Paralympics Australia (PA) in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Archery Australia (AA) are offering a fully funded three-year Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) scholarship.
Project overview
Understanding the demands of different performance contexts is crucial to support the design of training tasks and optimal development programs. While simulating all aspects of major international events is not often desirable nor feasible, there is a growing appreciation that understanding, and sampling key aspects of competition contexts could allow athletes to better transfer skills to those contexts. Recent theoretical and empirical advances in skill acquisition research have demonstrated the impact of training designs that are non-representative of competition contexts on intention, cognition, emotion, action (i.e., movement coordination), and ultimately performance outcomes (e.g., Maloney et al., 2022; Pinder et al., 2011). Sampling of situational information is, therefore, a rich area for applied research programs that could enhance execution of athletes’ skills for specific performance contexts. This project aims to take a trans-disciplinary approach to simulating performance contexts in Para Archery to prepare athletes and coaches for World Championships and Paralympic Games. Research in this area is limited, and offers an exciting opportunity for applied impact, where findings could provide insights and competitive advantages for multiple Australian Paralympic sports.
Supervisors
– Dr Ross Pinder, Paralympic Innovation Lead, Skill Acquisition Specialist (PA)
– Associate Professor Ian Renshaw (QUT)
– Professor Remco Polman (QUT)
The scholarship offers:
– Fully funded three-year Applied PhD scholarship with Paralympics Australia and Archery Australia at $28,597 per annum (2022 rate indexed annually).
– Related work experience supporting Australian Para-athletes under the guidance of Dr Ross Pinder.
– Integration with, and support from, the Paralympic Innovation team of applied specialists and research scholars.
– The role will require the successful candidate to divide their time between Brisbane (QUT) and Sydney (Olympic Park) where they will work closely with the National Head Coach (Para) and key services providers (e.g., skill acquisition, performance psychology).
– The role will include regular national and (occasional) international travel as well as opportunities to attend academic conferences.
Eligibility
You must have:
– successfully completed a research masters degree in skill acquisition and/ or biomechanics, performance analysis or performance psychology, OR
– have successfully completed a masters by coursework degree or professional doctorate, with at least 25% research in the aforementioned areas, OR
– have an Honours degree with a First Class or 2A Honours with demonstrated knowledge and applied skills in skill acquisition, biomechanics, and /or performance analysis
Please contact Associate Professor Ian Renshaw (i.renshaw@qut.edu.au) or Dr Ross Pinder (ross.pinder@paralympic.org.au) for further information on this scholarship opportunity
Formal applications should be sent to Ian Renshaw by email (i.renshaw@qut.edu.au) by COB 22nd April 2022. Please include a cover letter (max. 2 pages) and CV (max. 3 pages)