University of Bath — Department for Health
Closing date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)
Supervisors: Prof Keith Stokes, Dr Sean Williams, Dr Francesco Aiello
About the Project
The University of Bath is inviting applications for the following funded PhD project commencing on 28 September 2026 under the supervision of Prof Keith Stokes, Dr Sean Williams and Dr Francesco Aiello.
Interviews will be held on 7 September 2026.
Background
The Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project (PRISP) is one of the largest and longest-running injury surveillance programmes in professional sport. Established in 2002 and delivered by the University of Bath since 2011, the project provides the evidence base that informs player welfare policies and injury prevention strategies in professional men's rugby in England.
This PhD studentship forms the next phase of PRISP (2026-2030) and will investigate how training practices, particularly contact training, influence injury risk and player welfare. While contact training is essential for preparing players for competition, the optimal amount and type of contact exposure remains unclear.
The student will be based at the University of Bath, but there will be a requirement to travel to PREM Rugby clubs around England as part of the project. They will work closely with other researchers and PhD students in the Bath Centre for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Medicine, and with staff at the RFU and PREM Rugby.
Research areas may include:
- Examining injury incidence, nature and severity in professional men's rugby.
- Investigating relationships between training load, contact training exposure and injury risk.
- Developing improved methods for understanding injury mechanisms and circumstances.
- Exploring the causes and characteristics of training-related concussions.
The specific research questions will be developed in partnership with the RFU and PREM Rugby to maximise scientific quality and real-world impact. Findings from the project are expected to directly inform future player welfare policies and injury prevention strategies in professional rugby.
The Successful Candidate should:
- Fulfil the entrance requirements for a Department for Health PhD.
- Have a strong understanding of sports science, sports medicine, data science or epidemiology and associated research methods (including statistical methods).
Applicants whose first language is not English must meet our English language entry requirement by the application deadline.
Enquiries and Applications:
Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Prof Keith Stokes: k.stokes@bath.ac.uk
Please note that the application form will refer to a formal proposal. As this studentship is to work on a specific project, there is no need to write a formal proposal in this case. Instead, please provide a brief outline of your initial thoughts on the area of research as part of your online application. This should be no more than 500 words.
Formal applications should be submitted via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Health prior to the closing date of this advert.
When completing the application form:
- In the Funding your studies section, select ‘Industry Sponsor’ as the studentship for which you are applying, and specify 'RFU'.
- In the Your PhD project section, quote the project title (Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project) of this project and the name of the lead supervisor in the appropriate boxes.
Failure to complete these two steps will cause delays in processing your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
The Department for Health is dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for our staff and students. The Department for Health hold a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our ongoing commitment to gender equality. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We value, promote and celebrate inclusion, challenging discrimination and putting equality, diversity and belonging at the heart of everything we do. We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, creating a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances health and wellbeing across our community.
Funding Notes
Candidates may be considered for a University of Bath studentship tenable for 4 years. Funding covers Home tuition fees, a stipend (£21,805 p/a in 2026/7) and access to a training support budget.
This studentship is open to those that qualify for 'Home' fees. You will likely need to hold UK or Irish citizenship, EU (Pre-)Settled status in the UK, or another form of indefinite leave, to be eligible for Home fees.
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