Cambridge University is offering a multidisciplinary PhD on chocolate.Shizhao, Wikimedia CommonsThe University of Cambridge is offering a pretty sweet gig to a European national hoping to get a PhD. Currently the school is looking to fill an industrial, fully-funded 3.5-year PhD studentship to study the fundamentals of heat-stable chocolate.

According to the university's website, the studentship will be based in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology and will be co-supervised by Prof. Malcolm Bolton (Geotechnical Engineering), Prof. Eugene Terentjev (Soft Matter Physics) and Dr Ian Wilson (Chemical Engineering). However, because of funding regulations, the position is only available to EU nationals.

The project will investigate the factors which allow chocolate, which has a melting point close to that of the human body, to remain solid and retain qualities sought by consumers when it is stored and sold in warm climates. The project sponsor has existing technology in this field and the project will develop a fundamental understanding of the area which extends beyond the industrial need. The project is mainly experimental and will employ rheological and analytical methods from a range of engineering and physical science disciplines. Theoretical aspects will require good mathematical skills. The supervisors have extensive experience in studying soft solids, including foods.

The desired start date is January 2015.

More information about requirements and how to apply can be found here.