Oxford Brookes University
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences,
Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research
Centre for Nutrition and Health
3 Year, full-time PhD studentship
Eligibility: UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU
Closing date: 18 June 2021
Interviews: W/C 5 July 2021
Start date: September 2021
University fees and bench fees at the Home rate will be met by the University for the 3 years of the Studentship.
Bursary: Equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (2021/22 bursary rate is £15,609)
Director of Studies: Dr Jonathan Tammam
Supervisory team: Dr Shelly Coe and Dr Catherine Graham.
Prison food has evolved from the days of bread and water, however, whether the food prisoners consume is nutritionally adequate is largely unknown. This project will investigate the food choices prisoners make, ascertain whether dietary recommendations are being met, and assess the physiological and genetic differences between prisoners in relation to their dietary intake. Previous research has shown that a prisoner’s diet is often lacking in various micronutrients, and as prisoners may spend limited time outside, it is anticipated that vitamin D intake and status may be an important avenue for exploration. The data from this studentship will provide scope for generating recommendations to improve diet and promote prisoner health at both personalised and population levels.
Aims
• To determine the nutritional adequacy of food consumption in UK prisons.
• To determine whether nutrient status (e.g. Vitamin D) is associated with ill health and the influence of individual genetic differences.
• To conduct a personalised-nutrition intervention trial to determine the impact of supplementary nutrition on health outcomes.
Work plan:
You will be trained in nutrition analysis software, genetic analysis techniques, and other relevant skills. You will determine the adequacy of food intake within the prison population, carry out cross-sectional research to assess nutrient status, bone density, genotype, and disease history, and design an intervention study based on the preliminary findings. There will be opportunities to assess the impact of health promotional initiatives implemented on the strength of the results generated. You will co-design elements of the research with the DoS and supervisory team, to include liaison with colleagues within HMPS, PHE, University of Oxford, and St Mary’s University.
For informal inquiries about the project please contact Dr Jonathan Tammam, email: [Email Address Removed]
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