PhD Studentship - Nutrition Support through Embedded Research: A Vehicle for Improving Health, Performance and Culture at GB Taekwondo

This three-year full-time PhD project will explore nutrition in Taekwondo, a weight-category combat sport where the way athletes fuel, recover and manage weight affects both performance and long-term health. This project is a partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Health and Education and GB Taekwondo, offering the chance to shape nutrition practice in a high-performance Olympic programme ahead of Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.

Working as an embedded researcher within GB Taekwondo, you will explore current nutrition practice and the views of male and female athletes and para-athletes, their coaches and support staff, co-design an evidence-informed nutrition curriculum covering performance, health and culture, and evaluate its impact at group and individual level. You will gain expertise in mixed-methods research, curriculum design, quality improvement and single-case study designs, working alongside experienced supervisors in a real-world setting, benefiting athletes across other combat sports.

Objectives

This PhD aims to improve nutrition practice in Taekwondo, at both group and individual level, to support performance, health and culture. Working as an embedded researcher, the successful candidate will: examine current nutrition practices and the challenges faced by athletes, coaches and support staff; evaluate how nutrition curriculum design and implementation are approached in sport; co-design an evidence-informed curriculum spanning performance, health and culture with input from all stakeholders; evaluate and refine current practice and the new curriculum through a quality-improvement project; and assess individual-level impact through a person-centred case series. Findings will inform nutrition practice and curriculum design across combat sport and beyond, with real-world benefit for athletes and the wider high-performance system.

Funding

Home students can apply only. Only home tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the three-year award, which is £5,238 for the year 2026/27. 

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by UKRI, currently £21,805 for the year 2026/27.

Candidate requirements

Essential

• Applicants should hold at least a first or upper second class (2:1) honours degree in sport and exercise science, nutrition, sport and exercise nutrition or a related discipline, or an equivalent qualification. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and an interest in applying research to practice are required, as the role is embedded across an elite performance environment.
• This studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants only, as the award covers tuition at the Home fee rate.

Desirable

• A master’s degree in one of the subjects listed above (such as sport and exercise science, nutrition, sport and exercise nutrition or a related discipline)
• Experience of mixed-methods research

How to apply

If you have any questions, please contact the principal supervisor, Dr Nick Dobbin (N.Dobbin@mmu.ac.uk).

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time PhD in Health Professions.

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, and include your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest. 

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal or email the requested documents to pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk. 

Application closing date: Wednesday 7 October 2026.

Expected start date: January 2027

Please quote the reference: H&E-Jan 2027-ND-Nutrition in Taekwondo