Exploring neural mechanisms by which food texture contributes to satiation

We are recruiting a PhD student to join an exciting project funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand that seeks to understand why complex food textures can make a meal more filling.

We have recently demonstrated that eating food with complex texture accelerates the satiation response, leading a participant to eat less. The increased mechanical and rheological manipulations required to orally process more texturally complex foods may amplify a cascade of sensations that enhance satiety. Where current work in the field of oral processing has linked accelerated satiation to longer chewing time and effort, our work addresses an important knowledge gap by linking food texture directly to satiation, independently of oral and nutritional factors.

This PhD will take the novel approach of exploring the activation of brain circuitry and release of circulating biomarkers during eating. By using controlled and quantified levels of food textural complexity we aim to combine neurohormonal responses with the hedonic and physical signals of oral processing behaviour in order to reveal underlying mechanisms that link food texture to satiation.

This is an interdisciplinary project so students from a range of technical backgrounds would be suitable. You will be joining an experienced team of investigators with support and training provided in neuroimaging (fMRI) and biomolecular techniques. You will be co-supervised by Professor Bryony James (Chemical & Materials Engineering) and Associate Professor Michael Hautus (Department of Psychology), and supported by members of Associate Professor Gant’s team, including neuroimaging expert Dr Victor Borges.

If you are looking for a challenging and highly novel PhD that could lead on to further research or employment across a wide number of sectors and disciplines; if you are energetic and enthused by learning new things; and, if you want to be part of a world leading team in an emerging area of research...then this is the role for you.

A PDF flyer advertising this opportunity can be downloaded from: http://bit.do/GantPhD