Compiling global lessons to improve nutrition in traditional food systems, from multi-country evidence on drivers of food choice

Understanding the diverse factors which determine the foods which are available, accessible and acceptable to individuals in a given setting is essential for sustainable and equitable improvements in diet quality. Food choices may be driven by biophysical and environmental factors, innovation, technology and infrastructure, political and economic context, sociocultural dimensions, and demographics. This doctoral project comprises an in-depth analysis of factors underlying the sustainability and nutritional impact of traditional rural food systems. The project will assess how local diets are currently influenced by agricultural practices, environments, livelihood capitals, cultural norms and gender roles, and evaluate the trade-offs which may exist between nutritional and environmental outcomes. The research will leverage data collected through three current or recent projects at the Natural Resources Institute: two in Uganda and one in Peru. Data will include measurements of women’s time use, maternal and child dietary intake and anthropometry, agricultural practices, household decision-making processes, and food environments. The project will (i) use existing frameworks to develop a conceptual model of drivers of food choices in the study settings, (ii) evaluate empirical evidence of the nature and relative importance of these drivers, (iii) contribute to validating alternative research methods for dietary assessment and documentation of women’s time use, and (iv) assess the effectiveness of established and novel mechanisms to improve nutrition in both country settings.

For further information please contact the supervisor:
Dr Julia de Bruyn [Email Address Removed]

Bursary available (subject to satisfactory performance):
Year 1: £15,009 Year 2: In line with UKRI rate Year 3: In line with UKRI rate
Scholarships are available for three years, full-time study from the date scholars first register as an MPhil/PhD student with the university. The successful candidate will receive a waiver for tuition fees for the duration of their three-year scholarship. Students may be liable for tuition fees after this period. Applicants must meet the programme entry requirements.
For additional information about the scholarship please go to: https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/research-studentships-and-scholarships

Please read this information before making an application. Applications need to be made online via https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application-process. No other form of application will be considered.

All applications must include the following information. Applications not containing these documents will not be considered.
• In the first part of the application select the following: Food Science and Marketing Economics (MPhil/PhD)

• Scholarship Reference Number (Ref) – included in the personal statement section together with your personal statement as to why you are applying

• a CV including 2 referees *

• academic qualification certificates/transcripts and IELTs/English Language certificate if you are an international applicant or if English is not your first language or you are from a country where English is not the majority spoken language as defined by the UK Border Agency *

*upload to the qualification section of the application form. Attachments need to be in PDF format.

The closing date for applications is midnight (UTC) on 20 November 2019
The scholarship must commence before 6 January 2020