Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins

One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2025/26. This scholarship is open to Home (UK, Ireland) and international applicants and covers UK tuition fees plus a maintenance grant (&pound;19,237 in 2024/25) for full-time study. Please note that international applicants would have to pay the difference between Home and International student tuition fees.<br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in the fields of Chemistry and/or Biochemistry. <br /> <br /> The award is open to full-time candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Food Science and Nutrition.

<p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{196}" paraid="1284043278">There is a need to develop representative, robust and readily measurable the nutritional equivalence of alternative and plant based proteins compared to the animal protein foods they aim to reduce/replace. This is critically important at the population level, where the nutritional equivalence of plant based foods will be essential to deliver safe, nutritious and sustainable foods and diets for all. The type and quantity of amino acids circulating in our blood reflect health and disease risk and also provide an ideal tool for measuring nutritional equivalence.  Current measurement methods require direct quantification in blood samples, often making it difficult to collect sufficient data from large cohorts or at the population level.   </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{232}" paraid="1018876566">Employing state of the art experience in biosensors and nutrition facilities at Ulster University, and expertise in gut microbiology, alternative proteins and standardisation of biological measurements at University of Leeds, this PhD project aims to develop and prototype a new biosensor for amino acids and derivatives, suitable for continuous measurement of target metabolites in human interstitial fluid. Advancing on current clinical use of continuous glucose monitoring, this new tool is designed to take the next giant step in continuous metabolite monitoring and provide both the fundamental nutri-kinetics measurements of microbial amino acid metabolism and a prototype biosensor device capable of tracking metabolite kinetics on a continuous basis and in real time. This tool will also provide a novel and powerful new approach for measuring the nutritional equivalence of alternative proteins and new plant based protein foods, which are essential for achieving dietary protein transition and reducing our impact on climate change.  </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">The successful PhD candidate will receive expert training in biosensor design, analytical chemistry, microbial ecology, in vitro gut models, metabolite analysis, human nutrition, biochemistry and standardisation of biochemical measurements. Moreover, they will benefit from an internship at the Ulster University (between 12 to 18 months) and close collaboration with other partners, both in the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and NAPIC, especially the National Measurements Laboratory at Leeds.  </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">This project aims to:</p> <ul> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Investigate how different protein sources regulate circulating profiles of amino acids and related metabolites using both in vitro models and healthy subjects.  </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417"> Select a panel of amino acid and related metabolites (AaRMs) which respond to diet and have potential to influence host physiological processes. </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Investigate different biochemical signalling solutions suitable for biosensor development. </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Develop a prototype amino acid/related metabolite biosensor with potential for application as a wearable, continuous AaRMs measurement.</li> </ul> <p>The experimental work carried out at the University of Leeds and Ulster University, with Prof Chris Gill and Prof James Davis, Ulster University, as external supervisors. The PhD student will get excellent opportunities to do placements with our industrial partners and the wider community in UK and abroad within NAPIC – please see the website for partners of NAPIC: <a aria-label="Link https://napic.ac.uk/partners/" href="https://napic.ac.uk/partners/" id="menurm75" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" title="https://napic.ac.uk/partners/">https://napic.ac.uk/partners</a>.</p> <p paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130"><strong>Information about the award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130">We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition for one candiate, covering a maintenance grant of £19,237 per year and UK tuition fees for three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress. <strong>Please note that international applicants are welcome to apply but would need to cover the difference between UK and International tuition fees. The maintenance stipend is paid monthly and cannot be used to pay your fees. You can read more about research degree fees <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-fees/doc/research-degrees-fees">here</a>.</strong></li> </ul> <p paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130"><strong>Duration of the award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130">Full-time (3.5 years).  The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN.</p> <ul> <li>For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’.</li> <li>The admission year for this project is 2025/26 Academic Year.</li> <li>For ‘Planned Course of Study’ please select ‘PhD Food Science and Nutrition Full-time’.</li> <li>For ‘Proposed Start Date of Research’ please select 1 October 2025.</li> <li><strong>In the research information section, you must state clearly that the project you wish to be considered for is ‘NAPIC: Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins’ and name <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/staff/10441/professor-kieran-tuohy">Professor Kieran Tuohy</a> as your proposed supervisor.</strong></li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p>In your applications, plase state that you wish to apply for the position of <strong>Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins </strong>position and add Professor Kieran Tuohy as the named academic. </p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition are expected to hold a bachelor degree in a relevant subject (2.1 or above or equivalent) or a good honours degree together with a Masters degree. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the Postgraduate Research Admissions team prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>For further information please contact Prof Kieran Tuohy (<a href="mailto:k.m.tuohy@leeds.ac.uk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">k.m.tuohy@leeds.ac.uk</a>) </p>