Sport and Exercise MRes

Investigate the influence of test duration and ability level on the VLAmax principle.

The prospective student will work in collaboration with Dr Michael Porter and Jamie Langley (Loughborough College) to undertake a quantitative research approach. VLAmax principle has recently gained significant traction in both research and applied settings. VLAmax is an indirect assessment of the rate of anaerobic glycolysis measured via post exercise blood lactate sampling.
The prospective student will conduct a research study to Investigate the influence of test duration and ability level on the VLAmax principle in cyclists. They will conduct this by assess the influence of test durations (6, 9, 12, 15s) and fitness levels (recreational, amateur, and sub elite) on VLAmax in cyclists. This project would advance the wider application of the VLAmax principle in applied exercise physiology testing.

Applicants need to be UK-home students, have experience in quantitative research, and need to submit a proposal outlining their study design to meet the above requirements of the project (a proposal template is provided in the application process).

Investigating the use of ‘Near Infrared Spectroscopy’ (mNIRS) to monitor peripheral haemodynamic status in stroke or diabetic populations.

The prospective student will work in collaboration with Dr Michael Porter to undertake a quantitative research project. mNIRS is the use of near infrared light to assess the haemodynamic status (muscle oxygenation) of peripheral muscles. mNIRS research is becoming increasing popular in exercise physiology with the invention of small portable devices that can be placed on a wide variety of muscle belly’s.
The prospective student will complete a quantitative research study to investigate the use of ‘Near Infrared Spectroscopy’ (mNIRS) to monitor peripheral haemodynamic status in stroke or diabetic populations. This project would advance the current knowledge base of mNIRS and improve its applications to monitor non communicable diseases going forward.

Applicants need to be UK-home students, have experience in quantitative research, and need to submit a proposal outlining their study design to meet the above requirements of the project (a proposal template is provided in the application process).

An investigation into the short-term training effects of eccentric exercise on stroke survivors’ muscle-tendon mechanics.

The prospective student will work under the supervision of Professor Tony Kay and Dr Brett Baxter examining the efficacy of eccentric exercise as a rehabilitation modality to improve neuromuscular function in stroke survivors.

The successful applicant will examine metrics of muscle and tendon structure and function prior to training and re-examine these metrics at mid-training and post-training using ultrasonography and dynamometry. Therefore, the applicant should ideally be from a sport and exercise science background with experience using at least one of these assessment methods, with knowledge in biomechanics and/or muscle physiology. Applicants from physiotherapy or occupational therapy backgrounds will also be considered.

Applicants should submit a project proposal no longer than one side of A4, which includes a research-informed background to this topic area. The applicant should also include a proposed study design using the information provided above. If shortlisted, the applicant will be interviewed to further assess their suitability for the project.

For further information, please contact Dr Brett Baxter.

Northamptonshire Sport

Northamptonshire Sport are proud to provide an MRes tuition fee bursary for the 2025/26 academic year. The prospective student will work in collaboration with Northamptonshire Sport, Associate Professor Declan Ryan to undertake a qualitative project. The project forms part of the evaluation for Move Northamptonshire, which is a countywide framework to tackle physical inactivity. The prospective student will undertake interviews to explore their views about Move Northamptonshire and the mechanisms required to implement the framework across the system. In addition, the prospective student will survey partners involved in the delivery of physical activity across the county to identify what support structures can be put in place to support their buy-in and use of Move Northamptonshire. Furthermore, a literature review may be conducted to help Northamptonshire Sport understand approaches to tackling physical inactivity.

Applicants need to be UK-home students, have experience in qualitative research, and need to submit a proposal outlining their study design to meet the above requirements of the project (a proposal template is provided in the application process).

The deadline for applications is 4 July 2025, with shortlisting interviews week beginning 4 August 2025 for a September 2025 start date.

For any queries, please contact Assoc. Prof. Declan Ryan.

Assoc. Prof. Tony Baross:

Primary research areas are the acute and chronic effects of isometric resistance training and the associated central and peripheral adaptations in borderline and hypertensive individuals in addition to investigating the feasibility of undertaking homebased isometric exercise within the community.

My publications in the primary area have established protocols to reduce blood pressure in healthy and borderline hypertensive populations, established homebased isometric exercise equipment and protocols in addition to highlighting a number of possible vascular adaptations associated with this hypotensive response to isometric training.  This has a major impact on the population’s health nationally and globally. The research has been published in high-impact international journals including the Scientific Reports, Cochrane Review and Journal of Hypertension, with collaborations from renowned international authors from Canada, Australia, USA, Holland and UK.

Prof. Tony Kay:

The acute and chronic effects of muscle stretching techniques and eccentric exercise on musculoskeletal and neuromuscular characteristics associated with musculotendinous mechanical properties, architecture, morphology, exercise-induced muscle damage, muscle strain injury, and musculoskeletal and neuromuscular characteristics associated with falls and functional decline in ageing.

Dr. Mairi Mulvenna:

Motivation (Achievement goal theory, self-determination theory), stress appraisals, anxiety, well-being, performance, (sub)optimal functioning. Generally focused on how motivation enhances psychological, emotional (and in some parts physiological) functioning and performance in sport.

Assoc. Prof. Declan Ryan:

Declan joined the University of Northampton in 2019. Since then, Declan has been awarded the University’s Diamond Award for Early Career Researcher of the Year of 2020 and has gone on to manage and deliver several evaluation and research projects, including the Northamptonshire Holiday Activities and Food Programme Summer 2021 evaluation.

The area of Declan’s growing research portfolio investigates the influence of green spaces on population physical activity, wellbeing, and social prescription, collaborating closely with Northamptonshire Sport, Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust, General Practice Alliance, and Public Health Northamptonshire.

Declan is the co-founder of the Activity Quarter, a collective of interdisciplinary organisations aiming to enhance the use of local green spaces as a Public Health asset, in addition to being a member of the Northamptonshire Physical Activity Network. Furthermore, Declan will lead the newly formed Interdisciplinary Physical Activity and Health Promotion Research Group within the Centre for Physical Activity and Life Sciences. The group uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate and research interventions and whole-systems frameworks that promote physical activity, health, and wellbeing in the general public.

Dr. Matt Wood:

In the sports ecosystem it is common for coaches to be part of a multidisciplinary support team (e.g. coaches, analysts, scientists, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and psychology). According to Rothwell et al. (2020), the challenge of integrating subdisciplines originates in a lack underpinning theory of learning and development. In response to this challenge, Ecological Dynamics (Araujo et al., 2015) has been proposed as a suitable theoretical framework to support the collaborative work of coaching and science practitioners in a Department of Methodology (DoM) with the aim of benefiting individual and team performance. This area of research invites students to explore the application of contemporary pedagogical theory (e.g. Constraints-led Approach and Nonlinear Pedagogy) to the coaching process. For example, a key interaction in a DoM is the use of sport performance analysis to enhance coaches’ experiential knowledge when designing and delivering representative practice tasks (Otte et al., 2020). Research in this area seeks to contribute to practical and theoretical knowledge of sports coaching.

Dr. Carmen Horvat:

Primary research area includes elite sport policy and management, in particular within the context of small states and with a focus on the organisation of a successful elite sport system. This encompasses a wide range of topics, including the overall organisational and financial structures; overall participation in sport, talent identification and athlete support systems; sports facilities; coaching and coach education; competitions; scientific research; as well as cultural and wider contextual influences on sporting achievements of athletes. In addition to the above, I am currently expanding my research into the area of management and policy of safeguarding in sport with an aim to aid to the underdeveloped understanding of this topic.

Dr. Stacie Gray:

I currently have two active research strands. The first is situated in the area of sport policy / governance, with a focus upon implementation and compliance (at the macro, meso and micro level). My second research area aims to enhance the student learning experience and influence higher education sport management teaching practice. Specific focus is placed upon equality, diversity and inclusion in the curricula. My articles have been published in a variety of high quality sport management, policy and education journals.

Assoc.  Prof. Emma Whewell:

Emma Whewell is an Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching, Emma’s research centres around, physical education, initial teacher education, mentoring, identity, digital pedagogies and inclusive practices. Her publications are nationally and international recognized for influencing public policy and driving curriculum change. Emma would be interested in supervising projects in the above areas or if an applicant has a specific interest in children’s voice in alternative provision education.

Dr. Lucy Zhu:

Esports is my primary research interest. My research areas include motivation (Self-determination Theory), perceived service quality, well-being, behavioural intentions of spectators and players. I am also interested in sport marketing, gender studies in Esports, player wellbeing and burnout in Esports, as well as performance related research topics. I have close collaboration with researchers from UK as well as China, USA, South Korea and Japan for esports topics. My primary publications focused on scale development on measuring psychological and managerial constructs and their relationships to delineate the psychological pathways behind spectators’ decision making at esports events. I am involved in a number of UK and international grants related to Esports from human resource studies, leadership studies, to legal protection of underaged players.

Dr. Emma Buxton:

Primary research areas are sports biomechanics and impact mechanics. This includes investigating gymnastics landing forces, landing impacts and landing mechanics. This area investigated F.I.G. equipment testing procedures, established with impactor drops and gymnast landings with the use of F.I.G standard landing mats via both experimental and theoretical approaches. The primary aim is to investigate landing impact forces with focus of understanding the implications for both performance and injury reduction. Publications from the research can be found in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. Additional research areas include gymnastic skill technical analysis with the use of simulation modelling for gymnastics high bar skills published in Sport Biomechanics journals.

Dr. Brett Baxter:

Brett’s area of expertise is exercise medicine, specifically the use of eccentric resistance training to improve neuromuscular function in clinical populations. Brett’s previous work has examined the acute, training, and detraining effects of eccentric resistance training in older adults in attempt to develop a minimal-dose strategy to combat age-related neuromuscular decline. Furthermore, Brett is interested in the use of eccentric resistance training to enhance neuromuscular function in those who have had a stroke, particularly by using the cross-education effect from training the unaffected limb.

Dr. Michael Porter

Michael currently lectures at the University of Northampton on the BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science, and Rehabilitation courses, specialising in health and exercise physiology.
Michael first studied at the university of Essex where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science. After graduating in 2016, he went onto pursue a Doctorate in Sports Science also at University of Essex. The title of Michael’s PhD, which was awarded in 2020 was “The Ergogenic Effects of Oxygen Supplementation on Cycling Performance”.

Michael’s current research areas are the 1) use of ‘Near Infrared Spectroscopy’ (mNIRS) to monitor muscle oxygen levels, and 2) exploring the effects that oxygen supplementation has on muscular performance.
Michael’s other research interests lie in physiological testing, the use and application of the VLAmax principle in exercise physiology, and wider interests in health physiology.