Integrating chrononutrition and digital health: An evaluation of technology-enhanced approaches to optimising body weight and metabolic health

Are you passionate about tackling one of today’s biggest public health challenges? This fully funded PhD offers you the chance to lead impactful research on obesity and metabolic health, exploring innovative strategies to enhance outcomes and overcome challenges like long-term adherence.

This project will evaluate the impact of promising dietary interventions such as time-restricted eating (TRE) on body weight, metabolic health, and long-term adherence, focusing on how aligning eating patterns with circadian rhythms can improve outcomes.

It will also examine the complementary role of digital tools in supporting TRE implementation. Finally, the research will assess the acceptability of these interventions and their influence on quality of life.

The studentship is aligned with the EU PEACEPLUS-funded PEACETIME project, a cross-border initiative developing an integrated healthcare model for obesity.

Findings from this research will provide an evidence base to inform the ongoing development of this model, ensuring it is grounded in robust, patient-centred data.

The successful candidate will gain a valuable and highly sought-after interdisciplinary experience in clinical nutrition, digital health technology, and mixed-methods research.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a project with clear, tangible relevance to regional health strategy and clinical practice.

Important Information: Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission.

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship.

In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications record appropriate to career stage
• Experience of presentation of research findings

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

Our fully funded PhD scholarships will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000 (approximately) per annum for three years* (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £900 per annum is also available.

These scholarships, funded via the Department for the Economy (DfE), are open to applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available to home candidates, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies .

Recommended reading

• Daly, A. and Hovorka, R. (2021) Technology in the management of type 2 diabetes: Present status and future prospects. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 23(8), 1722-1732. doi: 10.1111/dom.14418

• Elmaleh-Sachs, A., Schwartz, J.L., Bramante, C.T., Nicklas, J.M., Gudzune, K.A. and Jay, M. (2024) Obesity Management in Adults. Jama, 330(20), 2000-2015. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.19897

• Ezpeleta, M., Cienfuegos, S., Lin, S., Pavlou, V., Gabel, K., Tussing-Humphreys, L. and Varady, K.A. (2024) Time-restricted eating: Watching the clock to treat obesity. Cell Metabolism, 36(2), 301-314. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.004

• Forouhi, N.G. (2023) Embracing complexity: making sense of diet, nutrition, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 66(5), 786-799. doi: 10.1007/s00125-023-05873-z

• Gudzune, K.A. and Kushner, R.F. (2024) Medications for Obesity. Jama, 332(7), 571-584. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.10816

• Hawley, J.A., Sassone-Corsi, P. and Zierath, J.R. (2020) Chrono-nutrition for the prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes: from mice to men. Diabetologia, 63(11), 2253-2259. doi: 10.1007/s00125-020-05238-w

• Henry, C.J., Kaur, B. and Quek, R.Y.C. (2020) Chrononutrition in the management of diabetes. Nutrition &Amp; Diabetes, 10(6). Doi: 10.1038/s41387-020-0109-6

• Lingvay, I., Sumithran, P., Cohen, R.V. and Le Roux, C.W. (2022) Obesity management as a primary treatment goal for type 2 diabetes: time to reframe the conversation. Lancet, 399(10322), 394-405. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736

• Manoogian, E.N.C., Chow, L.S., Taub, P.R., Laferrère, B. and Panda, S. (2021) Time-restricted Eating for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases. Endocrine Reviews, 43(2), 405-436. doi: 10.1210/endrev/bnab027

• Raaijmakers, L.C.H., Pouwels, S., Berghuis, K.A. and Nienhuijs, S.W. (2015) Technology-based interventions in the treatment of overweight and obesity: A systematic review. Appetite, 95, 138-151. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.07.008

• Sempionatto, J.R., Montiel, V.R., Vargas, E., Teymourian, H. and Wang, J. (2021) Wearable and Mobile Sensors for Personalized Nutrition. ACS Sensors, 6(5), 1745-1760. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.1c00553

• Skinner, A., Toumpakari, Z., Stone, C. and Johnson, L. (2020) Future Directions for Integrative Objective Assessment of Eating Using Wearable Sensing Technology. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7, 80. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00080