Physical Education & Sports Science (PESS) has a vibrant research culture involving all academic staff who actively pursue major research grants - a major interdisciplinary collaboration with the Ministry of Education has just been approved. There are currently 30 post-graduate students researching in physical education and sports science. Applied psychology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, health and wellness, pedagogy and sports studies are well-established research fields and motor-control/development and coaching are emerging as strong contenders.
PESS has state-of the art equipment in the laboratories plus significant resources for audio and videotaping as well as software for behaviour analysis. Hardware includes a Quinton treadmill, metabolic cart and electrocardiograph; BodPod; dual energy x-ray absorptiometer; dry chemistry analyser; Cybex 6000 strength dynamometer; force platforms; Peak Video motion analysis system; electromyograph system; Monark and Repco ergometers. There are 20 academic staff, 11 post-graduates and research students and 3 technicians involved in the research of the School.
NB. It is important that all applicants to programmes by research (Masters and PhD) in physical education or sports science should first contact PESS directly to establish feasibility as well as an appropriate research supervisor before submitting their application to NIE. As our faculty is small and our discipline diverse, it is necessary to negotiate a common understanding and supervisor availability. Once nominated, a supervisor will guide a student towards submitting a thorough and well formulated proposal. This procedure should prevent a futile submission from suitably qualified applicants in the event that no supervisor is available for that discipline or no appropriate proposal has been prepared.