Picky eating in adults

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three year PhD to commence in October 2025. 

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health within the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Science, and will be supervised by Dr Lorenzo Stafford. 

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2025/26). Bursary recipients will also receive a contribution of £1,500 per year towards consumables, conference, project or training costs.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

Project Highlights:

• Examine the prevalence of Picky Eating and how this relates to food neophobia and other eating related conditions
• Understand the experiences of individuals who see themselves as Picky Eaters
• Explore strategies to enhance eating experiences in Picky Eaters

Project description

Individuals who follow a diet that is restricted in range are often referred to as ‘Picky Eaters’ (PEs) which is a rather vague term, frequently used to describe a broad array of eating practices, including those who are fussy eaters and less willing to try new foods (Neophobia).  At the clinical level PE forms one of the central aspects of the DSM classification for Avoidant/Restrictive food Intake Disorder (ARFID) (DSM-5, APA).  Work on the prevalence of ARFID in the UK are rare but one recent report estimated this to be between 4 and 11pct  (Nicholls-Clow et al., 2024) and therefore represents a substantial number of individuals.  Following a restricted eating regime can lead to deficiencies in a number of nutrients including in iron and zinc (Taylor & Emmett, 2019), and possibly as a consequence, increased health risk (AHA, 2020).  There are also impacts in other areas including the social aspect of eating, where PEs can often feel anxious when eating with others (Barnhart et al., 2021), which could be exacerbated in an era of adventurous eating experiences, shared on television and social media.  Whilst research has examined this phenomenon extensively in children, there remains a lack of knowledge in terms of adult PEs.  The aim of the project is therefore to further explore the relationship between adult non-clinical PE and other behavioural traits such as Neophobia and Orthorexia and understand the experiences of those who see themselves as PEs.  Additionally, linking to recent work (Annette & Stafford, 2023), to examine whether strategies can be developed to enhance and potentially broaden the range of foods that PEs consume. 

General admissions criteria

You’ll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised University (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Specific candidate requirements 

Experience in both Quantitative & Qualitative research methods; intellectual curiosity and a good background in psychobiological psychology. 

How to Apply

Please note that email applications are not accepted. If you have any project-specific questions please contact  Dr Lorenzo Stafford (lorenzo.stafford@port.ac.uk) quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, please use the online application form of the respective project on our PhD scholarship website.

Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV.  Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code PSH50180125 when applying.

Explore more funded opportunities via our South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP) programme.