Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

Sport and Exercise Sciences: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Advancing the understanding and use of continuous glucose monitoring in sport, exercise and nutrition

This scholarship is funded by Swansea University, Novo Nordisk Foundation and Supersapiens, Inc.

Subject areas: Glucose monitoring, Physical Exercise, Physical Activity, Sports Nutrition, Data Analysis

Start date: July 2021

Project Description:

Aim: To establish the dynamics of glycemic excursions using continuous glucose monitor (CGM)-data in sport and exercise and the potential associations with nutrition and performance outcomes.

Background:

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has undergone a technological revolution in recent years. Historically, techniques to measure interstitial fluid glucose were technically challenging, cumbersome, invasive, and largely confined to laboratory groups with specialist expertise. Notwithstanding, such information revealed the dynamic nature of glucose in the interstitial compartment in response to feeding and physical exercise.

More recently, several diabetes technology companies have developed real time CGM devices for patient use and evidence supports better glycaemic management in people with diabetes that contributes to better overall health. CGM provides additional ‘nudges’ in the form of trend arrows and alarms to work interactively with patients given the seriousness of glycaemic undulations (hypo- and hyper-glycaemia) for these patient cohorts.

In the wider population, the advent of CGM technology for the general public allows the potential to explore ‘in the field’ or real life glycaemic fluctuations in healthy, athletic individuals across a range of sports involving endurance and sprint/strength activities. Such information allows the development of individualised and normative ranges in glucose and combined with a knowledge of physical exercise and training characteristics, sleep patterns, and nutritional intake presents novel opportunities to truly advance the efficacy of CGM technology for the physically active. Learning lessons from the successful training and nutrition practices of athletes has wider value for recreationally-active individuals and with experience-based learning and peer support, proffers a role for CGM as an indispensable training device. Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

PhD Studentship objectives:

Using the latest ‘in field’ technology platforms around glucose management (Abbott Libre Sense Sport Glucose Biosensor), combined with GPS, physical and physiological metrics and food logged recordings, you will evaluate the importance of glycaemic information in supporting the optimisation of the training/competing environment during endurance activities. Increasing understanding, generating knowledge and improving use of CGM in the context of sport would be overarching objectives.

We are looking for an exceptionally organised person with a passion for sports, and/or sports nutrition research, able to handle and make sense of large data sets with ease, carrying a strong data analytics focus, a good statistical background and excellent translational skills. You will be part of a global team required to present and lead monthly updates.Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

Ideally, you will have a strong background in exercise science, physiology, nutrition, and data analysis/computer science. In addition, a working knowledge of continuous glucose monitoring technology is helpful. The ideal candidate, together with the supporting research group, will be able to gain deep understating behind CGM data during exercise, generate and test lab-based and field-based hypotheses in the context of glucose management during exercise while creating a strong body of evidence. Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

Supervisory Team:

Academic Supervisors_-_ Associate Professor Richard Bracken (r.m.bracken@swansea.ac.uk, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences) and Professor Steve Bain (Swansea University Medical School)

External Project Team_-_ Dr Federico Fontana, PhD, Dr Juan Frias, MD, PhD, Phil Southerland, Supersapiens, Inc, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Candidates should hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree (or its equivalent) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Nutrition, or Sports Nutrition, and/or a master’s in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Sports Nutrition related areas. We strongly encourage students who have a master’s level qualifications to apply.

In addition, potential candidates with Computer Sciences or Data Analysis are welcome to apply, especially if they accommodate to the study of Sports related data.

We would normally expect the academic and English Language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5+ in each component) to be met by point of application. For details on the University’s English Language entry requirements, please visit – http://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/english-language-requirements/

Please note that EU/international students are welcome to apply, but should note that they will have to pay the difference between the home (UK) fee and the institutional international student fee.

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees (£4,407 per annum in 2020/2021) and an annual stipend of £14,000 per annum. Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Swansea University

There will be additional funds available.

**Please note that EU/international students are welcome to apply, but should note that they will have to pay the difference between the home (UK) fee and the institutional international student fee. **

Please visit our website for more information.