Sports Science: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: The effect of mineral rich Algae with and without...

Funding providers: Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering and Marigot Ltd.

Subject areas: Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Thermal Physiology

Project start date: 

• 1 July 2022 (Enrolment open from mid-June)

Supervisors: 

• Dr Shane Heffernan  (Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM) , Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University)
• Dr Mark Waldron  (Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM) , Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University)
• Dr Gillian Conway  (Research Officer, Toxicology Group, Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University)
• Dr Katy Horner  (School of Public Health, Institute of Food and Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Sports Science (Exercise Physiology and Nutrition)

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

Both animal-based protein (Frontiers in Physiology, 2018; 9, 598) and inorganic dietary mineral supplementation (Nutrients, 2019; 11(3)) have shown improvements in endurance performance. However, the impact of plant-derived protein and mineral-rich Algae (natural organic minerals) have not been investigated for this purpose, either individually or in combination. This is despite the huge increase in general and athletic population adopting animal free (or animal less) dietary patterns (Nutrients, 2018; 11(29)) and the global move towards plant-based alternatives. This PhD study will address these literature gaps and will include mechanistic work (via blood and potentially in vitro methodologies). The study will include a number of independent experimental studies focusing on the combined/individual impacts of plant-based protein combinations, with/without Lithothamnion Algae species (Aquamin Ca+  and Mg products) on acute, prolonged and exercise training via a number for nutritional supplementation trials.

Here are the likely outcome measures/markers of endurance performance that the student will learn/execute;

In response to nutritional interventions, and exercising in a thermally challenged environment

• Global adaptation
  • VO2 max (gasses exchange), heart rate, exercise tolerance (pain and perceived exhaustion), sweat response (volume and molecular content)
• Systemic adaptation
  • Blood Flow Kinetics (FMD via ultrasound), muscle blood flow (near inferred spectroscopy) etc.
• Molecular adaption
  • Systemic biomarkers of inflammation, reactive oxygen species, blood lactate accumulation etc. (with some potential for in vitro work depending on the results and the successful candidate)

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