Fully Funded PhD in Food & Nutritional Sciences: Hydrogels for Cancer Cachexia at University College Cork University College Cork in Ireland

A fully funded PhD position is available at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, within the School of Food & Nutritional Sciences and the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science. The successful candidate will join the TransForm Research Project, a multidisciplinary collaboration between UCC and Teagasc, focusing on the development and testing of prototype thermo-reversible hydrogels with tailored nutritional and rheological properties.

The project aims to improve the nutritional status of patients with early-stage cancer cachexia through clinical trials, nutritional intervention, and recipe development using novel milk-derived hydrogels. The PhD is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, offering a total of €31,000 per year (including a €25,000 stipend and €6,000 fees) for three years. Applicants should have a BSc or MSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics (minimum 2.1 honours), be eligible for CORU registration, and ideally have clinical dietitian experience in oncology.

Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential. The start date is January 5, 2026, and the application deadline is November 21, 2025. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the provided link or contact Prof. Aoife Ryan at [email protected].