Clare Reynolds

The School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science at University College Dublin is offering a fully funded 4-year PhD studentship in Nutrition and Metabolic Health. The successful candidate will join the SWEETWISE research consortium, a multidisciplinary programme focused on developing evidence-based strategies for sugar reduction and investigating the metabolic and sensory effects of non-nutritive sweeteners. The project, titled 'Sweet Deception? Metabolic and Sensory Responses to Non-Nutritive Sweeteners,' aims to generate robust preclinical evidence using rodent and human genetic variant models, and will complement parallel research in human, food reformulation, dental health, and behavioural domains within SWEETWISE. Applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences, with a 2.1 Bachelor’s Degree at QQI level 8 or higher, and demonstrate competence in scientific writing, oral presentations, and Microsoft Office. Ideal candidates will have research laboratory experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills are also valued. The studentship provides a stipend of €25,000 per annum and covers tuition fees up to €6,000 per annum for eligible EU applicants. The application deadline is 13 February 2026, with an expected start date in May 2026. To apply, candidates must submit their application via the provided Google Form, including academic transcripts, CV, a supporting statement, and referee details. For further information, contact Dr Clare Reynolds or Dr Emma Feeney at University College Dublin.