Alida Melse-Boonstra

PhD opportunity in Nutrition, Gut Microbiome, and Mental Health at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The NUTRIMIND project is a Horizon-funded, multidisciplinary European consortium studying how diet and the microbiota-gut-brain axis may shape mental health across the lifespan. The PhD candidate will work at the intersection of nutrition , mental health , gut microbiome , epidemiology , and biological data analysis . Research tasks include analyzing existing cohort and trial data, studying associations between dietary exposures and stress/anxiety/depression outcomes, and integrating gut health indices, metabolomics, proteomics, and neurobiological markers. The role also involves coordinating follow-up waves of the Wageningen Student Cohort, including dietary assessments, blood/faeces/urine sample collection, mental health assessments, laboratory analyses, and data harmonization with partner institutes. The position is embedded in the chair groups of Global Nutrition, Nutritional Biology, and Nutrition and Disease at WUR. Supervision is by Professor Alida Melse-Boonstra, Dr Yannick Vermeiren, and Dr Renate Winkels. WUR collaborates with 16 consortium partners across Europe, making this a strong international research environment for candidates interested in translational nutrition and brain health. Eligibility: applicants should hold an MSc in Nutrition and Health, (Nutritional) Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related equivalent degree. Strong project and data management skills are required; experience with complex datasets is preferred. Experience with advanced laboratory analyses or multi-omics is an advantage. English proficiency at C1 level is expected. Funding: this is a fully funded PhD position with a salary of €3,059/month in year 1 rising to €3,881/month in year 4, plus a tailored course program. The contract is initially for 18 months and may be extended for the project duration. Application window: apply via the WUR vacancy page by 27 July 2026. Submit a CV and motivation letter only (maximum 3 pages total) and complete the mandatory additional information form. Only applications submitted through the WUR website will be considered.