Novel methods for modelling lifecourse diet from preconception to childhood in the Southampton Women's Survey
Location: MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, Southampton
Closing date: 7th January 2019
Duration: Three years
An opportunity exists for a PhD student to work within the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton. The aim of the PhD is to apply statistical methods for longitudinal data to dietary information collected from preconception to childhood in the Southampton Women's Survey. The PhD will be supervised by Dr Sarah Crozier, Dr Christina Vogel and Professor Hazel Inskip and is fully funded full-time for 3 years.
Obesity is a growing public health problem and future preventative strategies will depend upon an understanding of the influence of dietary behaviours. Knowledge of the role of diet in influencing health and disease is usually based on assessment of diet at one time point and subsequent associations with health outcomes. However, dietary choices change over time, and lifecourse experience of diet could plausibly be more influential than diet measured at only one time point.
The Southampton Women's Survey has collected data on young non-pregnant women and followed-up those who became pregnant and then studied their children, therefore providing a unique dataset with information including dietary behaviours collected prospectively from before the women became pregnant until the children reached 8-9 years of age. This project aims to combine methodological advancement in the study of nutritional epidemiology with application to outcomes of importance across the lifecourse. Statistical techniques that allow the modelling of trajectories of longitudinal data, such as residual growth models, multilevel linear spline models, growth mixture models and structural equation modelling, will be applied in the context of dietary behaviours.
The Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit has an international reputation as a centre for the study of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease; evidence from the Unit and elsewhere has demonstrated that the risk of non-communicable diseases is accrued throughout the entire lifecourse, even from life in the womb. The MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit studies the risk factors and determinants of these diseases across life from conception to old age, investigates potential underlying mechanisms, and aims to translate these findings into novel strategies to improve human health.
The Unit houses a large team of statisticians, providing a supportive environment to early career researchers. Extensive training is available both informally and formally within the Faculty of Medicine.
We are looking for highly motivated applicants with a 2(i) degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. A relevant masters qualification would be desirable alongside an interest in longitudinal analysis. Experience with Stata or R would be desirable but not essential.
This PhD studentship is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. The funding will cover all UK/EU fees and stipend (£14,777/year). If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Sarah Crozier ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>).
Further details and application forms can be found at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=1050418AF
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Dr Sarah Crozier
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit
(University of Southampton)
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton, UK
SO16 6YD
E-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Tel: 023 8076 4079
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