Women’s health and performance: The influence of the menstrual cycle and contraceptive use on health and athletic performance

Funding amount: The studentship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees, plus a tax-free maintenance stipend of approximately £19,237 per annum for three years and a research allowance of £750 per annum.

Hours: Full-time, or part-time, commencing between October 2024 and January 2025.

Applications are invited for a fully funded 3-year PhD studentship under the supervision of Dr Sophie Harrison in the School of Psychology and Sport Science at Bangor University, commencing between October 2024 and January 2025.

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.

For full information go to: www.bangor.ac.uk/studentfinance/postgraduate/funding#sportandexercisesciences

Please email informal enquiries to Dr Sophie E Harrison (s.harrison@bangor.ac.uk)

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.

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 Harrison to discuss the conditions for the funding of international students.

Apply now: All application must be received through our online application system: apps.bangor.ac.uk/applicant

All applications must include:

1) a current CV (2 pages maximum)

2) a cover letter explaining your motivation (including a description of how you meet the required and desired skill set)

3) a 500 word research proposal aligned to this advertised PhD studentship

4) 2 academic references

5) if relevant, proof of English Language Competency (7.0 IELTS minimum).