The importance of achieving an adequate vitamin D status is widely recognised, with public health and research communities heightening their interest over recent years. Whilst vitamin D can be synthesised following skin exposure to UV light, owing to public health concerns regarding sun safety and modern indoor lifestyles, it has become evident that endogenous synthesis may not be an effective means of maintaining an adequate vitamin D status across the year. Given the marked inter-individual variation and seasonality of cutaneous synthesis, habitually low dietary vitamin D intakes (2-4µg/day) typically reported within nationally represented population surveys, and the generally low uptake of supplementation at the population level, alternative food-based strategies are required to yield greater adherence to the recently revised dietary reference values in the UK/Ireland (10-15µg). Additional vitamin D is required in the food supply chain and a growing body of evidence confirms that food (bio)fortification can improve vitamin D intakes and status at a population level.
Building on ongoing research within the agri-food nutrition and consumer innovation team, this proposed PhD will engage local and national agri-food producers to test the implementation of a vitamin D (bio)fortification programme on a family/household level.
This novel research aims to provide an evidence-base to directly impact on food-based dietary guidelines and related public health policy. This will inform a sustainable, mandatory national vitamin D food fortification policy to optimise vitamin D intakes and status across the population. Insights from a consumer marketing perspective will also be used to determine the potential to translate findings into the marketplace.
The main objectives of this PhD research will be met using a range of research methods, to: systematically review the evidence on global vitamin D food fortification policies and critique trends within the food industry; utilise the Global New Product Database (Mintel) within specified markets and conduct a gap analysis to inform to food composition databases and identify market opportunities for vitamin D (bio)fortification; conduct randomised-controlled trial(s) to test the implementation of a vitamin D (bio)fortification programme on a family/ household level; model the impact of this (bio)fortification programme at a population level based on current food consumption data; utilise consumer marketing analysis to determine the potential to translate findings into the marketplace.
The PhD researcher appointed to the project will be given every opportunity to maximise on training by participating in relevant workshops, specialist skills sessions, relevant online courses, PhD researcher initiatives and personal development activities organised by the Doctoral College. In addition, the researcher will be expected and strongly encouraged to prepare and present their research findings when appropriate at national and international conferences.
Please note: Applications for more than one PhD studentships are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.
We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.
In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.
If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.
The University offers the following levels of support:
Full award (full-time PhD fees + DfE level of maintenance grant + RTSG for 3 years).
This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees and provide the recipient with £18,000 (tbc) maintenance grant per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).
This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.
Part award (full-time PhD fees + 50% DfE level of maintenance grant + RTSG for 3 years).
This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees and provide the recipient with £8,000 maintenance grant per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance). This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.
Fees only award (PhD fees + RTSG for 3 years).
This scholarship will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance). This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.
The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £18,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).
This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.
Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living
Food Safety Authority of Irleand (FSAI). 2020. Vitamin D. Scientific Recommendations for Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Older Adults in Ireland. https://www.fsai.ie/VitaminD_DietaryGuidelines_OlderAdults_Ireland/ [Accessed Nov 30, 2021].
Hayes, A. and Cashman, K.D. (2017) Food-based solutions for vitamin D deficiency: putting policy into practice and the key role for research. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76(1), 54-63. Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance. (2011) National Adult Nutrition Survey Summary Report. Cork: IUNA. Available at: https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/46a7ad27/files/uploaded/The%20National%20Adult%20Nutrition%20Survey%20Summary%20Report%20March%202011.pdf [Accessed January 23, 2019].
Lanham-New, S.A., Webb, A.R., Cashman, K.D., et al. (2020). Vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 virus/COVID-19 disease. BMJ nutrition, prevention & health, 3(1), 106–110. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000089.
Neill, H.R., Gill, C., McDonald, E.J., McRoberts, W.C., and Pourshahidi, L.K. (2021). The future is bright: Biofortification of common foods can improve vitamin D status. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 1–17. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1950609/.
Neill HR Gill CIR, McDonald EJ, McRoberts C & Pourshahidi LK (2021) Vitamin D biofortification of pork may offer a food-based strategy to increase vitamin D intakes in the UK population. Frontiers in Nutrition. (In Press). doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.777364.
Public Health England. 2020. NDNS: results from years 9 to 11 (combined) – data tables. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/943623/NDNS_from_years_1_to_9_data_tables__1_.zip [Accessed May 27, 2020].
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). 2016. Vitamin D and Health. Accessed August 19, 2019. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/537616/SACN_Vitamin_D_and_Health_report.pdf [Accessed Sept 29, 2021].
Weir RR, Johnston M, Lowis C, Fearon AM, Stewart S, Strain JJ & Pourshahidi LK (2021) Vitamin D3 content of cows’ milk produced in Northern Ireland and its efficacy as a vehicle for vitamin D fortification: a UK model. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 72(4), 447-455.
Submission deadline
Monday 28 February 2022
12:00AM
Interview Date
April 2022
Preferred student start date
mid September 2022
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Email
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