Summer Studentships 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic the Summer Studentship application process is on hold until at least 2022.
The Nutrition Society offers Summer Studentships aimed at undergraduate members interested in a career in nutritional science. The studentships will provide undergraduates, registered on nutrition or related degree programmes, with the opportunity to undertake a period of research in a university, research institute or industrial setting. All applicants must have an academic supervisor based at the university at which they are registered.
Submissions are closed.
- The applicant must hold a current membership started before November of the preceding year i.e. at the time of application. It is expected that the recipients of the award will continue membership of the Society for two years following the award.
- Online applications should be submitted by the student.
- The proposed supervisor and host school or department will each need to confirm their willingness to support the project and confirm that appropriate facilities will be made available. The University will be expected to administer the grant.
- It is anticipated that students will have already undertaken at least two years of study at university for their FIRST degree, and have at least one year of their course remaining.
- All projects should be original research. A research project that has already begun or that has already been presented/started by another researcher, will not be accepted. To clarify - you cannot join a research team that has already started on a project with this grant, it must be your own work.
- The project must be concluded by the end of August as students will present an abstract of their findings at the annual Nutrition Futures Conference in September.
- The Application and judging process
Applications will consist of a proposal of no more than 500 words, detailing your project including aims, hypotheses and methodology (not including references), and a statement of no more than 150 words explaining how the project will enhance your future career aspirations in nutritional science.Judging of the application
Projects outlined in the application will be judged on their individual merits based on the criteria outlined below.
Marking scheme
A total of 20 marks will be awarded by each of the judges. These will be combined to determine the highest scoring recipients. Those with the highest aggregate scores will be offered the studentships. The Society reserves the right to only fund the best two applications from any one institution should multiple applications be received. Applications will be reviewed and scored independently by at least three Nutrition Society Trustees, Advisory Council Members and/or Science Committee Members.
For the proposal (out of 15) will be awarded for the:
- Clarity of writing – Clearly and concisely outlines the nature of the topic to be addressed and the methods to be used (out of 5)
- Hypothesis, Aims and Objectives – A logical and appropriate hypothesis to be tested and a clear indication of how the stated aims and objectives will test this (out of 5)
- Novelty – The project addresses an important aspect of nutrition (animal or human) and the approach suggested is novel (but achievable in the timescale outlined) (out of 5)
Marks for the statement (out of 5) on:
- Future career aspirations (out of 5) - Statement clearly articulates the candidate’s future aspirations for a career in nutritional science (or an appropriate related discipline) and indicates how completing the project will help them realise these aims.
The projects will be judged and the award for the Best Project will be presented at the Society's Annual Drinks Reception ahead of the Winter Conference.
2019 Summer Studentships
Best Project Summer Studentship Winner:
Benjamin Narang, University of Bath
Project title: The effect of glucose-calcium co-ingestion during endurance exercise on exogenous glucose oxidation in healthy adults.
Rebecca Brooks, University of Leeds
Project title: Computational Modelling of Novel Iron Supplements
Avril Cassell, St Mary's University, Twickenham
Project title: Impact of cultural ethnic norms, body image and health perceptions on views and practices relating to healthcare messages of British Afro-Caribbean UK populations.
Lesley Yates-Cinti, Edge Hill University
Project title: Agricultural sustainability and farming practices past and present
Rachel Moon, University of Leeds
Project title: The link between PUFA metabolism and breast cancer — a Mendelian Randomisation approach/study.
Maria Wesolowska, Ulster University
Project title: Maternal Fish Intake and Child Cognitive Outcomes
Queries
If you have any queries, please view the frequently asked questions section below or contact the membership team.
Frequently Asked Questions
All applicants must be current members of the Nutrition Society and their membership must have started before October 2019 in order for them to be considered for funding. Students from any university in the UK or overseas can apply as long as they are undergraduates, and still have at least a year of their first-degree course in nutrition, left to go.
Yes – you need to have the permission of the tutor who will be supervising your project and supporting your project and can confirm that facilities will be there for you to use.
The only restrictions are that the Nutrition Society reserves the right to limit the number of successful applications from any one university and to also ask for a refund from anyone who is found to not be meeting the eligibility criteria, despite having stated they comply.
Yes, this is acceptable if you can define the specific role each student will play, however we can only pay the same overall amount of £2500 for the project as a whole (not per person). You may also need to demonstrate that the project can be completed with only one person, should a student withdraw from the project.
It is intended to be up to eight weeks during the summer vacation period and must be completed by the end of August
In 2019 we received 20+ applications, the high quality of them meant it was a difficult decision. This means it is worth spending time and care on the application form.
The Nutrition Society will award your university £400 for incidental expenses and you will receive a stipend of £1600 for the duration of your research project for up to eight weeks. The money will be paid to the university and they must manage the grant with you. We will also retain a further £500 to enable you to attend and present your research at the 2020 Nutrition Futures Conference in September.
Highly experienced nutrition scientists from the Nutrition Society’s Trustee Board and/or Membership Committee will judge the applications on the academic achievement of the applicant, the scientific merit of the proposal and the reasons for how the candidate might benefit from carrying out a studentship. An aggregated score from all judges is then created; this determines the successful applicants.
All Studentship awardees will be given £2500 of funding and free registration for the Nutrition Futures Conference in September 2020, where they will present their research project. As well as the funding and profile of your research, a further award will be made for the best project. The researcher of the Best Overall Project will be presented with their certificate at the Nutrition Society Annual Reception in December 2020.
Yes, all applicants have to be members and the membership must have started prior to October 2019.
Applications must be received by midnight on Monday 15 March 2020. Applications received after this date or time will not be considered.
