerodynamics, and sports engineering.
A Longitudinal Study of the Impact of a Leadership Development Programme
This PhD project provides an opportunity to work with Dr Ed Cope, Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching, and Jacky Mueller, Lecturer in Sport Business.
Loughborough University has an applied research culture. In REF 2021, 94% of the work submitted was judged to be top-rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”.
The university provides a collaborative research environment, with continual opportunities through the Doctoral College to build important research skills and networks among doctoral researchers and academics.
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The Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Aerodynamic Performance of Elite Road Cycling (with Tudor Pro Cycling)
Aerodynamics accounts for up to 90% of the resistive forces experienced by elite cyclists at racing speeds, making aerodynamic optimisation an important component of performance.
This PhD project will investigate how real-world environmental conditions influence the aerodynamic performance of elite road cyclists. The research will combine sports engineering, experimental aerodynamics, and computational fluid dynamics.
The project will use field measurements, wind-tunnel testing, and on-bike instrumentation to characterise cycling environments and investigate the effects of environmental variability on aerodynamic performance.
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