PhD-student in Data-Driven Precision Nutrition

At the Department of Life Sciences (LIFE), we conduct research, innovation and education to enable a biobased society and improve human health. Our topics cover both basic and applied aspects of life sciences in the areas of systems biology, chemical biology, industrial biology and biotechnology and, food and nutrition science. We develop and apply cutting edge experimental and computational technologies. Our researchers are discovering how biomolecules, living cells and the whole organisms’ function and respond to the environment. Based on that knowledge, we engineer biological systems to produce foods, drugs and chemicals in an innovative and sustainable way. We also use this knowledge to pioneer new methods for prevention, diagnostic and treatment of human diseases, often in close collaboration with complementary competences from society, industry and academia. Our most important contribution to the society is the new generations of young scientists trained to be future leaders. Altogether, our department is a home to life sciences, where innovative ideas and creative people grow.

Information about the division
The division of Food and Nutrition Science (FNS) is one of four research divisions at LIFE. FNS addresses major societal challenges related to foods, sustainability and health. We conduct fundamental and applied research, innovation, education and dissemination in food and nutrition science with the aim to provide new knowledge and solutions that pave the way for a sustainable planet and healthy humans. Research topics span from food chemistry and technology to molecular- and data- driven nutrition. In Food Science, we focus primarily on marine and plant-based food systems with the goal to promote high food quality, minimize losses throughout the value chain and to utilise alternative sources for production of nutrient. In nutrition, we focus on human observational and intervention studies as well as cell-based model studies and apply advanced data-driven approaches and state of the art biochemical- and OMICs technologies to understand and predict the role of foods, dietary components and dietary patterns in human health.

About the position
The current position is one out of 10 positions announced in Data-Driven Precision Nutrition in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) project NUTRIOME. The NUTRIOME network involves academic partners at nine European academic institutions and six associated partners from industry across Norway, Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The purpose of the NUTRIOME network is to train 10 PhDs in data-driven precision nutrition through human intervention studies, omics-technologies and advanced data analyses, in order to evaluate personal responses to foods and diets.

NUTRIOME combines excellence in science with high societal relevance by engaging policy makers in the training programme to explore their plans for best route of personalised nutrition delivery in Europe. NUTRIOME will apply a dual training strategy for the 10 PhDs:


• Use available dietary interventions and omics data: The PhDs will learn how to manage, share and utilize open data, many of which are derived from available high-quality dietary intervention projects of NUTRIOME partners. This creates added value, since these studies are time-consuming and costly to perform and are on their own often small and underpowered for identification of responders/non-responders. In this way, the PhDs will learn to harmonize and integrate different type of data and subsequently handle large-scale data, make extra sense of them and realize the challenges and limitations.
• Perform a proof-of-concept precision nutrition meal intervention study: The NUTRIOME intervention study will be performed at three dedicated centres and via secondments, all 10 PhDs will be able to participate in the data collection phase and in the data analysis phase. In addition to its scientific value, this study will constitute a hands-on international joint training project, which will expose the PhDs to all elements of conducting forefront multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of nutrition and food science, medicine, omics technologies and data science.

During the project the PhD will perform three secondments to an industry partner and research institute/university, each of two months duration. NUTRIOME aims to recruit a balance between male and female PhDs.

The current PhD-position will be responsible for developing an algorithm for a personalised nutrition strategy based on results from the proof-of-concept study conducted by the Network and lead by Chalmers.


Qualifications


• MSc or eqvivalent in bioscience, nutrition, bioengineering, medical science, data-science or likewise.
• Must not have a doctoral degree at the date of their recruitment
• Can be of any nationality
• Should be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project
• Should comply with the mobility rules: in general, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Meritorious:
Documented experience from human trials.

Documented expereinces from data analysis of OMICs data.

To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field.

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

For more information about what offer and the application procedure, please visit Chalmers Webpage.
Link: PhD-student in Data-Driven Precision Nutrition