PhD in Health and Exercise Science
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Program overview
The PhD in Health and Exercise Science expands your knowledge of specific areas of health sciences research, including cellular and systems physiology, intervention and rehabilitation and population health. Under the guidance of our faculty you will study the links between specialized sciences such as athletic therapy, molecular biology, neurology, nutrition and behavioural medicine. The program has a focus on prevention and supportive care. You will have access to Concordia’s PERFORM Centre and its unique, multiplex facilities. PERFORM provides an exceptional environment for health research that combines a variety of methodologies under one roof. Current research topics include motion analysis, cardiopulmonary testing, clinical imaging, biological sample analyses and socioenvironmental diagnoses. Our researchers have access to a number of university-led research centres, such as the Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics, the Centre for Research in Human Development, and the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology, as well as many offsite research units.
Program details
- Research MSc in science (e.g., Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physiology, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Psychology, or Physics) from a recognized university.
- An established publication record.
- Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions.
Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.
6 credits – Required Courses
HEXS 801 - Scientific Communication and Pedagogy in Health and Exercise Science (3 credits)
HEXS 820 - Special Topics in Health and Exercise Science (3 credits)
6 credits – Electives
HEXS 810 - Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Physiology Module (3 credits)
HEXS 811 - Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Intervention Module (3 credits)
HEXS 812 - Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Population Health Module (3 credits)
6 credits – Comprehensive Exam
HEXS 850 - Comprehensive Exam in Health and Exercise Science (6 credits)
3 credits – Research Proposal
HEXS 851 - Research Proposal in Health and Exercise Science (3 credits)
69 credits – Research and Thesis
HEXS 890 - Research and Thesis in Health and Exercise Science (69 credits)
Your completed application will include:
- Application form and Fee
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Two letters of reference
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology graduate entrance form
- Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.
Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures.
Courses offered include:
- Grant writing, Scientific Communication, and Pedagogy in Health and Exercise Science
- Special Topics in Health and Exercise Science
- Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Physiology Module
- Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Intervention Module
- Advanced Topics in Health and Exercise Science: Population health Module
Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses
Consideration for Entrance Awards is automatically part of the admissions process for all applicants. Graduate students receive a base annual stipend of $20,000 per annum. Funding comes from an arrangement of sources, including principal investigator grants, teaching assistantships, internal awards and prizes, and externals scholarships.
Targeted Graduate Funding
Effects of neuromuscular stimulation on multifidus muscle morphology and function
Supervisors: Dr. Maryse Fortin and Dr. Geoffrey Dover
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading source of disability and significant financial burden on health-care systems worldwide. Research suggests that people with CLBP have reduced function and atrophy of the multifidus muscle, an important back muscle that contributes to spinal stability. Although exercise is a recognized treatment for CLBP, there is a lack of evidence that it can restore multifidus morphology and function. Individuals with CLBP are also often less willing to engage in exercise due to kinesiophobia (fear of pain due to movement) and fear-avoidance behaviours. Therefore, there is a need for alternative modalities specifically targeting multifidus physiology in the treatment of CLBP.
This project aims to investigate the effect of a 10-week neuromuscular electrical stimulation intervention on multifidus muscle morphology, function and symptoms. The StimaWELL 120MTRS low-frequency therapy system will be used for the intervention. The PhD student will learn how to effectively use the device and will be responsible to deliver the intervention in a group of 30 patients with CLBP.
This project is opened to a PhD applicant with prior clinical experience in athletic therapy and rehabilitation. Other requirements include a Master’s degree in a related discipline, and previous experience in conducting research in population health, imaging and/or rehabilitation. Applicants are also expected to be bilingual and have excellent communication and organizational skills.
Health effects of the built and social environment
Supervisor: L Kakinami, Associate Professor
Half of all Canadian adults will experience a major chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. Throughout the life course those of lower socioeconomic position are disproportionately affected by these major illnesses. Differences in the built environment features (such as green space, safety, walkability, etc), are hypothesized to contribute to the underlying mechanisms linking neighbourhood socioeconomic position and health.
This project is aimed at investigating the environmental influence on physical and mental health over time. The PhD student will use a combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and linked administrative datasets within the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project (CLRP) – an ongoing, multi-generational longitudinal study (over 10,000 persons across 3 generations since 1976).
This project is opened to a PhD applicant with prior experience and interest in population health and/or the built environment. Other requirements include a Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Epidemiology, Statistics, Psychology, Medicine), with demonstrated experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas: the built environment, cardiovascular or other chronic diseases, longitudinal study analyses, or multigenerational study designs. Applicants are also expected to have excellent organizational and communication skills and teamwork capabilities. Preference will be given to candidates with experience with statistical methods and ability to work with analytic software (such as R, SAS, SPSS, Mplus), and an openness to learning new methods and techniques
Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-health-effects-built-social-envir/
PhD Offer: Enhancing the personalisation of an eHealth behaviour change program (ACCELERATION) using deep learning models of emotional expression
Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor
The ACCELERATION program aims to improve behavioural risk factors associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases. It is a structured 12-week ehealth program that was developed using an integrated knowledge translation process. It primarily targets increasing physical activity, as well as increasing fruit and vegetable consummation, and reducing tobacco smoking. It uses well established behavioural and motivation techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation in participants.
The current funded study will leverage laboratory based tasks and ecological momentary assessment techniques to be able to capture facial and voice-based emotional data. This data will then be used to personalise certain aspects of the ACCELERATION program to enhance individual behavior change. The position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM.
This project is open to a PhD applicant with a Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine), and with demonstrated research experience in at least one of the following areas: Stress testing; Ecological momentary assessment; Cardiovascular, respiratory, or inflammatory marker assessment; Applied psychological assessments; or Deep learning models. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and demonstrated research productivity. Preference will be given to candidates with using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies, and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 11, 2020, 5 pm EST.
Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-acceleration-ee/
PhD Offer: Enhancing the personalisation of an eHealth behaviour change program (ACCELERATION): developing and optimising of the intervention
Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor
The ACCELERATION program aims to improve behavioural risk factors associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases. It is a structured 12-week ehealth program that was developed using an integrated knowledge translation process. It primarily targets increasing physical activity, as well as increasing fruit and vegetable consummation, and reducing tobacco smoking. It uses well established behavioural and motivation techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation in participants.
The current funded study will be recruiting individuals at high risk of developing NCDs across three Canadian provinces to further develop and optimise the efficacy of the intervention. Though the project is national in scope, the position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM.
This project is open to a PhD applicant with a Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine), and with demonstrated research experience in at least one of the following areas: Behaviour change interventions; eHealth interventions; Integrated knowledge translation; Implementation science; Physical activity or dietary interventions; or Secondary chronic disease prevention. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and demonstrated research productivity. Preference will be given to candidates with using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies, and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 4, 2020, 5 pm EST.
Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-acceleration-int/
PhD Offer: Health Impact of Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)
Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor
This Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Canadian Cancer Society funded psychophysiology study will look at how smoking affects the body responses to acute episodes of mental (such as a math task under time pressure, or an argument with a spouse) and physical (exercise) stress. We will be comparing e-cigarettes with traditional (combustible) cigarettes and not smoking (abstinence). We will also be testing non-smokers to see if there is a difference between non-smokers. We will measure a variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and inflammatory variables, pre, during, and post stress. The position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM.
This project is open to a PhD applicant with a Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine), and with demonstrated research experience in at least one of the following areas: Stress testing; Cardiovascular, respiratory, or inflammatory marker assessment; or Applied psychological assessments. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and demonstrated research productivity. Preference will be given to candidates with using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies, and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 4, 2020, 5 pm EST.
Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-ecigarettes/
Please also consult Concordia’s graduate funding page and Financial Aid and Awards.
Research-active faculty members have received the highest honours from the Canada and Concordia University Research Chairs Programs. They also publish regularly in some of the highest peer-reviewed journals in physiology or behavioural sciences, including Neurology, the Journal or Neuroscience, the Journal of Physiology, Journal of Pain, PNAS, Chest, Circulation and Lancet Oncology.
Faculty research interests include:
- injury prevention and rehabilitation
- physiological mechanisms of vascular control
- biomechanics of human movement
- cardiorespiratory health and exercise
- movement and balance control in neuromuscular disorders
- sleep physiology and health
- neural coding in normal and pathological brain systems
- nutrition and body composition
- behavioural medicine and chronic illnesses
- clinical and fundamental research on pain
- the immune system and multiple sclerosis
- cancer and exercise physiology
- clinical athletic therapy
Review an inspiring list of thesis topics.
Our alumni are highly sought after by universities for post-doctoral and research fellowships, tenure-track positions, and teaching appointments. Many have found positions in the areas of physiology, kinesiology, psychology, neuroscience, experimental medicine, geography and urban planning.
Graduates are also well-positioned to secure jobs at equipment companies such as TechnoGym, Nautilus and Cybex, as well as at large pharmaceutical companies, including Merck Frosst and GlaxoSmithKline. A number of our alumni also work within the health care sector as health and exercise program developers, technical supervisors, and policymakers.
Contacts
Graduate Program Director
Dr. Geoffrey Dover
Office: SP-165.19
Tel: (514) 848-2424, ext. 3319
geoffrey.dover@concordia.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
Mr. Karl Stamp
Office: SP-165.05
Tel: (514) 848-2424, ext. 3685
karl.stamp@concordia.ca