Starter's orders for unique Ph.D....( Top researchers at The University of...)

Top researchers at The University of Nottingham are teaming up with colleagues in other higher education institutions around the region, to work on pioneering Sport PhD courses.

They include research into a mobile biosensor, to detect the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in sports, and a manufacturing process to make titanium golf clubs more affordable.

Theyre just two of seven collaborative studentships, currently underway in the East Midlands. Dr Neil Thomas from the University of Nottingham is jointly supervising the biosensor research with Professor Glen McHale at Nottingham Trent University.

Dr Thomas said: Its very early days in the research, but its encouraging to see so many academics working collaboratively on projects which could potentially be of significant benefit to the sports community.

Professor Sarah OHara, the Dean of Social Sciences, Law and Education at the University of Nottingham, is among the academics steering the innovative programme. She said: Were all very excited about the Sport PhDs. They not only highlight some groundbreaking work, but also show what can be achieved when the Higher Education Institutions in the region to work together for a common purpose.

It is hoped more PhD students will use their expertise to tackle even more areas of sports.

Lisa Ambler from the East Midlands Universities Association said: "East Midlands Collaborative PhD Studentships in Sport allow young researchers to benefit from the wide range of expertise in our region's universities. We have some extremely talented and dedicated students working on the seven PhD projects and we believe that the collaborative nature of the supervision will result in some very successful research outcomes."

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