Dr Christopher Ring and Dr Maria Kavussanu invite applications for a PhD Scholarship Award that will investigate the The Psychophysiology of Competition in Sport’. The proposed project will collect psychophysiological data (e.g., cardiovascular activity, galvanic skin response and muscle activity) while participants compete at table football task (Sage & Kavussanu, 2007). In a series of studies, the competitive environment will be manipulated both experimentally (Ring et al, 2005; Veldhuijzen van Zanten, et al, 2002) and by instruction (Sage & Kavussanu, 2007). The sport of table football affords unique opportunities to explore the psychophysiology of team-based competition in a laboratory environment.

The overall aims of the project are to (a) enhance our understanding of the physiological correlates of winning and losing, (b) explore whether psychophysiological methodologies can be used to identify cheating in sport, and (c) determine the relationship between psychophysiological reactivity to competition and individual differences in dispositional competitiveness (e.g., Sport Orientation Questionnaire) and goal orientations (e.g., Task-Ego). More specific details about the project can be found on our WebPages (http://www.sportex.bham.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd.htm), or you can discuss the project further by writing to Dr Christopher Ring (c.m.ring@bham.ac.uk)

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham has achieved the highest national Research Assessment Exercise rating (6*). As part of the School’s commitment to research excellence, it is offering several PhD Scholarship awards this year which will be available to European Union citizens (due to funding constraints). The awards are for three years and have an approximate annual value of GBP 8000 plus fees.

The starting date is aimed at October 2007, although programmes of study commencing at a later date will be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applicants require a good Honours degree (at least 2.1 or equivalent) in an appropriate subject for the project, an acceptable English qualification (e.g., GCSE, IELTS etc.) and must be a citizen of the European Union (due to funding restrictions). Applications to the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, should be completed on-line at: http://www.bham.ac.uk/application/. The closing date for the application is the 31st May 2007.

General enquiries should be directed to Dr. M. Edwards, Postgraduate Admissions Tutor (M.Edwards.1@Bham.ac.uk) or to Val Queeley, Admissions Secretary (tel: 0121 414 4115). Please visit our website for more details: http://www.sportex.bham.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd.htm