Food Science and Nutrition Research Degrees – University of Leeds

The School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds is one of the top ranked institutions in the UK. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, all of our research was rated as internationally leading or internationally excellent.

We offer PhD project opportunities in each of our research areas.

To learn more, please download your copy of our brochure.

Our research

We have 3 primary research groups:

1. Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
   Research in this group covers a number of different areas. A particular strength is work on the dietary polyphenols – their composition in plant foods, their composition in the foods that we eat (and how that composition can be manipulated), their absorption and metabolism, and how their in vivo bioactivity impacts on human health (and how this might be manipulated to beneficial effect).
2. Food Colloids and Processing
   This group is active in various aspects of food processing that frequently have related to the colloidal (particulate) nature of foods. Work includes study of heat and mass transport in food processing as well as statistical modelling and multivariate analysis techniques for product and process development.
3. Nutrition and Public Health
   Research in this group is aimed at increasing our understanding of how dietary intake impacts on human health and well-being. A major activity is the application of epidemiology to nutrition and health. Recent publications, for example, have reported important associations between fibre intake and risk of heart disease, supplements and cancer, and caffeine and birth weight. The research is also concerned with developing new methodologies for collecting dietary intake information.

Most of our PhD programmes last for 3 years and involve working with a supervisor from one of our three research groups but we are also able to offer places in certain research council funded Centres for Doctoral Training, which are 4 years in duration.

University of the Year 2017

The University of Leeds has been named the UK’s University of the Year 2017 by The Times and The Sunday Times’ Good University Guide.

Chosen by a distinguished panel, the Guide showcases the excellent student experience at Leeds.

The School of Food Science and Nutrition

The School supports you throughout your studies in a variety of ways. Invariably supervisors meet informally with their students several times a week in the laboratory or at a group meeting in addition to more formal review meetings.

This friendly and supportive approach is designed to help you develop your research skills and other generic skills like planning and organisation such that you can become an independent researcher producing outstanding research outputs by the conclusion of your studies.

In addition to your supervisor, the Postgraduate Progression Tutor is available to meet with you and provide independent advice and support on all aspects of your studies.

Learn more

To learn more, please download your copy of our brochure.