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🥗 PhD Positions in Global Nutrition Epidemiology & Population Health | University of Thessaly
Institution: University of Thessaly – Department of Food Science and Nutrition
📍 Location: Karditsa, Greece 🇬🇷
🎓 Positions Available: 2 PhD Positions
🔬 Research Area: Global Nutrition Epidemiology | Population Health | Dietary Assessment | Diet-Disease Relationships | Nutrition Policy | Public Health | Biostatistics
The Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Thessaly is inviting applications from highly motivated candidates for two PhD positions within an international research program focused on global nutrition epidemiology and population health.
The doctoral research will investigate how major dietary factors are measured across populations, how dietary exposures vary across countries and population groups, how they relate to health outcomes and disease burden, and how this evidence can inform nutrition policy and public health action.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
🥗 Dietary Exposure Assessment
Investigate methods for assessing dietary exposures and population-level intake patterns using national and international dietary survey data.
🌾 Bread & Grain-Based Foods
A major research priority is the study of bread and grain-based foods, including whole-grain and refined-grain intake, using harmonized national dietary survey data across multiple countries.
🌍 Global Nutrition Epidemiology
Examine differences in dietary exposures across countries and population groups, including temporal trends and sociodemographic disparities.
🧬 Diet-Disease Relationships
Conduct epidemiological analyses investigating associations between dietary factors, health outcomes, and diet-related disease burden.
📊 Large-Scale Dietary Data
Work with large national and international dietary datasets and databases, applying quantitative and statistical approaches to understand population nutrition.
🏛️ Nutrition Policy Translation
Translate epidemiological evidence into policy-relevant findings and evaluate the potential impact of nutrition policies and interventions.
🎯 Potential Areas of Doctoral Research
Depending on the candidate’s interests, background, available data, and research priorities, projects may include:
- Harmonization and analysis of individual-level dietary survey data.
- Assessment of dietary intake distributions across countries and population subgroups.
- Evaluation of temporal trends and sociodemographic disparities in dietary intake.
- Development and application of methods for dietary exposure assessment.
- Integration and analysis of national and international dietary databases.
- Epidemiological analysis of relationships between dietary factors and health outcomes.
- Estimation of diet-related disease burden and population health impact.
- Comparative risk assessment and related quantitative approaches.
- Evaluation of the potential impact of nutrition policies and interventions.
- Translation of epidemiological findings into policy-relevant evidence.
Additional research topics may include:
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
- Sodium
- Fruits and vegetables
- Legumes and nuts
- Red and processed meats
- Other dietary factors relevant to cardiometabolic and population health
The specific topic and scope of each doctoral project will be developed jointly with the successful candidate.
🎓 Eligibility
Applicants must hold:
- A relevant first degree from a Greek or foreign higher education institution.
- For degrees awarded abroad, recognition by DOATAP where required.
- In addition, either:
- A relevant Master’s degree, or
- A first degree from a programme of at least five years’ duration corresponding to 300 ECTS.
- English language proficiency at B2 level or above.
The doctoral thesis may be written in Greek or English, subject to the requirements of the Department.
👩🔬 Ideal Candidate
Applicants should have a strong academic background in a relevant field such as:
- Nutrition or Dietetics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Biostatistics or Statistics
- Medicine or Health Sciences
- Data Science
- Or another closely related discipline
Strong quantitative skills and an interest in nutritional epidemiology and population health are particularly desirable.
Experience in one or more of the following would be an advantage:
- Dietary assessment
- Epidemiological research
- Statistical analysis using R, Stata, SAS, Python, or similar software
- Analysis of large observational or survey datasets
- Systematic reviews or evidence synthesis
- Global health or population health research
- Comparative risk assessment
- Nutrition or health policy
Excellent written and spoken English is required.
Knowledge of Greek is an advantage.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Opportunity to pursue a PhD in global nutrition epidemiology and population health.
- Experience working with large-scale national and international dietary datasets.
- Training in dietary assessment, epidemiological analysis, and quantitative research methods.
- Opportunity to investigate diet-disease relationships and population health impacts.
- Exposure to comparative risk assessment and evidence synthesis.
- Experience translating scientific findings into nutrition policy and public health evidence.
- Collaboration with researchers and institutions in Greece and internationally.
- Opportunities to participate in international research projects and collaborations.
- Opportunity to contribute to multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- Opportunities to present research findings at national and international scientific meetings.
- Development of an independent programme of doctoral research.
🧪 Research Focus
The overarching research pathway follows:
Dietary exposure assessment → Population intake patterns → Diet-disease relationships & burden → Policy translation
A major focus will be on bread and grain-based foods, including whole-grain and refined-grain consumption, using harmonized national dietary survey data from multiple countries.
The research program may also examine other major dietary factors, including sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium, fruits and vegetables, legumes and nuts, red and processed meats, and other factors relevant to cardiometabolic and population health.
🌍 Research Environment
PhD candidates will join an internationally oriented research program in nutritional epidemiology and population health at the University of Thessaly.
The research will involve collaboration with researchers and institutions in Greece and internationally, providing opportunities for methodological training, scientific publication, participation in international research projects, and development of an independent doctoral research program.
The doctoral research is expected to contribute to peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
📌 Position Details
Institution: University of Thessaly
Department: Department of Food Science and Nutrition
Position: PhD Student
Number of Positions: 2
Location: Karditsa, Greece
Research Area: Global Nutrition Epidemiology & Population Health
Primary Focus: Dietary Exposure Assessment | Population Intake Patterns | Diet-Disease Relationships | Nutrition Policy
Major Dietary Focus: Bread & Grain-Based Foods
Additional Topics: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages | Sodium | Fruits & Vegetables | Legumes & Nuts | Red & Processed Meat | Cardiometabolic Health
Key Skills: Epidemiology | Biostatistics | Statistical Analysis | Dietary Assessment | Data Analysis | Population Health
Preferred Software: R | Stata | SAS | Python
English Requirement: B2 or above
Positions: 2
Start Date: January 2027
Application: Email
Application Email: renata.micha@uth.gr
Application Subject: PhD Application – Global Nutrition Epidemiology – [Full Name]
Application Deadline: Rolling until positions are filled
First Review Date: 15 October 2026
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application by email with the subject:
“PhD Application – Global Nutrition Epidemiology – [Full Name]”
Applicants should demonstrate their academic preparation and interest in nutritional epidemiology, population health, dietary assessment, quantitative research, or related areas.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the first review scheduled for 15 October 2026.
📩 Application Email: renata.micha@uth.gr
📅 First Review: 15 October 2026
📅 Start Date: January 2027
📌 Applications: Rolling until positions are filled
📊 Research Opportunities
The successful candidates will have the opportunity to work with:
- Large-scale national dietary surveys
- International dietary datasets
- Harmonized dietary databases
- Population-level intake data
- Epidemiological datasets
- Quantitative risk assessment approaches
- Nutrition policy evidence
- International research collaborations
The doctoral projects will be shaped according to the candidate’s background, research interests, available data, and evolving priorities of the research program.
Category
PhD Position | Fully Research-Focused PhD | Global Nutrition Epidemiology | Nutritional Epidemiology | Population Health | Nutrition Science | Dietary Assessment | Public Health | Epidemiology | Biostatistics | Data Science | Diet-Disease Relationships | Nutrition Policy | University of Thessaly | Greece PhD | Nutrition Research | Public Health Research
🏷️ Tags
#PhD #PhDPosition #NutritionEpidemiology #NutritionalEpidemiology #PopulationHealth #PublicHealth #NutritionScience #DietaryAssessment #Epidemiology #Biostatistics #DataScience #NutritionResearch
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