PhD Studentship: The Delivery of Artificial Intelligence Analytics Solutions for Cycling’s Performance Pathway: Informing Coaching & Athlete Performance through Data-Drive Insights

sportscotland (the national agency for sport) has recently delivered an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) camera system at the Chris Hoy Velodrome in the Emirates Arena for Scottish Cycling. Through this innovation being delivered and installed, sportscotland and Scottish Cycling wish to answer and address key coaching and service support questions through the provision of related applied research involving AI data analysis, measurement, visualisation, and data interpretation processes. 

This 3-year full-time PhD studentship offers a fantastic opportunity in cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research in collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, sportscotland and Scottish cycling. 

Objectives

• Through AI data analysis, measurement, visualisation and data interpretation processes, answer and address key coaching and service support questions through the provision of related applied research.
• Provide daily training environment and competition-based AI camera system measurement of prioritised sportscotland / Scottish Cycling athletes’ performance that impacts upon performance preparations for key national, international events.
• Provide analysis, interpretation and feedback emerging from AI measurement to sportscotland / Scottish Cycling athletes, coaches, service providers and managers on a timely basis.
• Produce several conference and peer reviewed academic outputs that are approved by Scottish Cycling and sportscotland’s Innovation and Special Project Management Group prior to presentation and/or publication; and
• deliver Data Management Services that are line managed by sportscotland’s Data Manager up to a 50% working week

Further information

Important Notice: the successful applicant will be transferred to the new programme titled PhD in Sport Data Analytics, subject to senate approval. 

Eligibility

You should hold a 1 or 2.1 degree at undergraduate level in a relevant discipline from a recognised academic institution. Ideally your degree will be in Sports Science, Computer Science, or Mathematics & Statistics or related disciplines.

You should be highly motivated to undertake cutting edge multidisciplinary research in this field and to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders.

Desirable attributes

• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and appropriately to athletes, coaches, and colleagues
• Ability to understanding the needs of athletes and coaches by paying active listening
• Willingness to work closely with a multidisciplinary team (coaches, medical staff, and other support services)
• Ability to empathise with the physical and mental challenges athletes face
• Ability to recognise when an athlete or colleague is under stress or strain and responding appropriately
• Understanding of governing sporting bodies and high-performance sport pathways 

The successful candidate must be able to commence PhD study no later than 1 April 2025.

Funding

The studentship is fully funded and covers Home Fees and provides a stipend in line with UKRI guidance to cover their living expenses. Stipend for 2024/25 academic year is £1,603 per calendar month (tax free).

Please note that the studentship covers Home/UK fees only. While non-UK applicants can apply, you need to specify in your documentation how you will fund the difference between the home UK and international fee rates.

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