Gastrointestinal Resilience: the gateway to understanding overtraining and burnout

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated PhD student to pursue a pioneering study on the roles of the gastrointestinal system in comprehending overtraining and burnout.

The project will focus on developing a persistent statement on how the gastrointestinal system plays a pivotal role in the onset of overtraining and burnout. A detailed analysis will be carried out to quantify hedonic preferences between the two conditions. Human studies will be carried out in parallel on cohorts of elite athletes and corporate individuals to determine changes in gut permeability markers, hormonal recognition, dietary analysis and microbiota differences. The successful candidate will develop their skills as an independent researcher using state-of-the-art human physiology and nutrition laboratory, biochemical and nutritional analysis, molecular, and bioinformatics methods. They will also be expected to contribute significantly to impactful outputs for publication in scientific journals, presentation in international meetings and public engagement. The successful applicant will be supported by the interdisciplinary supervisory team with a significant publication track record, international collaborations and world-leading expertise in gastrointestinal function, human physiology, well-being and nutritional analysis.

These PhD opportunities will include comprehensive personal and professional development training and a mentoring programme from the University of Westminster Graduate School. The researchers will join a School firmly committed to decolonising and diversifying policies, practices, and cultures within, and beyond, Higher Education. 

Entry requirements and how to apply

Candidates should have a minimum classification of 2.1 in their bachelor’s degree or equivalent and preferably a Masters degree. Applicants whose secondary level education has not been conducted in the medium of English should also demonstrate evidence of appropriate English language proficiency normally defined as IELTS: 6.5 (overall score with not less than 6.0 in any of the individual elements).

You can read more about what should be in a PhD research proposal here:

https://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/entry-requirements/how-to-write-your-research-proposal

You can read more about our entry requirements here:

http://westminster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/entry-requirements

Applications should be submitted by Friday 16^th May 2025. Interviews will take place in June.

It is essential you include the code of the project you are applying for in your personal statement i.e. “SLS SF1”.

Also include the title of the specific project you wish to apply for in your application.