About the Project
Funded PhD Studentship to advance screening for long-term health risk factors, and preventative care in professional rugby league players
Are you passionate about athlete health, brain health, clinical research, and making a lasting impact on the lives of current and former professional athletes?
This prestigious PhD studentship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the PROTECT (Player Risk Observation, Testing & Early-Care Targeting) project. The PROTECT project is a pioneering four-year programme designed to identify modifiable risk factors for brain health outcomes, monitor player health longitudinally, and develop targeted prevention strategies for current and retired rugby league players.
The project is funded by the Rugby League Cares Brain Health Fund, in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, the University of Sydney, the University of Leeds, and the Rugby Football League. The project builds upon internationally recognised brain health programmes, including the NRL Former Athlete Brain Health Research Programme, while leveraging Leeds Beckett University's expertise in head impact monitoring, injury prevention, and healthy aging.
During the funded PhD studentship, you will work within a world-leading interdisciplinary research team focused on improving the long-term health outcomes of professional rugby league players. The project combines clinical screening, epidemiology, athlete monitoring, neuropsychology, public health, and applied sport science to deliver meaningful impact beyond academia.
The Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University is purposefully driven to make a difference to people, communities, and organisations through collaborative research and knowledge exchange. Our culture is founded on a genuine commitment to solving real-world problems and generating research that improves policy, practice, and health outcomes.
We are offering one 4-year funded PhD studentship commencing in October 2026.
The primary research location will be the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University (Leeds, UK), although the role will involve working closely with partner organisations, healthcare professionals, and professional rugby league clubs.
Details on how to apply can be found here
Project Overview
Collision sport athletes are reported to potentially have a greater risk of neurodegenerative diseases later in life (Anns et al., 2026). While concussion and repetitive head impacts may contribute to this risk, many other risk factors are modifiable and potentially preventable (Livingston et al., 2024). The PROTECT project aims to identify, monitor, and reduce these risk factors in rugby league players. The PhD candidate will play a central role in developing and implementing a longitudinal screening programme for professional rugby league players, focusing on those with the greatest lifetime collision and head impact exposure. The project will also recruit comparison groups and non-rugby league controls to improve understanding of the relationships between sporting exposure, health outcomes, and modifiable risk factors.
The programme of research will include:
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive health screening programme for professional rugby league players;
- Conducting longitudinal monitoring of current and retired players across multiple years;
- Assessing modifiable risk factors including cardiovascular health, metabolic health, physical activity, mental health, sleep, and lifestyle behaviours;
- Supporting the development of a rugby league-specific brain health prevention programme through co-design with players and stakeholders;
- Evaluating the effectiveness of preventative interventions designed to reduce dementia risk factors during and following playing careers;
- Contributing to scientific publications, conference presentations, impact reports, and future grant applications to expand the programme nationally and internationally.
The project is expected to generate significant scientific, clinical, and societal impact while helping to establish a long-term brain health screening and prevention service for rugby league. There may be opportunities for the candidate to spend periods of time is Sydney, Australia, as part of the collaboration with the University of Sydney.
Supervisory Team
The successful candidate will be supervised by an internationally recognised multidisciplinary team, including:
- B.Jones@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- Professor Andrew Gardner (University of Sydney)
- Professor Dane Vishnubala (University of Leeds)
- S.A.Chantler@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- A.Stavropoulos@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- J.Tooby@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Candidate Requirements
Applicants should possess:
- A first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) in sport and exercise medicine or science, psychology, neuroscience, public health, clinical science, physiology, biomedical science, epidemiology, or a related discipline;
- A Master's degree in a relevant subject area (desirable);
- An interest in athlete health, brain health, healthy ageing, or clinical research;
- Strong quantitative and/or qualitative research skills;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- A passion for conducting research with meaningful real-world impact.
- Experience working in applied sport, healthcare, clinical settings, athlete monitoring, data analysis, or longitudinal research projects would be advantageous.
- The successful candidate will join a globally connected research programme that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations of rugby league players.
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with a member of the supervisory team.
Application Reference Number: 2026-October-PROTECT/CSS-PhD
Start Date: 01 October 2026
Mode of Study: Full-Time (4yrs)
Number of Opportunities Available: 1
Interviews to take place from: 07 September 2026 to 11 September 2026
Funding Notes
This studentship includes:
- Research support funding for project-related activities
- Access to world-class facilities at the Carnegie School of Sport
- Opportunities to collaborate with internationally recognised researchers and clinicians in brain health and athlete welfare
- Opportunities to present findings at national and international conferences and contribute to high-impact scientific publications
- A laptop will be provided
- An enhanced bursary is available for students with a clinical / health care background
International candidates will be required to pay the international fee top up and are advised to contact our Research Admissions team researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Type of Funding Available: Home (UK) Fees and Stipend
Stipend Value: £21,805
Stipends are tax-free and paid pro-rata in monthly payments
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!