PhD fellowship focusing on Food preferences and eating behavior traits in relation to body weight regulation and risk of diabetes in pregnancy and men

A PhD fellowship is available at the Clinical Research, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) in collaboration with the University of Leeds, UK. We are looking for a candidate with a relevant academic background within the field of Food preference and eating behavior traits and with interest in clinical metabolic research. The position is available from January 1st, 2026. SDCC is the largest diabetes center in Denmark and is organized in four units: Clinic, Clinical Research, Education and Health Promotion. The Clinical Research Unit consists of five research with different research areas. The clinical studies in this PhD will be carried out at SDCC at Herlev Hospital and at University of Leeds.

The project
In women, appetite and food preferences fluctuate during different life stages, notably during pregnancy and menopause. These fluctuations may influence eating behaviour traits, weight regulation, as well as metabolic health and risk of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Furthermore, pregnancy and menopause are characterized by hormonal shifts that increase susceptibility to insulin resistance, presenting critical windows for targeted lifestyle interventions. This PhD project aims to investigate the relationship between food preferences, eating behaviour traits, and body weight as well as the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy and menopause, using data from three large studies: PRE-STORK (Denmark), SatMap (UK), and NoHoW (UK). The project will include (1) a systematic review on changes in food preferences and eating behaviour in women during pregnancy and menopause; (2) analyses of the effect of weight management interventions/programs on food preferences, appetite and eating behaviour traits in pregnancy and how these appetite-related moderators influence the body weight response and insulin sensitivity to a lifestyle intervention; (3) Investigate the influence of menopausal status on the association of eating behavior traits with body weight and response to weight loss interventions.

Job description
The responsibilities of the PhD-student will in short consist of:

• Central in the recruitment and screening of participants, clinical experimental work, coordination of procedures and handling of food preference data.
• Management of data handling, perform primary statistical analyses and prepare first drafts for scientific manuscripts.
• Presentation of preliminary baseline data at national and international meetings
• Supervising students involved in the project.

Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate with scientific experience, good analytical and writing skills as well as excellent collaboration skills. Experience with food preference and eating behaviour traits, lifestyle interventions and women’s health. The candidate should speak and write fluent Danish and English.

Recruitment and employment
Deadline for application is December 19th. The employment is in accordance with the Capital Regions collective agreements. The position is offered from January 1st, full-time and for a period of three years.

Contact and Information
For further information please contact senior scientist Louise Grunnet ([email protected]).

About Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) is an international leading diabetes hospital within The Capital Region of Denmark. The hospital has specialized in diabetes treatment, clinical research, prevention, and education. SDCC is the biggest diabetes hospital in Scandinavia treating around 11.000 persons with diabetes including approximately 1000 children. In November 2021 SDCC moved to a new house next to Herlev Hospital. Read more at www.sdcc.dk and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Application deadline: Apply no later than 19. December 2025

Lokation: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen