Developing the latest generation of foods requires detailed structural and chemical insights into the molecular scale structuring within a food, as well as the application of novel processing methods. This will allow the creation of novel foods which can be targeted to deliver highly accessible fermentable substrates to the gut microbiota.

Working with project partner PepsiCo, this studentship will apply advanced NMR spectroscopy approaches usually reserved for the analysis of pharmaceutical excipients to designing PepsiCo’ latest generation of snack foods. Innovative processing technologies developed in PepsiCo are allowing the production of food formulations with novel combinations of ingredients which result in unique structuring within the food. Using advanced NMR facilities available at UEA, this studentship will aim to investigate the formation of these structures within snack foods. This studentship will also explore the potential for these novel food materials to impact on the gut microbiome. These processing technologies will impact on the structuring and availability of carbohydrate substrates to the gut microbiota, and at Quadram the student will use advanced models of the human gut microbiota coupled with metagenomic and metabolomic approaches to probe the effects on the gut microbiota.

This studentship will provide the unique opportunity to work across three different research environments. Based at Quadram, which is a brand new, state of the art, custom-built facility focussed on gut health and the microbiome, as a student you will also have the opportunity to work closely with the UEA School of Pharmacy, one of the UK’s leading Pharmacy Schools, as well as learning about the industrial application of research through placements at PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest companies. You will join the Norwich Research Park, one of the largest concentrations of biological researchers in the UK, offering exceptional graduate research and training opportunities.

References

Ravi, A., Troncoso-Rey, P., Ahn-Jarvis, J., Corbin, K.R., Harris, S., Harris, H., Aydin, A., Kay, G.L., Le-Viet, T., Gilroy, R., Pallen, M.J., Page, A., O’Grady, J. and Warren, F.J. 2021. Linking carbohydrate structure with function in the human gut microbiome using hybrid metagenome assemblies. bioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.11.441322

Koev, T.T., Muñoz-García, J.C., Iuga, D., Khimyak, Y.Z. and Warren, F.J., 2020. Structural heterogeneities in starch hydrogels. Carbohydrate polymers, 249, p.116834.

Muñoz-García, J.C., Corbin, K.R., Hussain, H., Gabrielli, V., Koev, T., Iuga, D., Round, A.N., Mikkelsen, D., Gunning, P.A., Warren, F.J. and Khimyak, Y.Z., 2019. High molecular weight mixed-linkage glucan as a mechanical and hydration modulator of bacterial cellulose: Characterization by advanced NMR spectroscopy. Biomacromolecules, 20(11), pp.4180-4190.

Entry Requirements

Candidates for academic admission to a doctoral degree at UEA and for entry to the NRPDTP programme must have obtained (or be about to obtain), a First or Upper Second-class UK Honours degree, or qualifications gained outside the UK that are considered to be equivalent. Applicants with a Lower Second-class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree, or have significant research or non-academic experience relevant to the proposed field of research. Studentships awarded based on predicted grades will be conditional upon final results.

English Language requirement (UEA Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) PhD studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend for each year of the studentship (2021/22 stipend rate: £15,609), and a Research Training Support Grant for each year of the studentship of £5,000 p.a.

More information on eligibility and funding can be found here.

About The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP)

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) is open to UK and international candidates for entry October 2021 and offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP programme. Shortlisted candidates can expect to be interviewed on either Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th or Thursday 27th January 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be notified of their interview times by email no later than 12 January 2022.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.