PhD in Health and Exercise Science

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. 

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.