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Closing Date: 24 April 2026
About the MSCA Project
MICROSUNSET is a Marie Sklodowska‑Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA‑DN) funded by the European Union. 12 PhD vacancies will be based across seven universities in Europe – Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Finland – providing an interdisciplinary programme of research into the bio‑accessibility, bioavailability and digestive fate of micronutrients from plant‑based foods.
The network brings together researchers and industry partners to develop analytical methods, digestion models, dietary modelling and consumer surveys, and to support the translation of findings into industry practice.
Eligibility
You must not have lived, studied or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 36 months, and you must not already hold a doctoral degree.
About the PhD‑position (DC2)
The Population Health Science Institute at Newcastle University seeks a highly motivated PhD scholar to investigate the bio‑accessibility and bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids from plant‑based foods. Work will be conducted within the multidisciplinary Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre.
Research Objective
The PhD project aims to elucidate the factors governing the bio‑accessibility and bioconversion of β‑cryptoxanthin and β‑carotene from diverse plant‑based food sources, integrating findings into future dietary intake assessments. The work will combine optimisation of an in‑vitro digestion model, a human intervention study using stable isotope tracers, and analysis of large‑scale cohort data.
Responsibilities
* Enrol in Newcastle University’s doctoral school and comply with doctoral training requirements.
* Participate actively in MICROSUNSET training, dissemination, communication and exploitation activities.
* Publish and present research results in international conferences and peer‑reviewed journals.
* Prepare and defend a doctoral thesis on micronutrients and sustainable food products.
* Support student supervision and contribute to teaching at BSc and Master’s levels.
Qualifications
Must hold a two‑year master’s degree (120 ECTS) in Nutrition, Biology or a related field.
Ideal Candidate
* Completed a relevant master’s programme.
* Appropriate technical skills and experience with analytical equipment such as HPLC and LC‑MS.
* Experience conducting intervention studies with human participants.
* Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
* Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
* A structured and analytical approach to work and problem‑solving.
* Willingness to attend all MICROSUNSET training events and undertake secondments.
Salary and Appointment Terms
The start date is 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Salary, pension and terms are in accordance with the MSCA programme. Monthly gross salary ranges from approximately 4,300 EUR (£3,730) plus pension, with a maximum of 6,392 EUR (≈£5,550) depending on seniority.
Assessment
Assessment will be conducted by an assessment committee following the MSCA recruitment set‑up, a merit‑based and transparent process. Eligibility will be checked, followed by a two‑step selection: applicant evaluation and at least one interview.
Equal Opportunity
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. Newcastle University is a fully inclusive university committed to diversity, inclusion and the advancement of equality.
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