PhD Studentship: Not Enough Money for Food and Struggling to Eat: Understanding the Connection Between Food Insecurity and Disordered Eating

Overview

This PhD project at the University of Exeter, based in the Psychology department, explores the link between food insecurity and disordered eating. ARFID is an eating disorder in which people avoid foods because of sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or low interest in eating. Food insecurity, meaning unreliable access to safe and nutritious food, is a growing public health problem linked to poorer health outcomes. It is already connected to other eating disorders, but its relationship with ARFID is unknown.

The project will address that gap using large cohort datasets, interviews with people with lived experience and with carers, and the co-production of practical resources. The aim is to improve support for a poorly understood and underserved group.

What you get

The project is one of up to 18 MRC-funded studentships offered through the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme, with a start date of October 2027. The studentships last four years. Funding covers UK tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council national minimum, which is 21,805 pounds per year for 2026/27 and is updated annually. Up to 5,000 pounds per year is also available for research training and support costs.

Who can apply

The studentships are open to UK and international students. This project competes for a place with projects across the whole MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award, in which 18 studentships are available across the partnership.

Key dates

The closing date is 21 October 2026, and the studentship begins in October 2027.