SmartAge ESR project 10

Host: Wageningen University, Netherlands

Secondments: Zurich University of Applied Science, Switzerland / University Hospital Jena, Germany

The research group Nutrition and Aging (Chair: Prof. Dr. Ir. Lisette de Groot) of the Department of Human Nutrition & Health at the Wageningen University, The Netherlands, offers a PhD position for an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) for the project: Impact of late life nutritional interventions on microbiome / cognition. The position is part of the EU-funded Innovative Training Network SmartAge (“Gut-brain-axis: Targets for improvement of cognition in the elderly”) with full-time employment for a duration of 3 years, starting in March 2021.

Objective of the project: In a previous project, NU-AGE (NUtrients and AGEing), we have investigated the effects of a nutritional intervention based on dietary recommendations and habits of elderly people. In the subjects detailed information on dietary intake, cognitive functioning (episodic memory, information processing speed and executive functioning) and faecal samples were collected. Follow-up measurements in the participants within 5-10 years after completion of Nu-AGE will be completed in the frame of SmartAge and an additional dietary intervention will be carried out. Data analysis will focus on intestinal health and the immune status of the included subjects to explore the potential beneficial effects of nutrition on the maintenance of cognitive functioning at old age by improving intestinal health.

Requirements for the applicant:  We expect a Master´s degree (or equivalent) in Nutrition, Health and/or Life Sciences. Furthermore, the applicant should be able to perform team-oriented as well as independent work. Desirable methodological skills: excellent background in human intervention analysis, biological sample handling and analysis of plasma biomarkers, microbiota data analysis. Excellent research skills and high proficiency in spoken and written English are required.

Please note the eligibility criteria for researchers: Candidates must be in the first four years of his/her research career, not have a doctoral degree, and not have resided in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

Selection process: Interested candidates please send a motivation letter, a CV including publications (if available), copies of university degrees and courses (including obtained grades), and the names and e-mail addresses of two scientists who can provide references (all summarized in one pdf) to Preferential treatment will be given to applications received before 30 November 2020.

For more information concerning the research project please contact Prof. Dr. Ir. Lisette de Groot (phone 003131748106; email ) or Dr. Wilma Steegenga (phone 0031317485181; email ).