MicroSunSet Pre-Doctoral Fellow (DC3) in Newcastle upon Tyne

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. It provides 12 PhD vacancies in micronutrient research across seven European universities, focusing on bio‑availability of micronutrients in plant‑based foods. The project involves analytical method development, dietary modelling, and consumer surveys, with supervision from experts across multiple disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria

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.

Open PhD Position (DC3)

The Population Health Science Institute at Newcastle University seeks a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate the bio‑accessibility and bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids from plant‑based foods. The role involves genetic determinants, stable‑isotope techniques, and cross‑ethnic volunteer recruitment.

Research Objectives

• Investigate the genetic determinants of β‑carotene bioconversion and bioavailability across diverse ethnic groups using stable‐isotope tracers.
• Analyse existing biological samples and recruit volunteers to assess how genetic traits influence β‑carotene metabolism, aiming to identify key genes associated with inter‑individual variability and to evaluate if plant‑based diets alone can overcome genetic limitations.

Responsibilities

• Enroll in Newcastle University’s doctoral school and comply with doctoral training requirements.
• Actively participate in MICROSUNSET training, dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities.
• Publish and present high‑quality research results in international conferences and peer‑reviewed journals.
• Prepare and defend a doctoral thesis in the field of micronutrients and sustainable food products.
• Support student supervision and contribute to teaching at BSc and Master’s levels.
• Attend all MICROSUNSET training events and secondments.

Qualifications

• Hold a two‑year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) in Nutrition, Biology, or a comparable field at the equivalent academic level.

Ideal Candidate

• Completed a relevant master’s program.
• Appropriate technical skills.
• Experience with analytical equipment such as HPLC and LC‑MS.
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques.
• Experience conducting human intervention studies.
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• A structured and analytical approach to work and problem‑solving.
• Willingness to attend all training events and secondments.
• Experience with research dissemination—publications or conference presentations—preferred.

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 European Commission MSCA programme and UKRI regulations. The monthly gross salary in the first year starts at approximately 4,300 EUR (≈ £3,730) plus pension.

Contact

Further information may be obtained from Professor Georg Lietz, tel.: +44 191 208 6893.

Equal Opportunities

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. Newcastle University is committed to diversity and equal opportunity, offering support for disabled applicants and maintaining a fully inclusive environment.