Food Security

Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” World Food Summit 1996.

One of the greatest global challenges is to feed the predicted world population of 9 Billion in the next twenty years. Furthermore as countries develop there is an increased demand for variety within the diet and in particular increased demand for meat. This demand for meat will largely be met through increased production of poultry and pigs. Our work in Food Security focuses on two main areas:

1. Improving food safety in the UK, EU, Africa and Asia through controlling major foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacterand Salmonella.
2. Increasing productivity through control of endemic disease in the UK including Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli and in Asia and Africa and through improvements in animal welfare.

We employ an interdisciplinary approach to our research that ranges from environmental survival of pathogens, through to their biology in foodstuffs.  To achieve this we use epidemiological approaches, mathematical modeling, pathogen and host genomics to studies in microbial pathogenesis and host immune responses. As such the theme of Food Security involves researchers across all departments of IGH.

Examples of projects that may be undertaken in the area of Food Security include:

• Understanding how stressors in poultry production impact on the immune response and vaccine efficacy.
• Characterisation of the population biology of Campylobacter jejunithrough poultry processing.
• Determining the impact of chicken genotype on Campylobacterinfection.
• The risks of foodborne infection from backyard poultry production in Africa
• Developing novel adjuvants for Salmonella vaccines.
• Survival of Campylobacter in food products.
• Determining the pathogenesis of monophasic SalmonellaTyphimurium variants.

Requirements

• Students will normally have a minimum of a 2:1 class honours degree in a relevant biological science subject, or an equivalent medical, veterinary or dental qualification. Applicants are selected on the basis of their curriculum vitae, qualifications and referees’ reports, together with their perceived ability to complete the programme successfully and on the value of the training offered to their subsequent career plans.
• Applications from international students are welcome. International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines.
• IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component)
• TOEFL iBT 88 or above with minimum scores in components as follows: Listening and Writing 21, Reading – 22, Speaking 23
• School or college transcripts/certificates University transcripts
• Degree certificates
• Evidence of English Language proficiency (EU and international applicants only)
• Personal statement
• Two references
• Proof of funding Research proposal (forMPhil/PhD applicants only).
• Check the School’s research webpages to see if we can offer expert supervision in your chosen area of specialisation.
• Prepare a brief research proposal to outline the research project you would like to undertake.
• Submit a full application with all supporting documents, including a clear statement on how you intend to fund your research degree.

Scholarships

• Duncan Norman Scholarship
• Sir Joseph Rotblat Alumni Scholarship