Summary
The University of Lorraine, through the Centre d’Investigation Clinique Plurithématique (CIC-P), the Bureau d’Économie Théorique et Appliquée (BETA), and INSERM research teams, is offering a fully funded 36-month PhD position under the ENBIO-CARE project (Environment, Biological Mechanisms and Cardio-Renal Health: Focus on Heart Failure). The project aims to investigate how ultra-processed food consumption affects cardio-renal health and heart failure through environmental, nutritional, biological, and socio-economic perspectives. The successful candidate will work with advanced methodologies including multi-omics, machine learning, network analysis, spatial econometrics, and biostatistics.
Fully Funded PhD Scholarship 2026 in Cardio-Renal Health, Nutrition, and Environmental Epidemiology – University of Lorraine, France
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | Fully Funded PhD Scholarship |
| Project | ENBIO-CARE (2025–2028) |
| Duration | 36 Months |
| Funding | €2,300 Gross per Month |
| Location | Nancy & Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France |
| Start Date | October 2026 |
| Host Institution | University of Lorraine |
| Research Areas | Public Health, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Cardio-Renal Research |
| Application Deadline | 14 June 2026 |
Designation
Doctoral Researcher (PhD Candidate)
Project Title: ENBIO-CARE – Environment, Biological Mechanisms and Cardio-Renal Health: Focus on Heart Failure
Research Area
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition and Health
- Cardiovascular Research
- Chronic Kidney Disease Research
- Heart Failure
- Environmental Health
- Biostatistics
- Spatial Econometrics
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Multi-Omics Analysis (Lipidomics and Proteomics)
- Systems Biology
Location
Nancy and Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
Research will be conducted jointly at:
- University of Lorraine
- Centre d’Investigation Clinique Plurithématique (CIC-P)
- Bureau d’Économie Théorique et Appliquée (BETA)
- INSERM DCAC Research Unit
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants should possess:
Required Degree
- Master’s degree in:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Life Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Economics or Applied Economics
Required Skills
- Strong proficiency in R and/or Python
- Advanced knowledge of statistics and epidemiology
- Understanding of quantitative data analysis
- Experience working with cohort datasets
- Interest in interdisciplinary health research
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of nutrition and dietary epidemiology
- Experience in machine learning or omics data analysis
- Familiarity with spatial analysis and econometrics
Language Requirements
- French (working language)
- English (scientific communication and publication)
Personal Attributes
- Scientific curiosity and enthusiasm for research
- Independence and organizational skills
- Strong analytical and communication abilities
- Teamwork and collaboration skills
- Scientific writing proficiency in French and English
Job Description
The doctoral candidate will investigate the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and cardio-renal health through an integrated environmental–nutrition–biology framework.
Research Objectives
Objective 1: Environmental Determinants
- Analyze how physical environments influence ultra-processed food consumption.
- Study proximity to:
- Natural green spaces
- Fast-food outlets
- Supermarkets
- Apply spatial accessibility and econometric models.
Objective 2: Biological Mechanisms
- Identify lipidomic and proteomic signatures associated with ultra-processed food consumption.
- Investigate biological pathways using:
- Lipidomics
- Proteomics
- Network analysis
- Machine learning
- Examine compounds such as trans fatty acids and PFAS.
Objective 3: Heart Failure Focus
- Explore links between ultra-processed food intake and heart failure progression.
- Analyze fibrosis biomarkers and lipid profiles.
- Study populations ranging from healthy individuals to patients with advanced heart failure.
Research Methods
- Multi-omics integration
- Machine learning (Random Forest, XGBoost)
- Spatial econometrics
- Advanced biostatistics
- Network analysis
- Longitudinal cohort analysis
Data Resources
The project will utilize the STANISLAS Cohort, a long-term family-based cohort including over 4,000 participants followed for approximately 20 years with extensive clinical, dietary, biological, and cardiovascular data.
Scholarship Benefits
- Fully funded PhD position
- Funding already secured
- Monthly gross salary of €2,300
- Access to internationally recognized research teams
- Training in cutting-edge analytical methods
- Opportunity to work with large-scale cohort and omics datasets
- Participation in the interdisciplinary LIFE TRAVEL Program under the France 2030 Initiative
Supervisory Team
The PhD candidate will be supervised by:
- Nicolas Girerd
- Sandra Wagner
- Youba Ndiaye
Additional collaboration will involve the CaRMeN Laboratory for lipid research expertise.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following documents in PDF format:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation Letter
- Master’s Degree Transcripts
- Master’s Thesis or Scientific Publication
- Two Recommendation Letters
Application Submission
Send applications to:
- Sandra Wagner: s.wagner2@chru-nancy.fr
- Youba Ndiaye: youba.ndiaye@univ-lorraine.fr
Useful information:
Last Date for Apply
Application Deadline
14 June 2026
Selection Timeline
- Application Closing Date: 14 June 2026
- Expected Interviews: Week of 15 June 2026
- Results Announcement: 22 June 2026
- Expected Start Date: October 2026
This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in combining public health, nutrition, epidemiology, data science, and environmental economics to address major global challenges in cardiovascular and renal health.
