PhD Studentship – Optimum performance in the badminton jump smash

School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences

Loughborough University

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by the Badminton World Federation and Loughborough University to start 1st April 2016. The project will be based in the School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.
Badminton is a dynamic game that is regarded as the fastest racket sport in the world; with the badminton jump smash a key skill to develop. It is not clear why some players can produce much greater shuttlecock speeds in the jump smash than others and also why some players appear to be more consistent than others. The purpose of this study is:
(1) To determine the relationship between badminton smash technique and shuttle speed.
(2) To determine the relationship between shot outcome consistency and player movement variability.
(3) Compare international male and female players performing the badminton jump smash.
(4) Investigate differences in technique for players from different parts of the world.
Kinematic data will be collected at the All England Badminton Championships on the best badminton players in the world performing jump smashes on an instrumented court.
The studentship is for 3 years and is intended to start on 1st April 2016. The studentship provides a tax free stipend of £14,057 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. International (non EU) students may apply but will need to find the difference in fees between those for a ‘UK/EU’ and ‘international’ student themselves.
Students will normally need to hold, or expect to gain, at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in Sports Science / Mathematics / Engineering. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Sports Biomechanics / Mathematics / Engineering.
General information about the School of Sport, Exercise and Health can be found at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/about/. There is more specific information on the biomechanics group at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/ssehs/biomechanics/.
For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Mark King, M.A.King@lboro.ac.uk

Funding information

Funding applies to:

Open to applicants from a range of countries

Funding notes:

International (non EU) students may apply but will need to find the difference in fees between those for a ‘UK/EU’ and ‘international’ student themselves.

Contacts and how to apply

Administrative contact and how to apply:

To apply, please complete the online application using the following link: https://lucas.lboro.ac.uk/web_apx/f?p=100:1. Please include details on your knowledge / experience of racket sports. In addition you should include a short description (one page max) on why some players can produce much greater shuttlecock speeds in the jump smash than others (including what factors might be important).
The closing date for applications is Monday 22nd February 2016
Interviews will take place week commencing 29th February 2016
Please quote the following reference when applying: SSEHS/MAK

Application deadline:

22 February 2016