Nutrition and Dietetics

1. Departmental Context and Research Mission

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences at Hellenic Mediterranean University is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement in the broad fields of nutrition, dietetics, food systems, and public health. The Department’s mission encompasses the advancement of scientific knowledge and professional practice in human nutrition, clinical and community dietetics, nutritional biochemistry, food quality and safety, and public health nutrition. The environment nurtures interdisciplinary inquiry, the integration of scientific rigour with evidence-based practice, and research that informs both regional and global nutrition challenges.

Doctoral Studies in Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences extend this mission by preparing researchers who contribute original knowledge to the profession, influence policy and practice, and lead innovative research on nutrition-related health outcomes, food environments, and translational science. Graduates emerge ready to impact academic research, public health strategy, clinical practice, and food system governance.

2. Doctoral Programme Structure and Progression

The PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences at HMU is a research-intensive programme structured in accordance with Greek national legislative frameworks for doctoral education (as referenced in the relevant Government Gazette) and HMU’s internal regulations. The programme’s design supports independent, original research that contributes to academic literature and practical understanding in nutrition sciences.

Admissions & Eligibility

Admission to the doctoral programme is competitive and based on academic qualifications—typically a master’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, public health, biomedical sciences, food science, or a related field—along with a clear doctoral research proposal aligned to departmental expertise. Prospective candidates submit evidence of academic performance, research interests, references, and an initial research plan delineating objectives, theoretical framing, and proposed methodology.

A supervisory committee is formed for each admitted candidate, composed of at least two faculty members whose expertise supports the candidate’s research trajectory. The committee guides the research process, facilitates methodological refinement, and reviews progress at structured intervals.

Programme Duration & Requirement

For full-time candidates, the minimum duration of study is three (3) academic years, with provision for extension up to six (6) years under specific conditions. Part-time study arrangements are also accommodated to support professional and personal commitments.

The core of the PhD programme is doctoral research and dissertation. Candidates are expected to engage primarily in independent research, supported by faculty mentorship, and contribute to knowledge through empirical or theoretical investigation. Formal coursework is not a required component; however, candidates may attend research seminars, specialised methods workshops, or thematic symposia to strengthen research competence.

The doctoral dissertation must present original research that advances the field of nutrition and dietetics sciences, demonstrating scholarly depth, methodological rigour, and contribution to existing knowledge. Upon completion, candidates defend their dissertation in a public examination in front of an expert committee.

3. Academic Domains and Research Focus Areas

The PhD programme supports research across core and interdisciplinary domains that reflect contemporary developments in nutrition sciences. Doctoral candidates typically align their research with one of several thematic domains:

Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition

Research in this domain focuses on the determinants and outcomes of dietary patterns, nutrition-related disease prevalence, population health interventions, and policy evaluation. Projects may involve longitudinal studies, risk assessment, and community-based nutrition strategies.

Clinical and Metabolic Nutrition Sciences

This area involves research on nutrient metabolism, diet-disease interactions, therapeutic nutrition for clinical conditions (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer), and personalized nutrition interventions. Candidates may apply experimental, clinical, or translational research designs to investigate how diet affects physiological processes.

Food Quality, Safety, and Functional Foods

Doctoral research here addresses the biochemical, microbiological, and technological aspects of food systems that influence nutrient content, safety, and functional properties. Projects may include studies of bioactive compounds, food processing impacts on nutrition, and novel food system innovations.

Behavioural Nutrition and Lifestyle Interventions

This domain explores the psychological, sociocultural, and behavioural determinants of eating behaviours, diet adherence, and lifestyle change. Research may address intervention design, health communications, and theories of behaviour change in diverse populations.

Systems Nutrition and Policy Analysis

Doctoral students may investigate systemic factors that affect nutrition environments, such as food policy, agricultural linkages, economic drivers, and international nutrition governance frameworks. This domain connects research with public policy, economics, and global health strategy. By supporting multidimensional research domains, the programme enables candidates to integrate biological, social, behavioural, and policy perspectives to address complex nutrition challenges.

4. Research Integration, Facilities & Professional Engagement

Doctoral candidates in Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences benefit from access to laboratory facilities, analytical instrumentation, and collaborations across university units that support rigorous scientific investigation. These resources include facilities for biochemical analysis, dietary assessment methodologies, nutritional physiology testing, and community health research platforms.

Candidates are encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary research collaborations, joining research clusters that involve public health, agriculture, social sciences, and biomedical sciences. Research engagement extends to national and European projects, enhancing exposure to innovative methodologies and funding frameworks.

The Department supports candidates’ scholarly development by facilitating participation in peer-reviewed publications, mentorship in research communication, attendance and presentation at national and international conferences, and involvement in research seminars that enhance intellectual exchange and professional networking.

5. Graduate Outcomes and Professional Preparation

The graduates of the PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences are expected to:

• Conduct independent, original research that advances theoretical and applied scholarship in nutrition and dietetics.

• Design and execute rigorous research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

• Critically analyse and interpret complex data sets and scientific evidence.

• Communicate research findings effectively through publication, presentation, and professional discourse.

• Engage collaboratively in interdisciplinary research initiatives and lead scholarly teams.

• Recognise ethical, cultural, and societal considerations in conducting nutrition research and advising policy or practice.

• Adapt to evolving scientific paradigms and contribute to lifelong learning and professional leadership.

Professional Pathways & Impact

PhD graduates are prepared for careers in academic and research institutions as faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and principal investigators. They are also positioned for leadership roles in public health agencies, international organisations, clinical research bodies, and policy development units that require evidence-based expertise in nutrition. Graduates may engage in consultative or advisory capacities for food industry stakeholders, health systems, or government nutrition policy programs.