Assessment of nutritional status, body composition, motor- and neurodevelopment in preterm and term children aged 3-5 years: an international, multicentre study

Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research and the Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health

Nigel Groome Studentship

Project Title: Assessment of nutritional status, body composition, motor- and neurodevelopment in preterm and term children aged 3-5 years: an international, multicentre study - PhD

Start Date: September 2023

Application deadline: 24 March 2023

Interview date: 30 March 2023 (provisional)

Course length (full time): 3 years

Department: Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU (settled or pre-settled status)

Bursary p.a: equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (current 2022/23 bursary rate is £17,668)

Fees and Bench fees: University fees and bench fees will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship.

Preterm birth is associated with disease in later life, yet little research has explored the impact of environment, including nutrition in pre- and post-gestation on preterm pregnancies, and the development and health of children born preterm. This PhD will form part of the INTERBIO-21^st project, an extension of the original INTERGROWTH-21^st project, and will focus on assessing the impact of nutrition on growth and development in pregnancies that experience either intrauterine growth restriction or other preterm birth syndromes, compared to healthy pregnancies. This will include: Systematic review of the literature; Analysis of previously collected nutrition, anthropometric and motor- and neurodevelopment data on international and UK participants from the early phases of the INTERGROWTH/ BIO21^st projects; Leading on the current INTERPRACTICE-21^st project including significant primary data collection of ultrasound, Food Frequency Questionnaire, and neurodevelopment data, in children 3-5 years.

There is an additional requirement to undertake up to 6 hours undergraduate teaching/week during semesters and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.

Applicants should have a first class or upper second class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification.

To apply: visit the project webpage and follow the instructions under 'Application Process'

Director of Studies: Dr Shelly Coe

Other Supervisors: Dr Jonathan Tammam, Dr Thanasis Tektonidis

Advisors from the University of Oxford: Professor Jose Villar and Dr Adele Winsey

For project questions: Contact: [Email Address Removed]

Contact [Email Address Removed] with any application queries