Interested in doing your MSc or PhD with us?

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Over the coming period, we plan to advance three projects and will initially recruit up to three students. As a first step take a look at our upcoming projects below. If you are interested in joining our laboratory and contributing to one or more of these projects, please submit your application HERE (english) or HERE (Hebrew) and then email Professor Halperin at ihalperin@tauex.tau.ac.il to let him know you have applied. 

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• Can RPE be used to monitor and prescribe exercise across different populations? In collaboration with the Clinic for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Sports Cardiology at Ichilov Medical Center, we plan to examine the relationship between RPE and various physiological and performance measures among patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Data collection for this project will take place at Ichilov Medical Center. We are currently recruiting one student for this project. Preference will be given to candidates with some background in cardiac rehabilitation.
   

• The meaning of 10? This project focuses on the effect of changing the meaning assigned to the upper anchor of RPE scales. Specifically, we are interested in how the meaning a participant assigns to the value 10 on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 influences the ratings they provide. To date, we have conducted and published two pioneering studies on this topic, and another is currently underway. Our goal is to continue developing this area through additional research. Data collection will take place at the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute. We are currently recruiting one student for this project. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in psychology or neuroscience, and a strong interest in research with a psychological emphasis.

 

• What is the relationship between instantaneous and cumulative experiences of effort? This project will examine the relationship between the experience of effort at a particular moment and the overall evaluation of an entire event, such as a set or a complete training session. We will investigate whether the accumulated experience is formed by summing or averaging the instantaneous experiences, or whether specific parts of the session, such as the moment of greatest perceived effort, carry greater weight in shaping the overall experience. We are currently launching the first project of its kind on this question and are planning at least one additional study. Data collection will take place at the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute. We are currently recruiting one student for this project. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in psychology or neuroscience, and a strong interest in research with a psychological emphasis.​

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In addition, we are planning several further projects, although their advancement depends on securing funding that has not yet been confirmed. We are therefore not currently recruiting students for these projects. Should funding become available, we aim to pursue the following studies.

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• How do the initial changes in strength develop among novice trainees? Early increases in maximal strength are commonly attributed to neural adaptations, such as changes in motor unit firing rates and synchronization, whereas hypertrophy is generally considered to contribute to strength gains only after several weeks of training. However, this view has historically been based on a small number of measurements collected over the training period. In this project, we will examine how maximal strength changes on a weekly basis during the first three to six weeks of training, and determine the relative contribution of neural adaptations and changes in muscle size. This will involve frequent monitoring of strength, neural measures, and muscle size.

 

• What is the optimal balance between exercise intensity and the feelings associated with it? Exercise intensity is known to be related to affective responses, and beyond a certain intensity, further increases may negatively influence how a person feels during exercise. Positive and negative experiences may shape the memory of a workout and influence the motivation to exercise again, ultimately affecting adherence. However, it remains unclear where the optimal balance lies between exercise intensity and affective response. In this project, we will examine this relationship over an approximately 8-week training program at different RPE-based intensity levels.

 

• How can adherence to injury prevention programs among female athletes be improved? When adhered to, neuromuscular training programs are highly effective at reducing sport-related injuries among female athletes participating in team ball sports, yet adherence remains low. In this project, we will develop and evaluate a program that incorporates individualization and athlete choice while preserving the core components of the original injury prevention programs. During the first stage, we will assess the program's feasibility under controlled conditions. We will then compare it with the standard prescription and examine its effect on adherence throughout a full competitive season.

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