About Washington Spirit: We are the professional women’s soccer team proudly representing the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Launched in 2012, we are a founding team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Washington Spirit leadership is setting a vision and building an infrastructure in which all the players and staff can thrive. The newly formed Performance, Medical and Innovation Department will be a key part of that process. The strategic vision of the Department is to ‘Empower, educate and develop women by providing bespoke high performance and medical support, creating a unique and inspiring World Class environment.
About the role: As a result of the club’s ambition to create a World Class environment, a unique opportunity has arisen for an exceptional candidate to complete a PhD at Washington Spirit (United States of America), in collaboration with Northumbria University, Newcastle (United Kingdom). The PhD candidate will be fully embedded within the Performance, Medical and Innovation Department at Washington Spirit. While completing the academic requirements of this prestigious award, the candidate will be required to facilitate the delivery of elite performance support provided to female athletes daily. This opportunity will provide the ideal candidate with the opportunity to develop both their research and practitioner skills and embed evidenced based practice at the forefront of elite female sport. This opportunity is a full time PhD, often including evening and weekend work. The position includes compensation for living costs, and tuition fees are fully covered. Continuation of funding will be subject to satisfactory progression.
About Northumbria University, Newcastle: About us | Northumbria University Northumbria is a research-intensive, modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence. One of the largest universities in the UK, it was named UK University of the Year 2022 in the Times Higher Education Awards. Northumbria collaborates with major employers, including Nike, IBM, Nissan, Proctor & Gamble, the BBC, and the NHS, while more than 560 employers and 60 professional bodies sponsor or accredit the University’s programs.
Project: Optimizing physical preparation, performance, and recovery in elite female soccer players Research Question: The objective of the research project is to provide innovative insight into optimizing physical preparation, performance, and recovery in elite female athletes. As part of the application process, in addition to a curriculum vitae and cover letter, we would like applicants to submit a 1000-word research proposal, in areas such as:
- Monitoring strategies to optimize performance.
- Recovery, travel, and sleep.
- The application of strength and conditioning.
- Equipment and technology.
- Contextual match demands.
The research proposal should demonstrate your understanding of female specific research, including an outline of potential research questions. The proposal should be clearly aligned with the vision of the club.
Eligibility and How to Apply: Please note eligibility requirement:
- The candidate must be eligible to work in the United States of America.
- Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e., 2:1 or equivalent GPA of 3.3 or above from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement, in sport science or a relevant discipline.
- Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
- Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
- Knowledge of the physiological demands and preparation of women’s professional soccer: Acknowledging demands unique to the NWSL would be a distinct advantage.
- Experience of providing scientific support to female athletes; a good understanding of female physiology would be a distinct advantage.
- A passion for innovation and the growth of women’s sport.
- Enthusiasm and energy to be a team player, who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to manage time effectively and efficiently to achieve all aspect of the role is a prerequisite.
- Good organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize/multi-task.
- Experience in Sports Science technologies such as: GPS, Polar, VALD (NordBord and ForceDecks), and Athlete Management Systems would be advantageous.
- Strong PC skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
How to apply: Please send a resume, cover letter and a 1000-word proposal. The closing data is 5/26/2023. Any informal inquiries may be sent to Kristy Hicks at
[email protected].
Please note: Applications that do not include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words (not a copy of the advert), and a CV will not be considered.
Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our doctoral students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are taking part in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers.
Funding Notes. Three years fully funded. Candidates must be eligible to work in the US. Primary location: Leesburg, VA, and Washington D.C. Metropolitan area (USA). There will be requirement to travel to the UK for 8 weeks as part of training at Northumbria University.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
