{"id":4443,"date":"2026-04-28T11:01:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/?p=4443"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:03:18","slug":"swansea-university-and-uk-sports-institute-launch-phd-to-enhance-data-informed-performance-in-elite-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2026\/04\/28\/swansea-university-and-uk-sports-institute-launch-phd-to-enhance-data-informed-performance-in-elite-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Swansea University and UK Sports Institute launch PhD to enhance data-informed performance in elite sport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swansea.ac.uk\">Swansea University<\/a> has launched a new collaborative PhD project with the\u00a0UK Sports Institute (UKSI), the UK\u2019s leading provider of science, medicine, technology and engineering services to Olympic and Paralympic sports.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project, led by academics from Swansea\u2019s Sport Analytics specialist area, builds on a growing research programme at the University which uses advanced data analytics to tackle real\u2011world performance challenges in elite sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.swansea.ac.uk\/sport-exercise-sciences\/astem\/\">Applied Sports Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Centre<\/a>, the project team works closely with UKSI and a range of major sporting organisations \u2014 from Swansea City AFC, the Scarlets and the Ospreys, to Swim Wales and INEOS Grenadiers \u2014 and includes Professors Liam Kilduff, Neil Bezodis and Laura Mason, and Drs Mark Waldron and Rowan Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drawing on their combined expertise in sports performance science, statistics, machine learning and computer science, the team aims to accelerate how data is translated into high-performance decision-making across a range of sports in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project will apply a framework \u2014 recently developed by the Swansea team in collaboration with industry and academic partners \u2014 to support data-informed practice in elite sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It will also use advanced modelling approaches \u2014 including machine learning, digital twin models and, where appropriate, AI techniques \u2014 to generate innovative solutions that help high-performance sports make clearer, more confident choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Neil Bezodis, Professor of Sports Biomechanics and Technology at Swansea University, said:<\/strong>&nbsp;\u201cWe always work closely with our partners to design and conduct research that will genuinely impact high-performance sport. We\u2019re therefore very proud of our longstanding relationship with UKSI, and excited about the potential for this project to further influence their practice, as well as that of the sports they work with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dr Matt Parker, Director of Performance Innovation at UKSI, said:<\/strong>&nbsp;\u201cOur ongoing relationship with Swansea has helped us to access research capabilities which have unearthed and validated performance impact across a broad spectrum of sports over several Olympic and Paralympic Cycles, covering the full spectrum of performance support, including biomechanics, psychology, physiology and more recently Data Science. Liam, Neil and the team at A-STEM bring a rigorous approach to science alongside a performance-first attitude, and they have a strong track record of delivering value against competition timelines in complex scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dave Thomas, Senior Performance and Innovation Consultant (Technology) at UKSI, added<\/strong>: \u201cPartnering with the A-STEM Research Centre in running this PhD allows us to build on existing work with Swansea in developing and applying new and novel methods for finding meaningful performance levers within complex and often messy datasets. Hopefully, it also offers aspiring practitioners the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the British Olympic and Paralympic effort, while gaining valuable experience in High Performance Sport and developing a cutting-edge analytical skillset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This PhD opportunity builds on Swansea University\u2019s extensive portfolio of high-performance collaborations \u2014 from applied sports analytics projects that have informed the technical strategies of national governing bodies working in partnership with UKSI, to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.swansea.ac.uk\/press-office\/news-events\/news\/2021\/09\/swansea-technology-helps-power-top-british-athletes-to-tokyo-success.php\">development of novel heated garments for athletes\u2019 pre-competition preparation, delivered in partnership with the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-794e3cfa wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ee856660 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobs.ac.uk\/job\/DRA552\/phd-studentship-stem-maths-physics-computer-science-principles-and-methods-to-support-data-informed-decisions-in-olympic-and-paralympic-sport\"><strong>Apply for the PhD<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swansea.ac.uk\/sport-exercise-sciences\/\"><strong>Learn more about Swansea Uni&#8217;s Sport and Exercise Sciences department<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swansea University has launched a new collaborative PhD project with the\u00a0UK Sports Institute (UKSI), the UK\u2019s leading provider of science, medicine, technology and engineering services to Olympic and Paralympic sports. The project, led by academics from Swansea\u2019s Sport Analytics specialist area, builds on a growing research programme at the University which uses advanced data analytics [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190346150,"featured_media":4446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1366],"tags":[1368,1372],"class_list":["post-4443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-research","tag-sport"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Wordpress-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfwlnl-19F","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3953,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2026\/01\/27\/swansea-ineos-grenadiers-collaboration-to-help-transform-elite-cycling-talent-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":0},"title":"Swansea\u2013INEOS Grenadiers collaboration to help transform elite cycling talent identification","author":"meganchick1","date":"27th January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Swansea University has partnered with INEOS Grenadiers to develop cutting-edge data and AI solutions that could revolutionise how emerging talent is identified in professional cycling. The collaboration is led by academics from the University\u2019s Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Centre, which already works closely with leading sporting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":576,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/04\/16\/swansea-university-and-scarlets-rugby-announce-phd-scholarship-to-research-in-game-statistics-in-professional-rugby-union\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":1},"title":"Swansea University and Scarlets Rugby Announce PhD Scholarship to Research In-Game Statistics in Professional Rugby Union","author":"meganchick1","date":"16th April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Swansea University, in collaboration with Scarlets Rugby, has unveiled an innovative Sports Science PhD Scholarship to explore in-game statistics and their association with match outcomes in professional rugby. This pioneering initiative represents a concerted effort to push the boundaries of sports analytics and enhance the understanding of performance dynamics within\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/6746-Varsity_2019_%C2%A9jamesdavies_064.jpg?fit=1200%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/6746-Varsity_2019_%C2%A9jamesdavies_064.jpg?fit=1200%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/6746-Varsity_2019_%C2%A9jamesdavies_064.jpg?fit=1200%2C589&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/6746-Varsity_2019_%C2%A9jamesdavies_064.jpg?fit=1200%2C589&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/6746-Varsity_2019_%C2%A9jamesdavies_064.jpg?fit=1200%2C589&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1180,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/06\/24\/full-funded-phd-scholarship-immersive-learning-for-performance-sports\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":2},"title":"Fully-funded PhD Scholarship: Immersive Learning for Performance Sports","author":"meganchick1","date":"24th June 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Swansea University is seeking candidates to undertake a fully-funded PhD scholarship to research the development, evaluation and application of immersive learning environments for performance sport. This exciting new project is the first formal collaboration between Swansea University\u2019s world-leading Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre (SUSIM) and Department of Sport and Exercise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-5.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-5.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-5.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-5.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-5.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":644,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2024\/04\/16\/swansea-bay-city-deal-digital-infrastructure-scholarship-opportunities\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":3},"title":"Swansea Bay City Deal Digital Infrastructure Scholarship Opportunities","author":"meganchick1","date":"16th April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We are pleased to announce three, fully-funded PhD studentships available for 2024\/2025. The projects will be aligned to the Swansea Bay City Deal (SBCD) Digital Infrastructure project that is part of NNIISH.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"National Network for Innovation in Sport & Health base at Swansea University","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Wordpress-Featured-Image.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Wordpress-Featured-Image.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Wordpress-Featured-Image.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Wordpress-Featured-Image.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Wordpress-Featured-Image.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3801,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2025\/11\/25\/fully-funded-phd-opportunity-race-strategy-in-professional-cycling\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":4},"title":"Fully Funded PhD Opportunity: Race Strategy in Professional Cycling","author":"meganchick1","date":"25th November 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We're pleased to highlight an exciting, fully-funded PhD opportunity at Swansea University exploring the cutting edge of performance analysis and tactical decision-making in elite professional cycling. Delivered in partnership with INEOS Grenadiers, this unique studentship blends physics, computer science, and sport science to shape the future of race strategy at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Wordpress-2.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2436,"url":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/2025\/02\/17\/fully-funded-swansea-university-phd-studentship-in-sport-psychology\/","url_meta":{"origin":4443,"position":5},"title":"Fully Funded Swansea University  PhD Studentship in Sport Psychology","author":"meganchick1","date":"17th February 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Open for applications: Sport Psychology; Sport Management: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Research Integration for Sport Experiences: Improving Knowledge Translation and Implementation in Youth Sport. Swansea University is offering a fully funded PhD studentship focused on enhancing knowledge translation and implementation in youth sport. This opportunity aims to bridge the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Wordpress-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Wordpress-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Wordpress-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Wordpress-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nish.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Wordpress-3.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/190346150"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4443"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4445,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions\/4445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nish.wales\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}