Joint PhD Scholarship: Sheffield Hallam University and La Trobe University, Australia. Project: Predictive Modelling of Football Ball Parameters and Injury Risk during Head Contact Events

About the project

About the Project Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship on the Joint PhD programme between Sheffield Hallam University and La Trobe University, Australia. Sheffield Hallam University is offering this PhD scholarships to study on the joint PhD programme with La Trobe University, Australia, to start 01 February 2027. Detailed information about the Joint PhD programme is available here: Global partnership: Joint PhD programme with La Trobe University, Australia | Sheffield Hallam University Students on the joint PhD programme will be enrolled on a PhD at both institutions. Your supervisory team will comprise academics from each institution who will provide support and guidance throughout your research. You will benefit from the research community, networking and collaborations of the Sheffield Hallam/La Trobe global partnership. As a student of both institutions, you will have access to services and support provided at Sheffield Hallam and La Trobe, including a range of professional and personal development for researchers. For these scholarships, Sheffield Hallam will be your “home institution” where you will begin your studies and spend the majority of your time. The expectation is that you will typically spend up to 12 months at La Trobe as the “host institution”; the timing and duration of this will depend on your programme of research. This funded scholarship is offered on a full-time basis only, covers Home PhD fees and provides a stipend at the Living Wage Foundation rate (£22,152 for 2025/26). The stipend increases annually according to the Living Wage rate. Project Information : Predictive Modelling of Football Ball Parameters and Injury Risk during Head Contact Events Heading in football remains at the centre of growing concerns around repeated head accelerations and their implications for long-term brain health. While existing studies have identified associations between ball properties, impact conditions and resulting head kinematics; such as linear and rotational acceleration, these findings are typically limited to isolated parameter studies. This limits the ability to predict the combined effect of equipment design changes, leaving a significant gap in the conclusions that can be made around the meaningful significance of equipment modifications to reduce head loading during heading. This PhD will develop a predictive, data-driven modelling framework capable of quantifying how combinations of football design parameters influence head impact mechanics across different player populations. Rather than investigating individual variables in isolation, the project will establish the relationships between ball mass, pressure, stiffness, size and material properties, together with player-specific characteristics such as age, sex and heading technique. Using a combination of experimental impact testing, instrumentation and data driven analysis, the successful candidate will develop and validate an interactive predictive platform that enables users to explore how changes in football design influence head loading under a wide range of scenarios. The resulting framework will provide a powerful research and decision-support tool for governing bodies, manufacturers and researchers, to allow evidence-based evaluation of potential equipment modifications before they are implemented. This interdisciplinary PhD is ideally suited to graduates in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or related disciplines with interests in computational modelling, biomechanics, data science, optimisation or digital engineering. The project will involve: Designing and conducting controlled impact experiments using advanced instrumentation. Developing predictive models from experimental and computational data. Applying statistical modelling, machine learning and optimisation techniques to capture interactions between multiple design variables. Building an interactive digital tool for scenario analysis across different player populations. Validating model predictions against experimental measurements. The research programme will involve supervision from leading experts across an international collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and La Trobe University. The PhD student will be based within the Sports Engineering Research Group at Sheffield Hallam University but will spend time at La Trobe’s Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM). The research programme will involve supervision from leading experts across an international collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and La Trobe University. The PhD student will be based within the Sports Engineering Research Group at Sheffield Hallam University but will spend time at La Trobe’s Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM) Eligibility Applicants must hold a 1st class or 2:1 degree in Sport Science, Data Science, Biomedical Science, Engineering, or related subjects. Quantitative skills are desirable; training in specialist methods will be provided. We are offering this as a full-time PhD scholarship, though flexible working hours can be discussed. We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBTQIA+, BAME and disabled communities. International / EU applicants Please read the funding notes section for important information about tuition fees for this scholarship. Sheffield Hallam has a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants from Countries not included in the UKVI exemption list here: https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions . This qualification must have been taken within the last two-years, with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas and may be required even if you have previous qualifications gained at UK institutions. Please do check with the Postgraduate research team: DoctoralSchool-HWLS-PGR@shu.ac.uk prior to application, as our academic shortlisting team will not assess applications submitted without a mandatory English language qualification. How to Apply Complete and submit the online application form at: https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/phd-sport-and-physical-activity/full-time/2026 Please add the project title within the Personal Statement field of the application form. You must upload: 1. A 1,500-word outline research proposal addressing this specific project. 2. Two letters of reference, or details of two academic referees 3. Copy of your highest degree certificate 4. Copy of your passport 5. International applicants must submit: IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years A statment confirming that they can meet the tuition fee of £13,362 per year for the duration of the scholarship. If you experience issues submitting your online application, or for general enquiries please contact: DoctoralSchool-HWLS-PGR@shu.ac.uk Application deadline: 23 November 2026, 12 noon UK Time ( Late applications will not be accepted ) Interviews: W/C 14 December 2026 P lease note, we are unable to offer alternative interview slots once allocated to shortlisted candidates.

Research areas