PhD: Impact of Weight Loss Medication on Sensory Perception and Eating Behavior

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Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

Please note: due to interaction with Dutch participants from The Netherlands, fluency in Dutch is a must have. Are you interested in new generation weight loss medication and how they influence the way people smell, perceive and experience food? Do you want to understand why some individuals respond differently to GLP-1 receptor agonists? This PhD position might be for you! As part of an NWO-Vici project, Wageningen University & Research is looking for a PhD candidate to setup and conduct a prospective longitudinal study in individuals initiating GLP-1 agonist therapy. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed weight loss treatment and are increasingly used worldwide. Despite their effectiveness in reducing food intake and weight, substantial variation exists in individual response, and we know surprisingly little about if and how these medications influence food preferences, eating behaviour and sensory perception. The aim of this project is to assess whether such changes contribute to long-term treatment success. A collaborating postdoc will perform advanced MRI brain imaging in a subset of participants to investigate changes in the olfactory bulb and connected brain regions. Your role in this project You will establish and conduct a prospective longitudinal study in individuals starting with weight loss medication treatment. You will investigate how smell and taste sensitivity, food preferences, appetite and eating behaviour change over time and whether these changes are associated with weight loss outcomes and treatment adherence. The project combines sensory science, human nutrition and behavioural research and will involve close collaboration with clinical partners. As part of your PhD trajectory, you will: conduct high-quality scientific research within the field of sensory science and eating behaviour; set up and coordinate a prospective cohort study; perform sensory and behavioural measurements and analyse longitudinal data; collaborate with academic and clinical partners; publish findings in international peer-reviewed journals and present your work at national and international conferences; supervise BSc and MSc students; contribute to teaching activities within the Division of Human Nutrition and Health. Where will you work? The project is embedded within the Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour chair group at the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research. You will work in an interdisciplinary and internationally recognized research environment with expertise in sensory science, eating behaviour, physiology and human intervention studies. The project will be supervised by Dr. Marlou Lasschuijt and Associate Professor Sanne Boesveldt and involves collaborations with clinical partners. The preferred starting date is 1st of November 2026.