High-performance contexts such as elite football and professional motorsport demand innovation across all aspects of participation to continue to ‘push the needle’ and raise the standards of sporting excellence. This thirst for innovation is mirrored in the sports technology sector, where technologies such as immersive virtual and augmented reality are ever-becoming more sophisticated, opening a window for their effective use in high-performance contexts. This self-funded PhD will build on existing links with REZZIL Ltd as an industry collaborator to investigate the efficacy of their state-of-the-art virtual reality systems that integrate perceptual-cognitive skills and sport-specific movements relevant activities for skill development / rehabilitation / match preparation with existing partners across professional sports.
The research team:
Adam Bruton adopts a multidisciplinary approach drawing from psychological and movement sciences to understand the impact of simulating actions via motor imagery and/or action observation, and implementation of immersive technology on the development of perceptual-cognitive and motor skills across populations and contexts. This research is typically conducted with an applied focus on improving the performance of athletes or the physical functioning of populations with movement difficulties.
Carla Harkness-Armstrong is a human movement scientist, specialising in postural and neuromuscular control within both sporting and clinical contexts. She has a particular interest in understanding mechanisms which may underpin risk of injury in female athletes, and movement impairment in children with neurological and developmental disorders.
Michael Parsons (Rezzil Ltd) brings several years of experience in Rezzil’s research and development, contributing to projects spanning cognitive training, information processing and manipulation, and rehabilitation science. His work includes exploring the use of virtual reality as a tool to support injured athletes in their return to sport. This expertise is strengthened by his degree in sport rehabilitation and hands-on experience within professional football environments.
Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here.
The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils.
Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.
