Enhancing Athletic Performance through Novel Caffeine Delivery Methods

An exciting opportunity has emerged to conduct a PhD working with Liverpool John Moores University, Stockport County Football Club and Nutrition X. This PhD will likely commence in October 2024 and will build on the track record of LJMU in working with elite football teams and well-respected sports nutrition companies.

Background

Caffeine is one of the most extensively used ergogenic aids in sport because of its well-reported benefits on exercise performance. Various studies have suggested that caffeine can have a positive influence on endurance, strength, power, and cognition. While some caffeine products (such as gums) propose fast absorption rate, the precise amount of caffeine absorbed, and the optimal chewing duration remain uncertain. We therefore propose to investigate novel delivery mechanism for caffeine prior to and during athletic performance in terms of absorption rates, peak plasma concentrations, and the duration of action.

The successful applicant must have a passion for sport nutrition / exercise physiology, experience of leading or supporting research projects (at BSc and MSc level) and a curiosity and drive for learning. Experience working in football or other team sports is desirable. The applied PhD project will provide the candidate the opportunity to spend time at Stockport County FC to inform the research and embed research in practice.

The candidate must have a BSc and MSc (or working towards) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Sports Nutrition, Nutrition or a related subject. Experience of supporting elite athletes is highly desirable as is graduate accreditation (or working towards) with a relevant body e.g. the UK Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register, British Association for Sport and Exercise Science and/or British Dietetics Association etc.

The Faculty of Science and its three Schools: Biological & Environmental Sciences, Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, and Sports & Exercise Science, have dedicated Diversity and Inclusion (DI) Groups. The individual School Diversity & Inclusion Coordinators and the Faculty Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion lead collective action to promote and embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity. All Schools are awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze in recognition of their respective equality initiatives and action plans. Also, Schools have proactive diversity and inclusion groups that are aimed to support staff and students by addressing the inclusivity requirements that are unique to each School, in alignment with the LJMU Diversity & Inclusion policies. Applicants are invited to visit the Faculty of Science https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-science and follow the link to each School.