Funded PhD Studentship with 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

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:

• Professor Ben Jones (Leeds Beckett University)
• Professor Andrew Gardner (University of Sydney)
• Professor Dane Vishnubala (University of Leeds)
• Dr Sarah Chantler (Leeds Beckett University)
• Dr Antonis Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou (Leeds Beckett University)
• Dr James Tooby (Leeds Beckett University)

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.

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.

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 '2026-October-PROTECT/CSS-PhD'.
• The closing date for applications is midnight on 3 August 2026.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.
• We aim to hold in person interviews for shortlisted applicants the week commencing 24th August 
• 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.

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.

Daneshvar DH, Nair ES, Baucom ZH, Rasch A, Abdolmohammadi B, Uretsky M, Saltiel N, Shah A, Jarnagin J, Baugh CM, Martin BM, Palmisano JN, Cherry JD, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Weuve J, Nowinski CJ, Cantu RC, Zafonte RD, Dwyer B, Crary JF, Goldstein LE, Kowall NW, Katz DI, Stern RA, Tripodis Y, Stein TD, McClean MD, Alosco ML, McKee AC, Mez J. Leveraging football accelerometer data to quantify associations between repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy in males. Nat Commun. 2023 Jun 20;14(1):3470. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39183-0. PMID: 37340004; PMCID: PMC10281995.

Iverson GL, Castellani RJ, Cassidy JD, Schneider GM, Schneider KJ, Echemendia RJ, Bailes JE, Hayden KA, Koerte IK, Manley GT, McNamee M, Patricios JS, Tator CH, Cantu RC, Dvorak J. Examining later-in-life health risks associated with sport-related concussion and repetitive head impacts: a systematic review of case-control and cohort studies. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Jun;57(12):810-821. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106890. PMID: 37316187.

Iverson GL, Smith OJ, Terry DP, Gardner AJ. Worrying about Concussions and Brain Health is Strongly Associated with Psychological Distress in Former Elite Rugby League Players. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2026 Feb 5;41(2):acaf103. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acaf103. PMID: 41324472.

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.

Parker TD, Hain JA, Rooney EJ, Zimmerman KA, Lee Y, Del Giovane M, Graham NSN, Patel M, Hampshire A, Wilson MG, Friedland D, Sharp DJ, Sylvester RJ. Brain health concerns in former rugby players: clinical and cognitive phenotypes. Brain. 2025 Aug 1;148(8):2698-2713. doi: 10.1093/brain/awae416. PMID: 40602788; PMCID: PMC12316010.

Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, Ahmed OH, Blauwet C, Cantu RC, Davis GA, Echemendia RJ, Makdissi M, McNamee M, Broglio S, Emery CA, Feddermann-Demont N, Fuller GW, Giza CC, Guskiewicz KM, Hainline B, Iverson GL, Kutcher JS, Leddy JJ, Maddocks D, Manley G, McCrea M, Purcell LK, Putukian M, Sato H, Tuominen MP, Turner M, Yeates KO, Herring SA, Meeuwisse W. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport-Amsterdam, October 2022. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Jun;57(11):695-711. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898. PMID: 37316210.

Tooby J, Owen C, Sawczuk T, Roe G, Till K, Phillips G, Vishnubala D, White R, Rowson S, Tucker R, Tierney G, Jones B. Instrumented Mouthguards in Men's Rugby League: Quantifying the Incidence and Probability of Head Acceleration Events at a Group and Individual Level. Sports Med. 2025 Nov;55(11):2879-2890. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02253-y. Epub 2025 Jun 6. PMID: 40478418; PMCID: PMC12559052.

Tooby J, Scantlebury S, Owen C, Spiegelhalter M, Dane K, Emery CA, Kitchin M, Phillips G, Sawczuk T, Shill I, Till K, Vishnubala D, Jones B. Instrumented Mouthguards in Women's Rugby League: Quantifying the Incidence and Probability of Head Acceleration Events at Group and Individual Levels. Sports Med. 2026 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s40279-026-02420-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41961404.