Graduate School
Sport and Exercise Science research overview
The Department of Sport and Exercise Science provides postgraduate research students and researchers with the opportunity to undertake high quality, internationally recognised, applied research in the sub-discipline fields of physiology, psychology, biomechanics, health and sport development.
Our Sport and Recreation researchers and postgraduate research students have contributed significantly to the sporting success of the University, which is now ranked in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) as top 20 for men and women.
Our University is particularly strong in sports such as soccer, hockey, sailing, windsurfing and other water sports. Research in the department is multi-disciplinary has a well-established international reputation in the area of thermal physiology and survival medicine.
For more information about how to apply please contact the Faculty of Science using the Contact us page.
If you have any questions about studying for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth, please complete our enquiry form.
Key Facts
RAE rating: The researchers at the Department of Sport and Exercise Science entered the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 under the Unit of Assessment Allied Health Professions and Studies. The majority of our research was rated "internationally excellent or world-leading". Our researchers work under the multidisciplinary umbrella of the Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences (IBBS).
Academic staff: 22, please see staff list webpage.
Postgraduate research students: 21
Internal links: Our department has close links through the Institute of Biomolecular Science (IBBS) with other departments at the University of Portsmouth. IBBS is a multidisciplinary group that brings together researchers from the Schools of Biological Sciences, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences and Health Sciences and Social Work.
External links: We receive funding from research councils such as the BBSRC and EPSRC and from other organisations, including the Wellcome Trust, the European Union and the NHS.
Resources
The department's state-of- the-art facilities equip our researchers and postgraduate research students with the opportunity to undertake high quality and internationally recognised applied research in the fields of physiology, biomechanics, psychology and sports development.
Please visit our Facilities webpage for a detailed description of available facilities in the above research areas.
Research Centres
Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS)
The Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS) serves as a focus for multidisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences, including both fundamental studies and applied research in the molecular biosciences.
Research Areas
Biomechanics
Our biomechanics researchers work and supervise research in a number of focused areas. For example, the biomechanics and sports apparel research focuses on the biomechanical aspects of performance enhancement and injury reduction associated with sports apparel within a range of sport, leisure and clinical domains. Other recent projects include the performance and injury reduction effects of compression clothing on soft tissue movement.
Breast Health
Our researchers in the Research Group in Breast Health have gained international reputation in academic world as well as commercial recognition, leading to collaborations with top international bra manufacturers. Our research and research supervision in this area has received a good share of media coverage, which helps disseminate our knowledge to the general public. Our researchers promote the investigation on the breast from a biomechanical, physiological and clinical perspective, with the aim of improving knowledge, educating women and evaluating the development of better products to support the health of the breast.
Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
If your interests lie in this area, our musculoskeletal biomechanics researchers can provide with excellent supervision the assessment of the motion and forces produced by and acting on the musculoskeletal system. Some of our recent research projects include Sex differences in musculoskeletal biomechanics in children, Conventional / dynamic control strength ratios and Biomechanical musculoskeletal screening. These projects allow the application of biomechanical principles to promote the performance and well-being of athletes and the general population.
Physiology
Environmental and survival medicine
Our researchers's work is internationally recognised and receives funding from a wide range of sources, including UKsport and industry. Our environmental physiology laboratory is one of the five laboratories that constitute the EPERE collaboration of human and applied physiology labs.
Our staff's research projects and areas of supervision include: Approaches to cooling and maintaining thermal comfort for individuals in hot environments; Gender differences in the thermal responses to exercise in a cool environment; Post-exercise cold immersion; Adaptation to heat and cold; Prediction of survival time in cold water; Evaluation of the thermal impact of protective equipment; Pathophysiology of non-freezing cold injury; Research support to expeditions (altitude, cold & hot regions) and physiological adaptations to hypoxia.
Occupational physiology and health
If your interest lies in this area of research, we can provide you with high quality supervision in a wide range of studies in occupational fitness and health standards. We have worked in partnership and consultancy for organisations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the Energy Institute and the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Sport and physical activity in performance and health
Our researchers conduct and supervise excellent research on the following fields: Post-exercise muscle soreness; Measurement of perceived exhaustion; Pacing strategies in high intensity exercise; Effect of inspiratory and expiratory muscle fatigue on performance, particularly in elite swimmers; Benefits of physical activity and improved body composition in individuals with metabolic syndrome; Use of video games to promote physical activity.
Psychology
Our researchers' projects and supervision cover fields such as: Psychology of coaching and in particular, how coaches can enhance their own performance in addition to those of athletes; Psychology of stress, coping and emotions; Defining mental toughness, examining what constitutes it and how it can be developed; Testing the efficacy of psychological skills training on performance; Examining the psychology of sporting performance in extreme environments, in particular single handed ocean sailing; Impression formation in both sporting and exercise contexts.
We have also been involved in the development of perceptual training programmes for athlete, coach and judge performance and monitoring of visual search patterns of individuals in varying occupations.
Sports Development
Our Sports development researchers have expertise in investigating and supervising postgraduate research students who research the work of national governing bodies, education, comparative aspects of sport provision, talent development, adventure sports and sports business, both from a national and international perspective.
Our researchers benefit from excellent links and experience with the key agencies involved with sport and physical activity at a regional and national level. Some of our current studies include work with the Football Association around refereeing, professionalisation of Rugby Union, cycling and cultural behaviour. We are also interested in the impact of sport in a wider social context, such as issues around social inclusion or health.