Placed fifth in the UK for research power in REF2014, our sport, health and exercise science research is the highest ranked in London, with 83% of our research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent. Our researchers work on cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological research and also focus on integrative aspects of human physiology, biomechanics and psychology of sport and exercise. Moreover, we investigate the role of sport, health and wellbeing in contemporary society and their relevance to both policy and practice. Our work spans a broad remit, from analysis of healthy lifestyles and community sport participation, to research into elite sport systems and high-level performers. Research opportunities for students Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. Browse PhD opportunities below and find out about the funding available for students. Doctoral research information How to apply for a PhD View list of PhDs in this area Research in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences Find people, projects, groups and publications in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. Browse research projects Meet our experts Sport, Heath and Exercise Sciences Research Archive Browse our collection of research outputs including PhD theses Independent assessment of our research quality (REF 2021) View REF 2021 details for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (UoA 24) Making the beautiful game fair play REF 2021 Research centres and groups Applied Respiratory Research Group Applied respiratory research meeting the needs of respiratory-related healthcare Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences Focusing on allied health, nursing, social care and medicine, the centre supports ambitious plans to educate the health and care workforce, supporting the delivery of radically transformed integrated physical and mental health and care provision. Embodiment in Academic and Professional Practice Development of an enhanced awareness of bodies as sensors of crucial information about ourselves and our reality; Enhancing our performance as human beings, practitioners, researchers and educators. Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse Inequalities in health and wellbeing in the UK and internationally; welfare, health and wellbeing; ageing studies; health economics. Health Behaviour Change Development and evaluation of theory- and evidence-based health behaviour change interventions, across communicable and non-communicable diseases; evidence synthesis of behaviour change interventions. Institute of Communities and Society The Institute focuses on the social, community, and cultural aspects of pressing contemporary issues including migration and movement, social unrest, intersectional inequalities, and institutionalised poverty. Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments Our challenge-led work in health and wellbeing focuses on understanding the relationships between biological, social, natural, and built environments and health and wellbeing outcomes. LEAP-Lab: Learning, Expertise, Action, Perception Three innovative spaces, which collectively support a thriving research culture in which staff and students work collaboratively to produce high-quality research on the topics of Learning, Expertise, Action, and Perception. Physical Activity in Health and Disease The centre conducts interdisciplinary research to improve human health and performance through regular physical activity and exercise, and by limiting sedentary behaviour. Smart Technology Advancements in Health and Rehabilitation Data science/wearable technology and Rehabilitation; Haptic feedback, multi-sensory interfacing and Robotics in Health; Immersion and Engagement in Virtual Rehabilitation; TeleHealth/TeleRehab; Data: using AI and Machine learning to improve health. View all Understanding the role of temperature on muscle function in older adults Ongoing Rapid evidence scoping review: Creativity and Pathways to Subjective Wellbeing Ongoing Cancer and physical activity Completed Physical activity and McArdle disease Completed The effects of sonification on motor imagery ability Completed Road cycling behaviour of young adults Completed Assessment of injury risk factors and mechanisms in elite netball Completed Muscle response to exercise in cerebral palsy Completed Physiology of singing and implications for singing for lung health Completed Culture, sport and wellbeing evidence review Completed Culture, sport and wellbeing: social diversity and context matters Completed Factors influencing pain and physical activity in children Completed Making the beautiful game fair play Completed Stealth marketing and physical activity Completed Social movement approach to physical activity in Southall Ongoing Evaluation of a complex community sport intervention Completed Sport, culture, communities and wellbeing Completed Diabetes UK: Understanding physical activity Completed Community sport and inequalities Completed Physical activity in the workplace Completed Reducing sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 diabetes Completed Improving health in older adults by reducing sitting time Completed Creating digital stories to understand living with multimorbidity Completed Respiratory physiology, human performance and health Completed Virtual reality for NHS staff wellbeing Completed Muscle heat shock proteins with passive heating Completed Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing Completed Effects of dehydration and hyperthermia on brain and muscle blood flow Completed Arts interventions to prevent young people becoming involved in crime Ongoing Anticipation in soccer Completed The impact of task complexity, cognitive load and anxiety on driving Completed Exploring the effectiveness of anti-doping interventions Completed Decision making in Gaelic football Completed Pause Courses Ageing Studies PhD Environment and Health PhD Health Sciences Integrated PhD Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation PhD Life Sciences Integrated PhD Public Health and Health Promotion PhD Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences PhD Welfare, Health and Wellbeing PhD View all courses Fully-funded studentships Funding for the Executive Dean’s PhD Studentship in Experience-based codesign for effective physical activity interventions with working age adults living with multiple long-term conditions Our funded studentships become available at different times of the year. Please keep checking our page regularly to see the latest funded opportunities. We also advertise all our funded studentships as soon as they become available on the @BrunelResearch twitter account. View all studentships