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Research Jobs in Nutrition

Here we look at academic research jobs in nutrition, the qualifications and experience you will need and opportunities for career progression.

Nutrition and dietetics research encompasses a wide range of projects, from public health nutrition to clinical dietetics and applied nutrition science.

Working alongside biomedical scientists and clinicians, academic nutritionists and dieticians contribute to essential research which drives society-wide health policy.

Areas of nutrition and dietetics research include:

• Food quality, production and health
• Children’s health and diet
• Public health nutrition and policy
• Patient care and outcomes
• Diabetes research
• Cancer and immunology research
• Nutritional epidemiology
• Global nutrition

Job Descriptions

• Postdoctoral Researcher – Nutrition and Public Health

Research Technician – Nutritional Sciences

Research associate – nutritional epidemiology, postdoctoral researcher – nutrition and public health.

Researchers in nutrition and public health study how dietary factors affect different sections of the population. Working within multi-disciplinary groups, their research focuses on specific aspects of public health, such obesity or diabetes.

• Collecting health data and carrying out quantitative research
• Designing, executing, analysing and disseminating studies which test the effects of public health initiatives (e.g., calorie labelling)
• Liaising with fellow researchers both nationally and internationally

What qualifications and experience do you need?

A PhD in an area related to public health nutrition would be essential for a postdoctoral research or research associate position. Depending on the role, you may also need previous experience of a similar research programme.

What’s the pay?

Salaries for postdoctoral researchers depend on the research area and length of project. However, you can generally expect to start on around £33,327 to £40,928, p.a., depending on previous research experience and outcomes.

What can it lead to?

On completion of several projects in your field of expertise, you could secure a post as a senior research associate. Alternatively, you may decide to combine your research with teaching duties as a lecturer.

Where can I find jobs?

Postdoctoral researchers in nutrition work in higher education or within research foundations, charities, the food industry or helping to develop government policy and strategy.  Most postdoctoral research roles are fixed-term for the duration of a project.

Find postdoctoral research in nutrition jobs here

Research technicians spend most of their time in a university laboratory. They would also support learning by teaching and supervising experiments carried out by nutritional sciences students.

Research technicians play a central role in the practical elements of running a research project.

• Assisting in the management and operation of a laboratory and related facilities
• Contributing to and development of research projects within nutritional sciences
• Leading practical classes in a laboratory environment
• Providing technical support to students undertaking taught practical sessions and research projects
• Training and advising staff in laboratory techniques

As this is a technical role, a PhD is not always necessary. A first degree (or equivalent) in a related subject and previous experience of working in a laboratory environment in the field of nutrition would be essential.

You would also be expected to have a thorough working knowledge of health and safety procedures.

Research/laboratory technician salaries start in the range of £26,341 to £29,924 p.a. and can be higher for senior technician jobs.

A research/laboratory technician role is a great place to start if you are looking to pursue an academic career in nutritional science. The skills and technical knowledge you will gain would be essential for participation in future research projects. You might want to consider carrying out doctoral studies to move into a research associate or lecturing role.

Alternatively, you could continue on a research technician path by applying to manage a laboratory as a senior research technician.

You will find research or laboratory technician jobs in universities, the NHS, the food industry, research institutions and government agencies.

Find research technician in nutritional science jobs here .

Researchers in nutritional epidemiology study the relationship between dietary factors and disease. They work in universities, the NHS or government agencies as part of academic teams specialising in epidemiology, public health and biomedicine.

• Conducting qualitative and quantitative research
• Collection and analysis of health data using specialist statistical computer software
• Collaborating with researchers, government agencies, the NHS and external health programmes to formulate policy

What qualifications do you need?

A PhD in nutrition and epidemiology (or related area) and considerable experience of qualitative and quantitative research methodology would be essential for nutritional epidemiology research roles. Depending on the role, a background in working with patients as a dietician may also be essential.

Most research associate positions are offered on a fixed-term basis and have a salary range of £31,406 to £40,927 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.

A research associate role is an excellent opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to progress their academic research career in nutrition and public health.

The research skills you gain can enable you to apply for more senior, research fellowship jobs and look towards permanent academic roles in higher education.

Research into areas of epidemiology have been brought into sharper focus since the coronavirus pandemic, as the world recognises the need for new research and policy in this field.

However, all research jobs are project and funding-dependent, so contracts are offered on a fixed-term, temporary basis for the duration of a research project.

Find research associate jobs in nutrition here .

Further Information:

• Academic jobs in Nutrition
• Lecturing jobs in Nutrition
• Senior-level academic jobs in Nutrition
• Becoming a dietician – NHS Careers

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Our vision is simple. We believe that healthy, sustainable diets should be accessible to all.

We take pride in being a great place to work, and in creating information specifically designed to be accessible to all.

The principles of equity, diversity and inclusion are embedded across our organisation to help us to deliver our charitable aims and we have committed to support initiatives that widen inclusion in nutrition science more broadly.

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Purpose – we are focussed on delivering our mission and constantly aiming to learn and improve.

Integrity – we are science-led and authentic in our commitment to improve health and wellbeing. We are honest and transparent about our work and how it is funded.

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Openness – we are welcoming and want everybody to feel valued and supported. We communicate honestly and are open to criticism.

Where next?

Latest vacancies

If you're looking for a rewarding job to help change the food environment or promote nutrition science apply for a role with the British Nutrition Foundation.

Our values are the fundamental beliefs, attitudes and behaviours of the British Nutrition Foundation. These are purpose, integrity, confidence, connection and openness.

Our strategy

Our ambition is that by 2028, we will have doubled our reach and evidenced our contribution to healthier, more sustainable diets

Working in Nutrition FAQs

People working in the field of nutrition are typically registered nutritionists or dietitians.

What’s the difference between nutrition and dietetics?

Nutrition is the study of nutrients in food, how the body uses nutrients, and the relationship between diet, health and disease.

Nutritionists create and apply scientific knowledge to promote an understanding of the effects of diet on health and wellbeing of humans and provide information about food, diet and healthy eating. They are not qualified to provide information about special diets for medical conditions and cannot work with hospitalised patients without supervision from a dietitian.

The professional association for registered nutritionists is the Association for Nutrition . 

Dietetics is the application of the science of nutrition to the construction of diets and the selection and preparation of foods, in health and disease.

A dietitian will have undertaken training in a hospital and/or community setting as part of his/her course and is specially trained to give practical advice to individuals about their diets to enable them to make healthy diet and lifestyle choices, or in clinical specialities and in patients with complex medical disorders and needs e.g. oncology, renal disease and malabsorption.

Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals to be regulated by law and are governed by an ethical code to ensure that they always work to the highest standard.

The professional association for registered dietitians in the UK is the British Dietetic Association .

What type of work can I do in nutrition?

Nutritionists can work in a number of different settings, including research, the food industry, Government, non-government organisations, public health, education, media and communications, and in sports and exercise.

There are also a variety of food-orientated careers within the related field of food science and technology. Most of the major food manufacturers and retailers employ nutritionists and food scientists, and opportunities also exist abroad. For example, nutritionists can work in emergency relief or development projects in low income countries. 

What qualifications do I need to become a nutritionist?

You will need to have undertaken a degree course in Nutrition (or a closely related bioscience) in order to become a nutritionist. Most careers will require at least an undergraduate degree (BSc) in a nutritional science or related subject, and some may require postgraduate study too.

Some nutrition courses which meet a strict set of standards of professional education in nutrition are accredited with the Association for Nutrition (AfN). Graduates of these courses are eligible for direct entry onto the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN). In order to become a registered nutritionist in the UK you will need to have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate course that is accredited by AfN.

Who are the Association for Nutrition?

The Association for Nutrition (AfN) is the professional body for qualified nutritionists. The AfN maintains the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), a competency-based register of individuals who are qualified and competent in nutritional science and practice.

The term ‘nutritionist’ is not a protected title, however only those registered with the UKVRN can call themselves a Registered Nutritionist. A Registered Nutritionist will have specialist competencies in nutrition or public health nutrition, will usually have graduated from an AfN accredited degree course and have at least three years assessed postgraduate experience.

Registered Nutritionists follow the Code of Ethics and Statement of Professional Conduct and keep up to date through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). A vocational qualification alone is not enough to join the UKVRN because you will not have enough underpinning scientific knowledge to meet AfN’s competencies. However, it is a good starting point and can help you progress towards undertaking higher level study such as a BSc. For information on how to register as a Nutritionist, visit the Association for Nutrition website .

What course should I take?

A list of all accredited nutrition courses can be found on the Association for Nutrition (AfN) website.

Most nutrition courses will require A-levels in at least one science subject (usually biology), but often look for a second (normally Chemistry). However, some universities may offer a foundation year for students who wish to complete the degree but do not have any science-based A-levels. Some university courses may offer a professional work placement as part of the course, which enable students to gain some first-hand experience in nutrition.

My course is not accredited with the Association for Nutrition. Can I still become a nutritionist?

You can still become a nutritionist and apply to join to UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) if you have completed a degree that is not accredited with the Association for Nutrition (AfN).

However, the registration process is lengthier and graduates are required to undertake an additional assessment. For further details please visit the AfN website here .

What qualifications do I need to become a dietitian?

It is necessary to have a degree approved by the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) to qualify to work as a dietitian.

The minimum requirement is a BSc Hons in Dietetics, or a related science degree with a postgraduate diploma or higher degree in Dietetics.

Further information about the undergraduate and postgraduate routes can be found on the British Dietetic Association (BDA) website . All courses require a period of supervised practise in a clinical setting.

What type of work can I do as a dietitian?

A lot of dietitians spend some or all of their time working in the community rather than solely in a hospital. Many of these are eligible to apply for registration in public health nutrition as well as being registered dietitians (RD).

In the community, a dietitian’s work is more about health education, although many also run clinics in doctors’ surgeries for people who need specialist dietary counselling. Dietitians also work in research, the food industry, Government, non-government organisations, sports and exercise nutrition, the media, public health and education.

The title ‘dietitian’ can only be used by trained professionals who are registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Registered professionals must keep up-to-date through compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Further information is available from the British Dietetic Association .

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