PhD Position: Ultra-Processed Foods, Individual Choices and Cardio-Renal Health – Integrated Analyses from the STANISLAS (DeTRA-CARE) Cohort (2026-2029) Université de Lorraine in France

This fully funded PhD position at Université de Lorraine (Nancy, France) offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the impact of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption on cardio-renal health trajectories, using integrated analyses from the STANISLAS (DeTRA-CARE) cohort. The project is embedded within the interdisciplinary LIFE TRAVEL program, which brings together medical, biomedical, digital, and social sciences to understand how health determinants influence life trajectories, functional ability, quality of life, and longevity. The research is conducted in partnership between the Bureau d’Économie Théorique et Appliquée (BETA) and the Centre d’Investigation Clinique Plurithématique de Nancy (CIC-P Nancy), providing a rich environment for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The doctoral project aims to analyze the social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of dietary choices, focusing on UPF consumption and its effects on cardiovascular and renal health. The originality of the project lies in its multidisciplinary approach, combining economics, epidemiology, and biostatistics to jointly analyze non-biological determinants of UPF consumption, their longitudinal effects on health, and the environmental impacts of dietary patterns. The research will utilize advanced methods such as discrete choice experiments, multilevel models, causal inference, and mediation analyses, leveraging the extensive longitudinal data from the STANISLAS cohort, which includes biomarkers, dietary questionnaires, and socioeconomic information from over 4,000 individuals.

Supervision is provided by Professor Eric Kamwa (Economics), Dr. Sandra Wagner (Nutritional Epidemiology), and Associate Professor Lesly Cassin (Economics), ensuring strong guidance in public economics, nutrition, and global health. The doctoral candidate will be hosted jointly by BETA and CIC-P Nancy, benefiting from access to clinical and epidemiological expertise, individual health data, and econometric processing. The project is part of the “Environment, Forest, Energy” (EFE) research axis at BETA, addressing environmental transition issues through One Health approaches, ecosystem services, and environmental impacts.

The research areas include: (1) determinants of dietary choices and UPF consumption, using multilevel models and discrete choice experiments to analyze influences of individual, household, and territorial characteristics; (2) cardio-renal health trajectories, assessing changes in renal function and blood pressure over 20 years with longitudinal mixed-effects models and mediation analyses; and (3) integration of environmental impacts of dietary patterns, linking consumption profiles to environmental indicators constructed from life cycle assessment databases, carbon emission factors, and resource use indicators.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Economics, Public Health, Epidemiology, or Biostatistics applied to Life Sciences. Required skills include strong command of statistical tools (R or Python), advanced knowledge of statistics and survey methodologies, and knowledge of behavioral economics. Background in nutrition is an asset. Working proficiency in French and English is expected, along with scientific curiosity, autonomy, rigor, organizational skills, analytical and synthesis abilities, oral communication skills, team spirit, and the ability to write scientific documents in both languages.

The position is funded for 36 months, with a gross monthly salary of €2,300, financial support for conferences and summer schools, and access to dedicated office space and computing facilities. Doctoral enrollment will be at the Doctoral School of Law, Political Science, Economics and Management (ED SJPEG), University of Lorraine. The expected start date is October 1, 2026.

To apply, submit your CV, cover letter, Master’s degree transcripts, Master’s thesis or scientific article, and two letters of recommendation in PDF format by June 14, 2026. Applications should be sent to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. For more information, visit BETA and CIC-P Nancy. The application portal is also available at Academic Positions.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to public health research, inform preventive health policies, and address environmental challenges through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach.