€51,600 – €51,600EntryFull Time
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
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. We are excited to announce 12 open positions for Doctoral Candidates (DCs). We aim to create a network of early-stage researchers equipped with the knowledge and skills - including entrepreneurship – needed to develop and support implementation strategies that addresses the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in Europe as diets shift toward more plant-based foods. For MICROSUNSET we will recruit 12 highly talented DCs where their collective research will focus on many different aspects to include investigations on bio-accessibility and bioavailability of micronutrients, and strategies to produce and process plant-based foods with enhanced concentration of micronutrients. Development of analytical methods, digestion models, dietary modelling, and conducting consumer surveys will form part of Doctoral Network’s tasks.
The 12 PhD vacancies will be based across seven different universities in Europe: four in Denmark (three at the Technical University of Denmark and one at the University of Copenhagen), two in Germany (Technical University of Munich), one in the Netherlands (Wageningen University), one in Ireland (University College Cork), two in the United Kingdom (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), and two in Finland (University of Helsinki).
To train the DCs as the next generation of micronutrient researchers in our international and interdisciplinary program, MICROSUNSET brings together experts from several disciplines as supervisors, forming a consortium of seven beneficiaries (see above) and fourteen associated partners including six from industry and two start-ups. For more information, please have a look at https://microsunset.dtu.dk/.
To be eligible for a MICROSUNSET PhD-position, you must not have lived, studied, or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 36 months, and must not already hold a doctoral degree.
About the PhD-position (DC2)
Are you interested in becoming part of MICROSUNSET and building a strong foundation for a successful research career?
The Population Health Science Institute at Newcastle University is seeking highly motivated applicants for a PhD scholarship focused on determining of the bio-accessibility and bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids from plant-based foods. You will join the multidisciplinary Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre with research spanning many different fields of nutritional and exercise sciences. If you're ready to push the boundaries in unravelling the key contributors to bio-accessibility and bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids in plant-based foods, we invite you to apply and join the dynamic research teams involved in MICROSUNSET.
Research objective
The primary objective of this PhD project is to elucidate the factors governing the bioaccessibility and bioconversion of β‑cryptoxanthin and β‑carotene from a diverse range of plant‑based food sources, and to integrate these findings into future dietary intake assessments. This research will begin with the optimisation of an established in vitro digestion model to evaluate carotenoid bioaccessibility, followed by validation of key findings through a rigorously designed human intervention study. Advanced analytical mass spectrometry techniques, coupled with the use of stable isotope tracers, will be employed to quantify both the release of provitamin A carotenoids from food matrices and their subsequent metabolic conversion.
A central component of the project will involve examining inter‑individual variation in bioaccessibility and bioconversion, comparing plant-based sources with oil-based β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin supplements. This comparative approach will help to clarify how food matrix, formulation, and physiological variation contribute to differences in provitamin A utilisation among individuals.
In addition to laboratory and human study components, the candidate will gain hands-on experience with evidence synthesis methodologies, including systematic reviews, and will analyse large-scale cohort datasets to examine patterns of carotenoid intake and status at the population level. This multi-layered approach will provide unique training across experimental, analytical, and population level research domains.
Ultimately, this project is expected to generate significant new insights into the bioaccessibility and bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids from commonly consumed plant foods. Furthermore, it will provide robust evidence regarding the reliability and translational value of in vitro models for predicting carotenoid bioaccessibility across diverse food matrices. The findings will have important implications for nutrition science, dietary recommendations, and food industry practices relating to the promotion of provitamin A rich foods.
Throughout the project, you will collaborate with other Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in the MICROSUNSET consortium to contribute to generation of evidence-based knowledge about micronutrient intake, digestibility and bioavailability from plant-based diets.
Part of the PhD-study will take place as external stay at Döhler GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany for three months and at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) for two months.
Responsibilities
The primary goal of this PhD project is to investigate options for increasing vitamin A from plant-based foods in our food to support a healthier future European population.
As part of your research, you will
Qualifications
You must hold a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in Nutrition/Biology or a similar degree at the equivalent academic level.
Furthermore, the ideal candidate has:
Experience with research dissemination - publications or conference presentations - is preferred.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in the faculty of Medical Sciences Graduate School. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see the Faculty of Medical Sciences postgraduate research page.
Assessment
The assessment of the candidates will be conducted by an assessment committee which follows the MICROSUNSET recruitment set-up and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, (2005/251/EC) promoting an inclusive, merit-based, transparent, and unbiased recruitment process. After an eligibility check the assessment will be based on the qualification requirements listed above, as well as the grades from Master’s/BSc education. A two-step procedure for applicants’ selection will be undertaken involving evaluation of the application and at least one interview.
About us
Newcastle University Population Health Science Institute is a large, multi-disciplinary research institute within the Faculty of Medical Science and comprises a vibrant multidisciplinary academic community working collaboratively alongside colleagues and partners from the wider health, care, industry and voluntary sectors as well as the public. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect, and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The start date is 1st September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the requirements from the European Commission related to the MSCA programme and the agreement between the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK’s national funding agency Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The EU MSCA grant received by Newcastle consists of a monthly gross salary 6,392 EUR (approx. £5,550). Please notice that the monthly salary you will receive will be lower than the above amounts, as these shall cover all costs related to your employment, such as monthly salary, future salary raises, pension, paid holidays, compulsory taxes, and labour market contributions. Depending on seniority, the monthly gross salary (before taxes) starts at approximately 4,300 EUR (approx. £3,730) plus pension.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Georg Lietz, Georg.lietz@ncl.ac.uk tel.: +44 191 2086893.
You can read more about the Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre at HNERC.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in the UK and Newcastle University at Newcastle University international students.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 24th April 2026 (23:59 UK time).
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:
Furthermore, it is important that you document in your CV that you fulfil the eligibility requirements mentioned above. If possible also include a reference or recommendations letter.
Note: A Master’s degree (or equivalent) is not necessary at the time of application but will be required at the date of recruitment.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As Newcastle University works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INSTITUTE
Population Health Sciences Institute
Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute is one of three Research Institutes in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. It comprises a vibrant multidisciplinary academic community with researchers from a diverse range of disciplines and specialisms. We work alongside colleagues and partners from the wider health, care, industry and voluntary sectors as well as the public. Our aim is to improve health and care and reduce health inequalities.
Our research seeks to:
Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre (HNERC)
The Centre was established in 1994 as a multidisciplinary, cross-faculty research centre. HNERC at Newcastle University is a premier multidisciplinary research centre focused on understanding the combined impact of diet and physical activity on health, wellbeing, and disease prevention. It unites experts from biomedical, nutritional, and sports sciences to tackle major public health challenges, providing evidence-based solutions from molecular to population levels.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme MSCA (Grant Agreement number 101226907)
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 29262