Y Public Health Nutrition's New Blogger/ News Editor

I know this introduction is coming in a bit late, but nevertheless I just wanted to say "Hi!"
I am Sangeetha. I am the new blogger or news editor at http://yphnutrition.blogspot.com/. I have a Masters in Food and Nutrition from Women’s Christian College, affiliated to the University of Madras, India. I currently reside with my family at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I am a PhD student in Nutrition at the International Medical University. I have also lived in Indonesia for over a decade before we moved in to KL. I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the unique character of each of these countries, their colour, culture and lifestyle.

I intend to post information regarding grants, vacancies and conferences, research updates, opinion articles and other issues pertaining to Public Health Nutrition and related fields. If you do have such information, and you want to share it with all our readers please write to me at the email address given below.

Each month we also hope to take up a theme of interest for discussion in this blog. YPHNN welcomes and looks forward to emails from all YPHNN members. We would love to hear your comments and suggestions on themes/subjects that you think should be discussed in this blog.
You can reach me at sangeetha.yphn@gmail.com
Regards,
Sangeetha

Fellowship Position at UNC

The American Institute for Cancer Research announces that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is now accepting applications for an AICR-funded two-year research track position in the Department of Nutrition.
The Marilyn Gentry Fellowship in Nutrition and Cancer is designed to support individuals who have completed their doctoral work. Fellows receive further training to enrich and accelerate a research career in the field of diet and cancer. The successful candidate will be appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and will receive two years of organized mentoring in the specific skills necessary to succeed as an academic scientist.
The 2010-2012 Fellowship will support a scientist in the area of epidemiology who studies an aspect of energy balance and cancer prevention, treatment, or survivorship. He or she will be under the mentorship of AICR Distinguished Professor, Dr. June Stevens, as well as other faculty at UNC Chapel Hill and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The American Institute for Cancer Research proudly announces that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is now accepting applications for an AICR-funded two-year research track position in the Department of Nutrition.
The Marilyn Gentry Fellowship in Nutrition and Cancer is designed to support individuals who have completed their doctoral work. Fellows receive further training to enrich and accelerate a research career in the field of diet and cancer. The successful candidate will be appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and will receive two years of organized mentoring in the specific skills necessary to succeed as an academic scientist.
The 2010-2012 Fellowship will support a scientist in the area of epidemiology who studies an aspect of energy balance and cancer prevention, treatment, or survivorship. He or she will be under the mentorship of AICR Distinguished Professor, Dr. June Stevens, as well as other faculty at UNC Chapel Hill and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Special Instructions:
To apply, use the electronic submission website at http://jobs.unc.edu/1002241. Submit the following materials electronically: curriculum vitae, statement of interest/qualifications, scores from GRE or similar standardized test taken within the past 10 years, and a list of three references with contact information. Position is open until filled.

Contact:
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Equal Employment Opportunity Office at (919) 966-3576 or send an email to equalopportunity@unc.edu.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department, please contact Janet Scearce, Human Resources Facilitator, 919-966-5527, jscearce@email.unc.edu.
For more information visit this link

Research Communication- Longitudinal and secular trends in adolescent whole-grain consumption, 1999–2004

Study Authors: Teri L Burgess-Champoux, Nicole I Larson, Dianne R Neumark-Sztainer, Peter J Hannan and Mary T Story
Objectives of the Study: This study aimed to examine demographic disparities and 5-y longitudinal and secular trends (1999–2004) in whole-grain intake among 2 cohorts of Minnesota adolescents.
Results: In 1999, 11% of adolescent males and 13% of adolescent females reported that they consumed more than one daily serving of whole grains. Whole-grain intake was lowest among youth of the Native American and white races and among youth of high socioeconomic status. During the transition from middle to late adolescence, whole-grain intake increased by a mean of 0.14 daily servings among adolescent males and 0.09 daily servings among adolescent females. No significant changes in whole-grain intake were shown among either sex during the transition from early to middle adolescence. Yeast breads, popcorn, and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals were major sources of whole grains in 1999 and 2004.
Conclusion: Findings suggest the need to advance efforts that target improvements in the amount of whole-grain foods selected by adolescents.
Study Published in: Am J Clin Nutr 91: 154-159, 2010.
Link URL : http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/short/91/1/154?rss=1

Vacancy for a public health nutritionist (PhD/ post doc) in the University of Zaragoza

The Research Group “Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development” (GENUD), from the
University of Zaragoza (Spain) is searching for a young PhD, with post-doctoral experience on Public Health Nutrition.

Offered
- Participation in the activities of a multidisciplinary Research Group (GENUD), with a long lasting experience in Public Health Nutrition in Children and adolescents, and currently involved in several EU, FP6 (HELENA, IDEFICS, EURRECA) and FP7(ENERGY, ToyBox), DG SANCO (EPODE European Network) and Spanish National Projects (AVENA, EVASYON).
- Contact with different research networks (COSPI, SAMID) and scientific societies
(ECOG, ECO, FENS, ESPGHAN).
- A 12 months contract, with the highest salary officially allocated for this position by the University of Zaragoza, including full Health Insurance coverage.
- Opportunities to use large data bases, with the possibility of publishing papers in high impact journals.
- Financial support for new training and participation in Scientific Meetings.

Expected
- A PhD on Public Health Nutrition with some post-doctoral experience and interest on
dietary intake assessment (at least three impact factor papers as first author are required).
- A person being able to work in a team and to lead young PhD and Master Students.
- A person being able to apply for research funding and create new research lines within the
group.
- A person being able to manage large data bases and to write high impact factor papers (good English skills and statistical and epidemiological training are required).

If you are interested
Please send, before October 30th, 2009, to the GENUD Project Manager, Pilar Meléndez
(pmelen@unizar.es), the following documents:
- CV in English, focusing on publications and participation in research projects.
- Letter of motivation to apply for this position.
- Two letters of recommendation from two senior researchers having a good knowledge of the candidate.

Vacancy for a Nutrition Program Manager - Chiquita

The position
In coordination with the Global R&D Director the Nutrition Program Manager will propose, develop and implement the company’s Nutrition Programs for the different product categories (fresh fruit, healthy beverages, healthy snacks, fresh cut salads)

He/she will lead all Nutritional activities within the New Product Development Program Worldwide. He/she will coordinate and lead activities on Nutrition matters with identified local point of contact in North America, Central America and Asia.

Key responsibilities
1. Stimulate and guide the nutrition dimension of product innovation and renovation for all product categories and contribute as nutrition expert to all projects within the New Product Development program.
2. Build and maintain know-how on company specific regulatory matters and ensure that regulatory constraints and opportunities are integrated in NPD related decision making.
3. Support product and business development by identifying potential Nutrition and Health Food Claims
4. Responsible for approval of all Nutritional label initiatives and package/ advertising claims
5. Lead nutritional and scientific research with external Partners as part of the R&D Program.
6. Disseminate the latest findings in nutrition research in a user-friendly format.
7. Create and maintain a Company nutrition database.

Experience
We are looking for an individual with a Degree in Nutrition Sciences by preference a Master Degree or PhD. With at least 8 years of successful experience in setting up and leading nutrition activities within an international food processing company.
Being familiar with fresh fruit or fresh food is an important asset.
A strong scientific background and a proven and extensive knowledge and experience within regulatory matters in Europe with a track record in successful health claims is a key requirement to be successful in this role.
Substantial skill and experience in developing and implementing project management processes and tools is indispensable.

Personal characteristics
The person we seek will have already demonstrated the ability to lead nutrition programs within a fast growing environment.
Excellent interpersonal and persuasion skills are required to maintain and enhance successfully the disciplined approach of processing the Nutrition Program worldwide.
It requires a pragmatic approach and the sensitivity to issues that will enable the person to deal with the inevitable ambiguities inherent in a company growing internationally in a competitive environment.

The person we seek will be a driver with the experience in nutrition project management that commands respect from managers and peers in own and other departments in the company.

A clear, fast thinker and self-starter, able and determined to translate knowledge and understanding of the business to drive the acceptance of actionable solutions and willing to make pragmatic decisions in implementing them.

Languages
The person will be fluent in English and ideally also in other European languages.

Education
The person we seek will hold an advanced degree in food sciences and may hold additional post graduate qualifications.

Location
The person we seek will be based in Rolle, Switzerland . Regular travel is envisaged.

Visit also www.joinchiquita.com to learn more

Conference on climate mitigation, sustainability and healthy eating in public foodscapes

The 25th and 26th of November 2009, a conference on novel strategies for climate mitigation, sustainability and healthy eating in public foodscapes is arranged by Aalborg University and the iPOPY project group.

The conference will focus on how professional decision makers, public planners and politicians can impact climate through strategies in large scale food environments, and how organic food supply can be integrated.

The conference is a pre-climate summit event for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen December 7th-18th 2009.

The event will take place at Aalborg Universitys' campus at Copenhagen Institute of Technology in Ballerup (near Copenhagen).

For more information, please see the conference homepage.

Meeting of "Young" Public Health Nutritionists during the International Congress of Nutrition (Bangkok, Thailand)

During the ICN which will be held in Bangkok (4-9 October 2009), there will be a meeting of the Young Public Health Nutritionists Network.

Members and non-members are welcome!
Deatils on date, time and location are provided below:

Date: Monday the 5th of October 2009, at the second coffee break (i.e. in the afternoon).

Location: by the Poster Help Desk on the Grand Hall Foyer, 2nd Level. (Note: there may be help desks on other floors too!)

Vacancy at the World Heart Federation

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Study Director

Reporting to: International Project Advisory Board
World Heart Federation CEO

Based at: World Heart Federation Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Position Context – Project Objective
To demonstrate that increased awareness and lifestyle behavioural changes, with a strong focus on changing the quality of dietary fats, encouraged by a multi-stakeholder approach, will lead to a reduction in key risk factors for CVD (particularly LDL-C) in a sustainable way in order to encourage all stakeholders in CVD prevention to step up their actions.

1. Main Function:
* To prepare and then manage the implementation of this major multi-stakeholder country intervention project addressing behavioural change around risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

2. Major Responsibilities:

Phase 1 (12 months)
* To develop a coalition of stakeholders who will be partners in the intervention, from a broad cross section such as; governments, media, business, academia and NGOs
* Agree with the partners the breadth and scope of the intervention, along with detailed plans for implementation, monitoring & evaluation and communication
* Develop the study design, protocol and budget
* Supervise the development of a questionnaire and the protocol for the baseline survey
* Hire a local project manager
* Establish a functioning Steering Committee for the project from the stakeholders
* Setup an International Advisory Board (IAB) representing the international stakeholders. Consult and report to the IAB
* Identify potential funding sources and make a full funding plan

3. Key Requirements:
* MD and PHD in public health related field or equivalent
* Experience of major international public health initiatives with demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership
* Strong project planning, networking, communication and organisational skills
* Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills with demonstrated ability to work within a team environment and capacity to work with a range of stakeholders
* Knowledge of key funding institutions and potential funding partners. Demonstrated ability to write grant proposals and secure significant funds for major public health initiatives
* Excellent English (written & spoken)
* Willingness to travel

Click here for more information

Two posts for professorships/associate professorships in nutrition at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

Two posts for professorships/associate professorships in nutrition are announced at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. The positions are administered by the Faculty of Medicine and are at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Nutrition.

For those interested, you can find more information through the two links below (you can change the language to English in the top right hand corner):

Professor/associate professor in clinical nutrition:
https://www.webcruiter.no/wcmain/advertviewpublic.aspx?oppdragsnr=517087934&
company_id=283267440&culture_id=NB-NO

Professor/associate professor in nutritional epidemiology:
https://www.webcruiter.no/wcmain/advertviewpublic.aspx?oppdragsnr=521246971&
company_id=283267440&culture_id=NB-NO

Vacancy for a technical officer at WHO

Description of duties:
1. Providing technical input to the development and revision of Infant Young Child Feeding indicators; performing the collection and analysis of relevant information; maintaining the WHO Global Data Base on infant and young child feeding.
2. Analysing the evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of nutrition interventions aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition and their implementation and provide input to the WHO Library of Evidence on nutrition interventions accordingly.
3. Providing technical input to the development of guidelines on maternal and infant nutrition
4. Collaborating with other HQ Departments, with Regional and Country Offices, partner Agencies and academic institutions for the collection and analysis of information on IYCF.
5. Building capacities of health care staff on maternal and young child nutrition.
6. Providing input to reports, publications and presentations to illustrate the outcome of the analyses of IYCF, policy and programme indicators.
7. Providing support for generating funding proposals.
8. Performing other duties as requested by supervisor and Department Director.

Summary of main expected outcomes:
1. Update of technical guidelines aimed at improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
2. Technical support provided to Member States for collection of up-to-date information on infant and young child nutrition, adaptation of global guidelines on infant and young child nutrition and the evaluation of programmes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Post graduate degree in nutrition science, medicine or other related field, with sound knowledge of statistics and epidemiology.

Skills:
Demonstrated ability to analyse technical issues and write and present scientific and technical
information clearly and concisely with good communication and presentation skills. Knowledge of maternal, infant and young child nutrition and of the relevant corrective interventions.
Database management. Systematic review methodology.

WHO competencies:
Communicating in a credible and effective way
Producing results Moving forward in a changing environment
Experience:

Essential:
At least 5 years of experience in the area of maternal and child nutrition with at least 2 years of
international level experience. Experience in research on the implementation of maternal and child nutrition intervention. Experience in data analysis and management.

Desirable:
Field experience in maternal and child nutrition programs an asset. Familiarity with the UN system
an asset.

More information available here

1st All Africa Horticulture Congress: Grown Under the Sun

August 31-September 3, 2009, Nairobi, Kenya

After two years for maturing and several preliminary thoughts and discussions around the concept, Kenya will be hosting the first All Africa Horticulture Congress in 2009
African horticulturists often attending ISHS international events elsewhere have agreed on the need for a specific African event on horticulture: a need for valorizing experiences and achievements through research projects and case studies, a need for expressing constraints and expectations, a needs for coordinating efforts and prospective strategies.

Additional thoughts and debates amongst horticultural stakeholders have convinced them that the whole value chain should be highlighted at the Congress, offering a unique and regular opportunity for deep and direct exchanges between the diverse partners: academic institutions, public research and development organizations, and business actors who include all types of farmers.

The themes of this congress will focus broadly on Horticulture for improving livelihoods in Africa, through:

* Food security
* Health
* Environment
* Poverty alleviation/wealth creation
* International horticultural trade.

The Congress will be held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 August to 3 September 2009 under the auspices of ISHS and the Global Horticulture Initiative. The programme will be conducted through plenary sessions, moderated discussion fora, exhibitions, seminars in parallel sessions and field visits.

More information available here

Comments on this post?

Interesting article # 10

Interesting article on the use of financial incentives to achieve healthy behaviours.

"Personal financial incentives are increasingly being used to motivate patients and general populations to change their behaviour, most often as part of schemes aimed at reducing rates of obesity, smoking, and other addictive behaviours. Opinion on their use varies, with incentives being described both as "key to reducing smoking, alcohol and obesity rates" and as "a form of bribery" and "rewarding people for unhealthy behaviour." The authors reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of financial incentives in achieving health related behaviour change and examine the basis for moral and other concerns about their use."

Full article available here

Comments on this post?

Request for proposals

Request for proposals: Promising agriculture and food policies and innovations to better health and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organization (www.paho.org) will fund three research proposals that show how existing or potential agriculture and food policies or technological innovations (e.g., biotechnology) can make a contribution to population health and diet with focus on obesity and non-communicable disease in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Deadline for submitting proposals: 4 September 2009, 2:00 pm (US Eastern Time)

Proposals that incorporate issues of agriculture sustainability, preservation of culinary traditions, or promote collaboration between agriculture and public health professionals are particularly encouraged. Policies are expected to show potential or actual population impact on health and nutrition by way of modifying one or some of the following aspects: agriculture and trade policies, food security, food and nutrition policies and consumer behaviors (e.g., food-purchasing behavior and food consumption patterns).

The principal investigator must be an "in-country" professional from any country in Latin American and the Caribbean and must be affiliated to an institution with identifiable research experience.

Email applications with the subject: PAHO RFP FOOD POLICY & HEALTH to Dr. Enrique Jacoby at jacobyen@paho.org with copy to bennette@paho.org.

Download the request for proposals at: http://devserver.paho.org/equity/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=158.

New report - GM CROPS: GLOBAL SOCIO ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 1996 - 2007

GM CROPS: GLOBAL SOCIO ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 1996 - 2007
Graham Brookes & Peter Barfoot; PGS Economics, UK

A new, updated study by UK based economists Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot, quantifies the cumulative economic and environmental impacts of biotech crops grown during the past twelve years (1996-2007). The authors report that biotech crops have resulted in significant global economic and environmental benefits and are making important contributions to global food security. Over the past twelve years, the authors report that biotech crop adoption has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, reduced pesticide spraying and significantly increased farmer incomes. They note that this technology has also contributed to higher yields for many farmers resulting in increases in crop production. The full report is available at www.pgeconomics.co.uk .
A summary version has been submitted for publication and is currently in peer review. Previous versions of this study have been published in peer reviewed scientific journals.

PhD opportunity in epidemiology

A PhD student position is available immediately in the area of disease
modeling and spatial epidemiology in the group of Dr. Renata Ivanek at
the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M
University
(http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/vibs/facultydetail.aspx?ID=RIvanek).

Applicants must (i) have earned a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM or equivalent), (ii) have an
interest in mathematics and statistics and (iii) have an interest in the
epidemiology of infectious and foodborne diseases. Past experience or
education in epidemiology is highly desirable.

The PhD student would join a vibrant group of researchers and graduate
students within the program of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public
Health, in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, at the
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The
College is recognized as a national leader in research, education and
service and offers students outstanding opportunities for state of the
art research training and collaboration both within the college and
throughout the University system.

Interested individuals should send their CV with names and contact
details of three referees and their GRE scores to Dr. Ivanek (
rivanek@cvm.tamu.edu)