Nutritional Care of culturally diverse older adults living in care homes

Applications are invited for a four-year PhD funded opportunity. The studentship will start on 1 October 2025.

Apply

To apply please use the online application form. Simply select the online application link below for PhD Nutrition and Health
Online application
Within the research section of the application form, in the following fields, please add:
‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ add 25-10 HP-S2-P1 Hickson
When the application asks for a research proposal, please just upload a blank document. A research proposal is not needed for this programme as you are applying directly to a studentship project.

Application guidance

It is important that you follow the instructions above or your application for this studentship may be missed and therefore will not be considered.
Before applying, please ensure you have read the Doctoral College’s general information on  applying for a postgraduate research degree .
For more information on the admissions process please contact research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
Nutritional Care of culturally diverse older adults living in care homes
Director of Studies (DoS): Professor Mary Hickson
2nd Supervisor: Dr Esther Muriuki
3rd Supervisor: Professor Jane Murphy
Applications are invited for a four-year PhD funded opportunity. The studentship will start on 1 October 2025.

Project description

We are seeking a dietitian or nurse to study for a PhD and explore the nutritional requirements of a culturally diverse care home population. We anticipate seconding an NHS employed dietitian or nurse who is currently working in the care home setting. We are currently running a large trial to investigate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements in the treatment of undernutrition in the care home setting – The REFRESH trial .
Your research will be based on the following research questions:
  1. What do residents of older adult care homes consume, is it adequate to meet nutritional requirements, and do people with minority cultural backgrounds eat differently?
  2. How well is the dietary data collection conducted in care homes, what adaptations are needed to ensure dietary intake can be measured accurately, and does the provision of culturally diverse foods impact the ease of dietary data collection?
  3. Do residents with access to fortified food consume more protein (and higher quality protein) and energy than residents without such access and does dietary preference for ethnically diverse diet influence intake?
  4. What factors influence dietary intake in care homes for those from minority ethnic groups and how can these population groups be adequately catered for?
You will be part of the REFRESH Trial team and registered for a PhD with the University of Plymouth. Supervision and training can be largely done remotely (if this is your choice) but ability to travel periodically to the University is necessary.

Eligibility

To apply you should:
  • Be a UK registered dietitian or nurse (with the Health and Care Professions Council or Nursing and Midwifery Council)
  • Hold a 2.1 or 1st class undergraduate degree or relevant masters qualification
  • Have knowledge of the available guidance for nutrition support in the care home setting
  • Have a sound knowledge of nutrition and ageing
  • An ambition to study for a PhD
  • Be willing and able to travel to care homes in Devon, Hampshire and Dorset, and the West Midlands (and other areas as necessary). NB: Care homes may have poor public transport connections.
  • Have permanent leave to remain in the UK
  • Be fluent in spoken and written English (If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent
  • Have agreement in principle to support your studies from your current employer (a letter or email from your line manager indicating their support prior to interview would be ideal)
Ideally you will also have:
  • Experience of working with care homes on the management of undernutrition
  • Previous research experience
  • Proven skills in team working
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to rapidly establish good rapport with researchers and care home staff.
  • MRes in Clinical Research or similar
The studentship is supported for 4 years and includes full home tuition fees and funding to match your current salary. This will be paid to your current employing institution. You will need the approval of your institution to take up this award. There is also some funding for training and project consumables.
If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please email mary.hickson@plymouth.ac.uk with the subject title ‘REFRESH PhD application’
Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.
This vacancy will involve working with children and/or vulnerable adults and any appointment will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College . Applications will not be considered if information is missing.
The closing date for applications is 12 midnight (UK time) on Monday 5 May 2025.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview online on Tuesday 20 May. It will be extremely difficult to organise an alternative interview time so please keep this date free.
We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.