Overview
Job Title: Research Associate in Professional Football Psychology
Job Reference: REQ250978
Date Posted: Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Application Closing Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Location: Loughborough
Package: Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 6 from £35608
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Part-time (0.4 FTE, 14.8 hrs per week); Fixed-term to 30 June 2026
This project involves the development of a performance psychology framework to support football players’ development into professional athletes. Integrating the best available research with service expertise in the professional football context, the framework will guide psychologists’ and coaches’ support of talented players’ psychosocial and performance development. The vision being to develop players’ critical awareness and know-how to enable them to apply their mind, skills, techniques, strategies, and tactics to the same high standard every time they perform – in other words, to acquire and maintain a ‘champion mentality’.
The Research and Innovation Assistant/Associate will be an integral member of the research team: David Fletcher (Professor of Human Performance and Health, Loughborough University), Perry Stewart (Head of Academy Performance, Arsenal Football Club), Sapna Sharma (Academy Psychologist, Arsenal Football Club), Adam Bracey (Academy Psychologist, Arsenal Football Club), and MSc Student (Loughborough University).
The ideal candidate will have an PhD in sport and/or psychology and a background in performance sport- related research and practice. In addition, he or she may have or be undertaking CASES Accreditation and/or BPS Qualification in sport and exercise psychology, and/or HCPC Registration in sport and exercise psychology.
This part-time post is offered on a fixed-term contract until 30 June 2026.
For more information on the role please refer to the Job Description or Person Specification.
Informal enquiries should be directed to David Fletcher, Professor of Human Performance and Health, via email to D.Fletcher@lboro.ac.uk or by telephone to 01509 223271
Closing Date: 16 November 2025
Loughborough University is committed to allowing its employees to work dynamically with a combination of working on campus and remotely, where possible. This has been identified as a role that could work dynamically and, if successful, your line manager will discuss these informal arrangements with you. Please note that there is a general expectation that the successful candidate will spend the majority of time working on the Loughborough campus.
Our Benefits
At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:
Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme
Where you work – access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Financial wellbeing – competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities
Support for you and those close to you – through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.
Health and wellbeing – discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support
Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting
Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.
