Motivation and endurance performance (Ref: SSEHS/SF-IT-2)

About the Project

The ability to endure and persist is essential to success in sport and many other life contexts. Despite this importance, the ability to endure remains poorly understood, especially how goals, discomfort, and feelings during endurance tasks interact to influence pacing and performance. The aim of the proposed PhD project is to build on recent work at Loughborough University to enable greater understanding of the motivational factors that contribute to greater endurance performance.

This project will be supervised by Dr Ian Taylor, a leading expert in motivation and performance, and you will be fully supported by a research supervisory team and peers studying similar areas. You will be based within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, ranked best in the world for sports-related subjects nine years running and a leading institution for the study of performance.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:

Ian Taylor i.m.taylor@lboro.ac.uk

Entry requirements:

Applicants must have, or expect to have, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) with a UK master's degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%) or international equivalent. A background in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science, or related discipline would be an advantage.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required:

No

Closing date of advert:

21st May 2026

Start date:

October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability:

Full-time 3 years

Fee band:

2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)

How to apply:

All applications should be made online. Under Campus, please select Loughborough and select Programme Ph.D. Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Please quote the advertised reference number SSEHS/SF-IT-2 in your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents. The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.

Project search terms:

sport & exercise science, sport performance, sport psychology

Email Address SSEHS:

ssehs.pgrapplications@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk