Within the multi-center TiFN (top institute food and nutrition) - NWO project "The Biology behind Perceivable Benefits" we investigate whether successful lifestyle intervention to improve health may require a more personalised approach.
It is increasingly recognised that maintaining well-controlled blood glucose concentrations is essential for remaining healthy and preventing chronic metabolic diseases. Recent evidence indicates that insulin resistance and metabolic inflexibility may develop separately in different organs, representing different etiologies towards cardio-metabolic diseases. Interestingly, these tissue-specific sub-phenotypes may have a differential response to diet. In a recent ground-breaking study, it was shown that, despite high inter-individual variability in glycemic response, responses to individual meals in daily life could be more accurately predicted by means of an algorithm that included lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity) and microbial composition as compared to a prediction by common practice. The above data suggest that successful lifestyle interventions may require a more personalised approach.

The PhD student is involved in the development, planning and performing of a large intervention study with challenges tests, and continuous glucose measurements and innovative apps.
The PhD student is responsible for:

• keeping up with the latest scientific developments and integrating these in the project;
• planning and carrying out human intervention study in collaboration with the full project team;
• perform data analyzes of complex data;
• converting results of the sub-project into overview reports;
• contributing to the full project plan;
• supervising of research assistants and students, where appropriate;
• participating in teaching;
• writing high-quality papers about the results obtained and getting these published in high-impact scientific journals;
• completing a thesis after 4 years.

For this position we are looking for enthusiastic and highly motivated candidates with:

• A MSc degree in nutrition, biomedical sciences or other related disciplines
• Proven interest in human metabolism, diabetes, nutrition and/or genomics
• Experience with complex data analyzes
• Ability to work in an independent manner, in collaboration with national public and private parties
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Good command of English and Dutch (written and spoken). This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (a mininum of CEFR C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.
• Excellent organizational and social skills.

We offer a temporary position with an average working time of 38 hours per week for a period of 1.5 years with extension of 2.5 years after successful evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2222 in the first year rising up to € 2840 per month in the fourth year.

We not only offer a competitive salary but also good (study) leave and a pension of the ABP Pension Fund.

Wageningen University & Research

The PhD student will be primarily based in the Division of Human Nutrition (chair groups Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics, and Nutrition and Health over the Lifecourse).

The mission of the Division of Human Nutrition is to improve global health and well-being through better nutrition. We have a broad expertise and outstanding facilities for academic education and research in Human Nutrition. Our five chair groups have joined their complementary expertise in order to provide an integrated approach in nutrition education and research.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at the special career site.