PhD Studentship - Metabolic Adaptation to a Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet and its Effects on Exercise Fuel Use and Glucose Management in Physically Active People with Type 1 DiabetesUniversity

The GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme is offering up to 18 MRC funded studentships across a range of biomedical disciplines, with a start date of October 2027.

These four-year studentships provide funding for fees and stipend at the rate set by the UKRI, as well as other research training and support costs, and are available to UK and International students.

This project is in competition for place with the projects across the MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award studentships. There are a total of 18 studentships available across the partnership.

Ketogenic diet (very low in carbohydrate, high in fat) is increasingly popular among people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). In principle, a ketogenic diet could benefit T1D. By relying more on fat for fuel, the body may need less insulin and experience more stable blood glucose, potentially making exercise safer and easier to manage. But nobody has tested what actually happens to fuel use and glucose control during exercise in physically active people with T1D on this diet. This project will be the first to find out, providing evidence to support safer, personalised dietary guidance for T1D population.

These studentships are funded through GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme and consist of UK tuition fees, as well as a Doctoral Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£21, 805 p.a. for 2026/27, updated each year).

Additional research training and support funding of up to £5,000 per annum is also available.

£21,805. Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£21,805 per annum updated each year) plus UK/Home tuition fees