Our Doctoral Researchers
Discover more about the PhD projects undertaken by Doctoral Researchers in the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport.
Addressing psychophysiological responses to stress in elite para-footballers. Utilising longitudinal studies with the aim of informing a potential intervention study to improve performance.
Working alongside Activity Alliance to understand and tackle inequalities in physical activity and sports participation among disabled children and young people in the UK.
Working alongside British Athletics to optimise wheelchair racing, analysing data to improve performance. I aim to use sensor technology and sports biomechanics to enhance wheelchair racing.
Cheyenne's research aims to quantify the physical and tactical demands of wheelchair tennis on different court surfaces, in collaboration with the Lawn Tennis Association.
Researching how coaching frameworks can be made more inclusive for neurodiverse youth in community-based sport through utilising co-production.
Researching aerodynamics around athletes and wheelchairs during racing. Focusing on how drag varies with changing body position and whilst following other athletes.
Researching the intersection of politics, policy, and para-sport governance, and the effects of the Global North–South divide on disability sport development across various para-sports.
Researching physiological challenges faced by cerebral palsy athletes, the influence on training/competition, and strategies to mitigate these / further develop performance.
Researching the specific sports apparel requirements of female Para athletes, in collaboration with the UK Sports Institute.
Currently researching the effect of exercise and exercise-induced dehydration on metabolism and salt balance and the implications on performance and recovery strategies.
Researching the effects of ischaemic pre-conditioning on upper body exercise performance in people with SCI and introducing ischaemic preconditioning as a pre exercise intervention.
Researching experiences of mental health and service provision to individuals who sustain catastrophic injury.
Working alongside ParalympicsGB to research the travel strategies and associated stressors for high-performance Para athletes.
Working alongside UKSI to investigate sports equipment interfaces for Para athletes by combining engineering, sports science and biomechanics to enhance physical and functional performance .
Researching the physiological and biomechanical demands of wheelchair rugby with implications of load monitoring.
Researching thermal responses in Para athletes with different impairments/classifications and assessing cooling interventions to improve athlete safety and performance in the heat.
Lynsey is investigating how interior design and aesthetics within long-stay rehabilitation facilities influences attitudes towards physical activity following SCI.
Researching experiences, psychological stressors and implications of classification in para sport, and how this influences athlete and athlete support personal mental health and well-being.
Aphra's research aims to validate wearable technologies for para athletes to enhance performance by providing reliable, biomechanical data for load monitoring and training prescription.
Understanding the mental health and well-being challenges and facilitators in para-athletes to inform policy developments and organisational guidelines for the UK Sports Institute.