Nutrition, Biomarkers, & Health

Background

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The Nutrition, Biomarkers and Health Research group have an open PhD fellowship opportunity. The group led by Professor Lorraine Brennan is a multidisciplinary team at the forefront of development of metabolomics for Nutrition and the development of Precision Nutrition approaches. More information on the research team can be found at https://www.ucdnutrimarkers.com/

 

The PhD project is part of a large collaborative project between UCD, Queens University Belfast and Harvard University. The wider project focuses on the controversies surrounding Ultra Processed Foods. In particular, the team will focus on developing an evidence base to further our understanding of the health impact of food processing. To dissect the health impact of diet quality and food processing, we will perform a series of inter-connected projects consisting of randomised trials, development and validation of metabolomic signatures and prospective cohort studies. The UCD PhD student will focus on randomised controlled trials and metabolomic analysis of the collected biological samples.

 

Requirements

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Applicants should have a First or Upper Second-Class Honours BSc. or MSc degree in Human Nutrition or Dietetics. The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated with enthusiasm to develop technical skills across a range of disciplines. The successful candidate should have expertise in the broad Human Nutrition field and ideally experience in Human Studies. The successful candidate will also be expected to get involved in wider project and play a role in Education and Public Engagement activities.

 

Award

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Starting in January 2026, this PhD fellowship will be based in the Conway Institute, University College Dublin (UCD) under the supervision of Professor Lorraine Brennan. The fellowship funding is €25,000 per annum for stipend and is tenable for 4 years.

 

Further Information/Applications

Contact Dr. Aoife O’Gorman, University College Dublin, email: aoife.ogorman@ucd.ie

 

Application Procedure

Submit an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae and a letter of interest with names and emails of two academic references simultaneously to: Dr Aoife O’Gorman aoife.ogorman@ucd.ie

 

Closing date – 10 November 2025