Do You Need A PhD?

Dear Coaches,

Before we start today's issue, quick question: What's the one thing you're struggling with most in your nutrition practice right now? (Reply and let us know).

Here’s what’s coming up today:

"I don't think having a PhD is necessarily going to get you a job over someone else."

Marc Fell shares what he's learned working at cycling's highest level.

"I think now how nutrition's become a lot more prevalent... people have seen full-time practitioners, nutritionists in clubs really make a difference without PhDs."

"Try and avoid just doing one for the sake of doing a PhD."

"It's basically your job and life for four or five, six years."

Fell's seen both sides. Students who quit after a year. Others who "hate it, slug it out" and look back with regret.

"I think probably now it's more likely you would get a job for instance in sport just through your experiences and having the fundamental knowledge."

The crucial distinction? "A PhD is fundamentally learning how to do research."

Not practice. Not application. Research.

"There's teams in sports where they wouldn't employ someone because they've just got a PhD that's maybe not had any applied practice."

His advice is clear: "If it is something you want to pursue, it's doing it in an area or something that you're actually interested in."

The passion test matters because "there's some really dark days on a PhD."

The insight: Your impact matters more than your credentials.

Watch the complete interview where Dr. Marc Fell shares how top practitioners are reshaping sport nutrition's landscape.

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