NAPIC: Closing the Vitamin B12 Gap with Insects: Optimised Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Digestive Bioavailability

One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2026/27. This scholarship is open to UK (Home) candidates and covers UK tuition fees as well as a UKRI matched stipend (currently £21,805 in 2026/27). <br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to Nutrition, Food Science, Immunology and Protein Biochemistry.   

<p>Vitamin B12 is essential for human health, as it is required for erythropoiesis, DNA synthesis, and normal neurological function. The risk of vitamin B12 deficiency is highest in populations with low habitual intake of animal-source foods (e.g., vegans and some vegetarians unless consuming fortified foods and/or supplements), in older adults due to reduced gastric acid secretion and intrinsic factor availability, and in individuals with malabsorption disorders or a history of gastrointestinal surgery. Accordingly, targeted screening, food fortification, and supplementation remain key public-health strategies. </p> <p>In parallel, the increasing incorporation of insects into human diets has stimulated interest from the food and feed industries in insects as alternative sources of macro- and micronutrients. This project aims to optimise vitamin B12 production in black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), with potential applications in nutraceutical ingredients and fortified formulations for food and feed. Optimised BSFL will be subjected to a standardized in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model, and vitamin B12 bioaccessibility will be quantified. Bioavailability will subsequently be assessed using cell-based intestinal models to elucidate absorption and transepithelial transport. </p> <p>This PhD project within the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) will investigate black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as an innovative, sustainable platform to enhance vitamin B12 content and to determine whether BSFL-derived vitamin B12 can become bioaccessible and bioavailable following gastrointestinal digestion. The overarching goal is to generate robust evidence supporting the use of optimised BSFL as a micronutrient-rich ingredient for nutraceutical and food/feed fortification strategies, particularly relevant to populations at heightened risk of vitamin B12 insufficiency.  </p> <p>This project aims to: </p> <ul> <li><strong>Optimisation of vitamin B12 production in BSFL</strong> through controlled rearing and feeding/processing strategies designed to increase vitamin B12 levels in larval biomass.  </li> <li><strong>In vitro gastrointestinal digestion (standardised model) </strong>of optimised BSFL to simulate human digestion and generate digesta suitable for downstream assessment of micronutrient release.  </li> <li><strong>Quantification of vitamin B12 bioaccessibility</strong>, determining the fraction of vitamin B12 released into the soluble/digestible phase after digestion and therefore potentially available for uptake.  </li> <li><strong>Evaluation of intestinal bioavailability using cell-based models</strong>, assessing absorption-related endpoints (e.g., uptake and transepithelial transport) to clarify the potential of BSFL-derived vitamin B12 to be absorbed in the gut.  </li> </ul> <p>This project is with the collaboration of Fairman Knight and Sons UK Limited (<a href="https://www.fairmanknightandsons.com/">www.fairmanknightandsons.com</a>). In addition to most of the experimental work carried out at the University of Leeds, there is involvement of Prof Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Ph.D. is a Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Fellow, & Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University as external supervisor, providing an opportunity for the student to conduct some of the work at Texas A&M University. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Information about the Award</strong></p> <ul> <li>We are offering one full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition for one UK candidate, covering UK tuition fees and a UKRI matched maintenance stipend (currently £21,805 in 2026/27) for 3.5 years, all subject to satisfactory progress.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Duration of the Award </strong></p> <ul> <li>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>Award must be taken up by 1^st October 2026.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance to 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>. Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is<em> <strong>NAPIC: Closing the Vitamin B12 Gap with Insects: Optimised Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Digestive Bioavailability</strong></em> as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/food-nutrition/staff/8812/dr-alan-javier-hernandez-alvarez">Dr Alan Javier Hernandez Alvarez</a> as your proposed supervisor.</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 research degree programmes at the School of Food Science and Nutrition should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study at the School of Food Science and Nutrition is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 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.

<p>We are offering a fully funded scholarship, for one UK status candidate, to study project <em>Closing the Vitamin B12 Gap with Insects: Optimised Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Digestive Bioavailability</em>, funded by the School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds.</p> <p>The funding covers UK tutition fees as well as a UKRI matched stipend (currently £21,805 in 2026/27), per year, subject to satisfactory progress. </p> <p>If you are unsure whether you are eligible for UK fees/funding, please see our <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate-fees/doc/fee-assessment">fee assessment page.</a></p>

<p>For further project information please contact Dr Alan Javier Hernandez Alvarez: A.J.HernandezAlvarez@leeds.ac.uk</p> <p>For any application guidance please contact Environment PGR Admissions:</p> <p>ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk</p>