The interdisciplinary LIFE TRAVEL programme is offering two PhD positions

As part of the interdisciplinary programme LIFE TRAVEL (Life Trajectories, Multimorbidity, Functional Ability, Quality of Life and Longevity), BETA and the Centre for Multidisciplinary Clinical Research in Nancy (CIC-P de Nancy) are seeking two PhD students to work on topics at the intersection of health, economics, the environment and nutrition.

These two PhD positions form part of an ambitious scientific initiative aimed at better understanding the determinants of health trajectories throughout the life course, by integrating biological, social, environmental and economic dimensions.

The two proposed topics focus more specifically on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their effects on cardio-renal health, with complementary approaches ranging from the analysis of dietary behaviours to the underlying biological mechanisms.

1. Ultra-Processed Foods, Individual Choices and Cardio-Renal Health: Integrated Analyses from the STANISLAS (DeTRA-CARE)

The doctoral project aims to study the impact of ultra-processed food consumption on cardio-renal health trajectories. Using data from the STANISLAS cohort, it will analyze the social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of dietary choices through a multidisciplinary approach combining economics, epidemiology, and biostatistics. The project will rely on advanced methods such as: discrete choice experiments, multilevel models, causal inference, mediation analyses.

The thesis will be supervised by Eric Kamwa (University of Lorraine, BETA), Sandra Wagner (CIC-P, Nancy University Hospital) et co-encadrée par Lesly Cassin (University of Lorraine, BETA).

Candidate Profile

Contract terms and application procedure

2. ENvironment, BIOlogical mechanisms and CARdio-renal health: focus on heart failure (ENBIO-CARE)

This PhD project aims to better understand the role of ultra-processed foods in cardio-renal health through an integrated environment–nutrition–biology approach.

The objectives are:

• To explore the influence of physical environments on UPF consumption and cardio-
• renal health,
• To identify the biological mechanisms,
• To further investigate the link between UPFs and heart failure.

The thesis will be supervised by Nicolas Girerd (CIC-P, Nancy University Hospital), Sandra Wagner ((CIC-P, Nancy University Hospital), and Youba Ndaye (University of Lorraine, BETA)

Candidate Profile

Contract terms and application procedure