PhD Studentship: Food Provision, Care Work, and Dietary Inequalities in UK Food Systems

The University of Bristol Business School invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on the intersections of food provision, care work, and dietary inequalities within UK food systems. This opportunity is part of the Observatory for Research and Practice on Food Systems and Social Reproduction (Obs-FSSR), an international partnership involving the University of Bristol, the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS, South Africa), and the University of Ghana. The Obs-FSSR project aims to advance conceptual and methodological debates on social reproduction and food systems, employing interdisciplinary, mixed-methods, and pluralistic approaches. The PhD project will explore urgent policy challenges such as failures and inequities in UK food systems, the rising prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases, and the invisible labour underpinning food provision, nutrition, and household care. Supervised by Dr Fiorella Picchioni and Associate Professor Lucy McCarthy, the research will draw on large-scale UK quantitative datasets and primary data generated by Obs-FSSR, including time-use data, energy-expenditure estimations, household expenditure surveys, dietary intake, social survey data, and relevant health datasets. There is also scope to work with linked administrative or local-authority data for place-based analyses. The studentship is ideal for candidates with a strong background in quantitative social science, public health, economics, sociology, or data science, and an interest in advanced statistical analysis and the study of inequalities within food systems. Applicants should also value qualitative and pluralistic research grounded in feminist approaches and be willing to work across disciplines. The successful candidate will be integrated into the Obs-FSSR network, engaging with academics, policymakers, NGOs, food system actors, and local communities to shape debates on public care, food justice, and labour in food systems. Funding for this position includes a four-year bursary covering full tuition fees for home/EU or international students, a stipend of at least £20,780 per annum paid in instalments, and additional teaching income based on hours worked. The position is based in Bristol, UK, and is not remote. Eligibility requirements include a first-class honours degree (or international equivalent) or a very strong upper-second class honours degree (2:1) in a relevant discipline, preferably complemented by a postgraduate Masters degree with Distinction or a strong Merit award with distinction in the research component. Candidates must demonstrate competence in quantitative data analysis and/or causal inference methodologies, proficiency in statistical programming languages (Stata, R, Python), and strong communication skills for disseminating research findings. The application process involves three stages: (1) submission of a mandatory Expression of Interest (EOI) form, (2) formal application via the University of Bristol’s online portal (by invitation only), and (3) interview for shortlisted candidates. The closing date for EOI submission is 3rd March 2026, with interviews scheduled for the week commencing 20th April 2026. For further details on the University of Bristol’s EDI commitments, visit this link . For application instructions, see the postgraduate application portal . Full position details are available on FindAPhD .