PhD Studentship: E-cigarettes, Vaping & Appetite Control – Mapping the Evidence and Unpicking Interactive Mechanisms Loughborough University in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship for 3 years, tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum (in 2025/26) plus university tuition fees.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at Loughborough University investigates the impact of e-cigarettes and vaping on appetite control, eating behaviour, and energy balance. While nicotine is known to suppress appetite and cigarette smoking is associated with reduced hunger and lower body weight, the effects of vaping—now the dominant form of nicotine use among young adults in the UK—are less understood. Most research to date has focused on traditional smoking, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of how vaping influences diet, food reward, and metabolic regulation.

The project will draw on nutrition science, biological psychology, and human metabolism to integrate evidence from existing literature, population-level datasets, and controlled laboratory studies. The central aim is to determine whether vaping reproduces the appetite-suppressing effects of smoking or influences appetite through alternative pathways, such as differences in nicotine delivery, absence of smoke-derived toxins, flavourings, or distinct patterns of use. The research will uncover both behavioural and physiological mechanisms underlying these effects.

As a PhD student, you will receive multidisciplinary training in evidence synthesis, quantitative analysis, and laboratory-based experimental methods. You will work within a collaborative team at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, located on the Loughborough University campus, and develop the skills needed to translate fundamental research into practical, real-world impact. The project offers a stimulating environment for students interested in nutrition, psychology, metabolism, and public health.

Entry requirements include a first-class or high upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree in human nutrition, physiology, biological psychology, sport and exercise science, or a closely related discipline. A relevant master’s degree (or currently working towards one) is desirable and will strengthen your application. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and intellectually curious, with strong analytical skills and a commitment to high-quality research. Applicants must also meet the university’s minimum English language requirements.

The studentship is fully funded for three years, providing a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum (in 2025/26) plus university tuition fees. The project is subject to final approval by the university. The application deadline is 15 March 2026. All applications should be made online via the Loughborough University website. Select Loughborough campus and Programme Ph.D. Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and quote reference number SSEHS/JK26. Ensure you submit all required supporting documents to avoid delays in processing your application.