Funded PhD Studentship with Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club, in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University

Nutrition plays an important role for athlete performance and health in-career and athlete health post-career. Appropriate nutrition in-career, ensures optimal performance, recovery and helps achieve other desired performance outcomes (e.g., strength, endurance, body composition). Post-career athletes often report challenges adapting to reduced energy expenditure, alongside body image and identity-related concerns (Capin et al 2024, Buckley et al., 2019). Collision sport athletes may be at an increased risk of developing negative health outcomes later in life (Anns et al., 2026), which may be positively influenced by nutrition (Livingston et al., 2024). For example, cardiometabolic and diabetic risk factors; obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, alcohol misuse and insulin resistance are all risk factors for negative long-term health outcomes, and can all be influenced by nutritional intake and behaviours (Bever et al., 2026). 

This PhD will undertake research with both current and retired professional rugby league players, as part of the PROTECT project. This PhD seeks to optimise nutrition intake and behaviours in current players, and identify, monitor, and reduce nutrition-related potential risk factors associated with negative long term health outcomes in retired rugby league players. Using a mixed-methods approach, this PhD will contribute to the development and implementation of a longitudinal screening programme for professional rugby league players, with a particular focus on current players with the greatest lifetime exposure to collisions and head impacts, alongside recently retired players. The project will also recruit controls groups. Findings from the project will inform evidence-based strategies to optimise the health and performance of current rugby league players, whilst supporting the long-term health and wellbeing of retired rugby league players.

The programme of research will include:

• Contributing to the creation and execution of a nutrition and metabolic screening process for current and retired players and those near retirement
• Conducting longitudinal nutrition and metabolic monitoring of current and retired players across multiple years;
• Supporting the development of a rugby league-specific intervention programme to optimise nutrition behaviours to reduce overall health risks;
• Evaluating the effectiveness of any interventions designed to reduce 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 optimise the health and performance in current rugby league players, and long-term health in retired rugby league players.

Supervisory Team
The supervisory team will include:

• Dr Sarah Chantler (Leeds Beckett University)
• Professor Ben Jones (Leeds Beckett University

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• A first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) in sport and exercise science/nutrition, psychology, neuroscience, public health, clinical science, physiology, biomedical science, epidemiology, or a related discipline;
• A Master's degree in Sports Nutrition or Dietetics (with PgCert in Sports Nutrition); with SENR / HCPC registration
• An interest in athlete health, performance, healthy ageing, sports nutrition and public health
• 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.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with a member of the supervisory team.

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

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  

Stipend Value: £21,805

Stipends are tax-free and paid pro-rata in monthly payments

The successful candidates would ideally have: 2:1 or higher in a relevant undergraduate degree.

For those whose first language is not English you must also have an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.5 in order for applicants to obtain a CAS and Visa.

The PHD Studentship will be awarded to the strongest applications assessed on the applicant’s academic excellence, the strength of the research proposal and how the proposal fits with the research project.

To apply, please go to the application portal which can be found through the 'Apply Now' button.

Important when applying through the portal: To find this course on our portal you will need to:

• Select ‘Full Time’ in the ‘Mode of Attendance’ section.
• Type ‘Doctor’ in the ‘Programme Title’ section and click ‘Search’.
• Press ‘Select’ next to ‘Doctor of Philosophy 2026/27 Autumn Entry’ in the ‘Programme Title’ section.
• State clearly that you are applying for a Carnegie School of Sport studentship and include the project reference '2026-October-PROTECT-Leeds Rhinos/CSS-PhD'.

Please make sure that you complete the application process in full and also provide the following additional information:

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL (include title and project reference)

The proposal should align to the project summary and include a brief literature review related to this project, with an outline of the studies that you would propose to the answer the aims of the PhD (maximum 5 pages single spaced). It must include the research project title and reference.

The criteria listed below will be used in both selecting those applicants who will be called for interview and those who will be successful in securing a PGR award, and these should help you form your research proposal.

a) Context and significance of your research
Please outline the significance and originality of your proposed research, indicating:  aims, relationship to previous research in the field, research question(s) you are seeking to answer.
b) Research design and methods
Please outline the design of your proposed research, indicating: methodology and methods, a timetable for completion of the PGR award, ethical considerations that your research may raise.
c) Dissemination and impact
Please identify:  possible opportunities to disseminate your research to academic audiences during your PGR programme, the ways in which your research might be relevant outside academia.

You are strongly advised to discuss your proposal with the named Supervisor(s) before making your application.

How applications will be assessed Your application will be considered by a Carnegie School of Sport selection panel. The panel will evaluate applications based on the quality of the proposal, preparedness of the applicant and feasibility of the research project.

2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 
This should be a maximum of 1000 words outlining: What knowledge, skills, and training would you bring to the proposed research? This may include relevant academic study, relevant experience as a professional or practitioner, and any specific training in research skills/methods.  Why do you want to undertake this research in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University. How does the proposed research relate to your career goals.

3. CV
A current CV, including your employment history or other professional experience, including internships. 

• Please state clearly that you are applying for a Carnegie School of Sport studentship and include the project reference.
• The closing date for applications is midnight on 1 September 2026.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.
• We aim to hold in person interviews for shortlisted applicants the week commencing 21 September 2026.
• For queries about applying please contact Research Admissions

Anns F, Quarrie KL, Milne BJ, Li C, Gardner AJ, Murphy IR, Verhagen E, Wright C, Morton SMB, Lumley T, Tippett L, D'Souza S. Neurodegenerative Diseases in Male Former First-Class New Zealand Rugby Players. Sports Med. 2026 Feb;56(2):543-558. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02299-y. Epub 2025 Sep 4. PMID: 40906013; PMCID: PMC12982275. 

Bever, A. M., Du, M., Eliassen, A. H., Giovannucci, E., Liang, L., Stampfer, M. J., Rimm, E., Willett, W., Hu, F. B., & Song, M. (2026). Estimated preventable fraction of chronic disease attributed to long-term physical activity and diet quality, independent of body weight: a prospective cohort study of three US cohorts. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2026.101540

Boyko A, Iverson GL, Terry DP, Smith OJ, Gardner AJ. Mental Health and Perceived Cognitive Decline in Former Elite Rugby League Players With Life Interference Due to Chronic Pain. Clin J Sport Med. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001466. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41981751. 

Buckley, G. L., Hall, L. E., Lassemillante, A. C. M., Ackerman, K. E., & Belski, R. (2019). Retired athletes and the intersection of food and body: A systematic literature review exploring compensatory behaviours and body change. In Nutrients (Vol. 11, Issue 6). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061395

Capin, J. J., Wolf, T. L., Street, J. H., Smith, C. S., Lennon, S. L., Farquhar, W. B., Hunter, S. K., & Piacentine, L. B. (2024). Midlife health crisis of former competitive athletes: dissecting their experiences via qualitative study. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001956

Chesson L, Whitehead S, Flanagan K, Deighton K, Matu J, Backhouse SH, Jones B. Illness and infection in elite full-contact football-code sports: A systematic review. J Sci Med Sport. 2021 May;24(5):435-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.11.001. Epub 2020 Nov 10. PMID: 33303368.

Delany, L.V., Costello, N., Jowett, G. et al. Prevalence of disordered eating in national-level rugby: a mixed-methods study of male and female players in England. Perform. Nutr. 1, 15 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44410-025-00017-3

Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, Ames D, Banerjee S, Burns A, Brayne C, Fox NC, Ferri CP, Gitlin LN, Howard R, Kales HC, Kivimäki M, Larson EB, Nakasujja N, Rockwood K, Samus Q, Shirai K, Singh-Manoux A, Schneider LS, Walsh S, Yao Y, Sommerlad A, Mukadam N. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet. 2024 Aug 10;404(10452):572-628. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0. Epub 2024 Jul 31. PMID: 39096926.