Dr C Conlon, Assoc Prof P von Hurst
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
In New Zealand complementary feeding is recommended to start at around 6 months. Suggested first foods include vegetables, fruits, meat, and commercial infant foods including baby rice.
The development of taste preferences starts in utero with the fetus swallowing amniotic fluid which is flavoured by the mother’s diet. Taste preferences in early life are then programmed through the flavours present in breastmilk. This strongly supports our hypothesis that early exposure to vegetables as complementary foods will programme taste preferences, and subsequently improve vegetable intake through childhood. It is well known that dietary patterns of adulthood are established in childhood, and that optimal body weight and health outcomes are associated with higher intakes of vegetables in children and adults.
The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to compare standard infant feeding practices with a vegetables-first approach to complementary feeding.
Potential research areas
Complementary feeding, infant nutrition, taste preferences, body composition and health outcomes.
Supervisory Research Team
Dr Cath Conlon (Nutrition and Dietetics, Auckland)
Assoc Prof Pamela von Hurst (Nutrition and Dietetics, Auckland)
Funding Notes
The scholarship is valued at NZ$25,000 (tax free) per year. The scholarship will be tenable for one year in the first instance, but subject to satisfactory progress will be renewed for a second and a third year.
Applicants should hold a degree relevant to one of the above listed research areas and/or have related professional experience. All applicants must have either an exceptional academic track record, and/or a proven track record of research productivity.
Scholarship applicants will be required to enrol in a full-time Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree through Massey University but can work up to 500hours per year.
References
Apply by submitting a written letter of interest which includes your previous research interests and experience and email Cath Conlon, including curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, and the names and contact details of at least two referees.
Potential candidates will be interviewed in January 2018.
The PhD programme will commence in March 2018 although a later start is possible.
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