Fully-funded PhD: Optimising Creatine Dosing Strategies for Brain Health: a focus upon mild traumatic brain injury

Are you ready to tackle a research challenge with real-world impact? We invite motivated and talented graduates to apply for an exciting PhD project exploring how creatine supplementation can be optimised to support brain health. Creatine, best known for its role in muscle performance, also plays a vital role in brain energy metabolism. Yet, the most effective dosing strategies, timeframes and contexts remain unclear. This project will combine human trials, advanced brain imaging, and cognitive assessments to identify evidence-based approaches that could, over time, transform clinical practice.

You will gain expertise in experimental design, clinical research methods, data analysis, and science communication, working within state-of-the-art laboratories and with interdisciplinary collaborators across neuroscience, nutrition, and sports medicine.

As part of our inclusive and supportive doctoral community, you will benefit from structured training, conference funding, mentoring, and opportunities for collaboration and leadership. We are committed to fostering a dynamic academic environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation.

If you are curious, ambitious, and passionate about the topic, we would love to hear from you.

Project aims and objectives

This PhD programme of research aims to optimise creatine monohydrate dosing strategies for brain health, with a specific focus upon mild traumatic brain injury. This work will systematically investigate how creatine dose, duration, and timing influence brain creatine availability and markers of brain function and recovery. Findings from this research have the potential to inform sport-specific supplementation guidelines while also contributing to a broader understanding of nutritional strategies to support brain energy metabolism following mTBI across both athletic and non-athletic populations.