Project summary
High-performance athletes are routinely exposed to significant physiological, psychological, nutritional, and environmental stressors that can influence health, wellbeing, and performance. While athlete screening is widely used across sporting organisations, current approaches often focus on isolated domains and may fail to identify emerging risks before they negatively impact training adaptation, health, availability, or performance.
This PhD project aims to develop, evaluate, and implement innovative athlete screening approaches through a sports dietitian's lens. The research will explore how nutrition-related indicators, alongside broader measures of athlete health and readiness, can be better integrated into screening systems used within high-performance sport.
Potential areas of investigation include low energy availability, relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), dietary practices, body composition assessment, recovery behaviours, illness and injury risk, athlete wellbeing, and the use of technology-enabled screening tools. The project will involve close collaboration with industry partners and sporting organisations to ensure outcomes are practical, scalable, and impactful.
This research has the potential to improve athlete care, support earlier identification of health and performance risks, and help sporting organisations optimise athlete availability and performance outcomes.
Applications close
6 December 2026 11:25pm
To complete an application you will need to create an account and login to the HDR scholarships portal.
Position summary
The University of the Sunshine Coast is seeking an outstanding PhD candidate to join an innovative research program focused on improving athlete screening and monitoring in high-performance sport.
This multidisciplinary project sits at the intersection of sports nutrition, athlete health, sports science, and performance support. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced researchers, sports dietitians, and industry partners to develop, evaluate, and implement novel athlete screening approaches that better identify and manage health and performance risks.
A key feature of this scholarship is the opportunity to collaborate with practitioners and stakeholders from the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and other high-performance sporting environments. These partnerships will provide valuable exposure to real-world athlete monitoring systems and support the translation of research findings into practice. The candidate may have opportunities to engage with athletes, coaches, sports dietitians, and performance support staff while investigating factors that influence athlete health, wellbeing, availability, and performance.
The project will provide training in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, athlete assessment techniques, data analytics, implementation science, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will develop expertise in conducting applied research while building a strong professional network across academia and high-performance sport.
This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research with real-world impact and help shape future athlete health and performance systems within Australia's high-performance sport sector. The research aligns with a period of significant investment and innovation leading into, and beyond, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, making it an ideal opportunity for candidates interested in careers in academia, sports nutrition, sports science, or high-performance sport.
Required project commencement: Feb 2027
Eligibility and Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a highly motivated and academically capable Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with a passion for athlete health, performance, and applied research. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in sports nutrition and a desire to contribute to the development of innovative athlete screening and monitoring systems within high-performance sport.
The ideal candidate will possess excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, together with the ability to critically evaluate evidence and translate research findings into practical applications. Experience working with athletes, sporting organisations, or performance support teams is desirable, although not essential.
Candidates should demonstrate an ability to work both independently and collaboratively, manage complex projects, and build effective relationships with athletes, coaches, sports dietitians, and other members of multidisciplinary performance teams. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to research excellence are essential.
This scholarship is ideally suited to an APD seeking to develop expertise at the intersection of sports nutrition, athlete health, and high-performance sport. The successful candidate will be excited by the opportunity to undertake industry-engaged research with potential collaborations across Australia's high-performance sport system, including the Queensland Academy of Sport, and contribute to evidence-based practices that enhance athlete wellbeing, availability, and performance in the lead-up to and beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Eligiblity
- Must be a Domestic applicant
- Must hold current Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) status, or be eligible for APD accreditation at the commencement of candidature.
- Demonstrated academic achievement equivalent to First Class Honours or a research Masters degree.
- Demonstrated interest in sports nutrition, athlete health, or high-performance sport.
Inclusions
The full-time candidature period is 3 years, with the possibility of a 6-month extension. Coverage for the domestic HDR student includes:
- Stipend - $38,760 (AUD) per annum, paid fortnightly and is tax-free for full-time students.
- Tuition fees - Full coverage, with a value of $31 200 per annum.
- Relocation allowance - Up to $2,000 to relocate to a UniSC campus
All inclusions are in accordance with UniSC RTP Research scholarship conditions
Contact
Gary Slater
Email: [email protected]