Applications are now open for a fully funded PhD studentship at Loughborough University, focused on advancing the integration between athletes, equipment, and the playing environment in Para sports. The project, titled Innovating ParaSport: The Role of the Athlete-Equipment-Playing Environment Interface, will begin in October 2025 and is open to both UK and international applicants.

Technological developments have significantly influenced Para sports, particularly through innovations in wheelchair and prosthesis design. This PhD research will adopt an individualized sport approach, examining athlete anthropometrics, equipment interfaces, and environmental factors across up to three Para sports, such as wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby. The goal is to optimize the athlete-equipment relationship to enhance both physical and functional performance.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Investigating and fine-tuning equipment design, materials, and interaction points.

  • Monitoring and analyzing contact pressure, surface distribution, friction, and movement patterns to enable personalized equipment adjustments and training interventions.

The project will utilize a multidisciplinary approach, combining sport science, engineering, and biomechanics. It will be largely experimental and design-based, with potential for some modeling work and use of advanced surface measurement and analysis techniques.

The studentship is hosted jointly by the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering and the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and forms part of the ParaFit 2032 cluster of PhD projects at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. These projects are aimed at advancing para-athlete health and performance leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor Tom Slatter (Primary Supervisor) and Dr. Tom Paulson (Secondary Supervisor). Applicants should hold a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as sports science, mechanical engineering, technology, or product design engineering.

The studentship covers full tuition fees and provides a stipend for three years. The application deadline is 29 May 2025.

For more details and to apply, visit the official project page here.