Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. Dietary supplementation with inorganic nitrate has emerged as a promising nutritional intervention to improve cardiovascular health. The positive effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on cardiovascular health has been attributed to an increase in nitric oxide bioavailability via the so-called nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. This project aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the improvement in cardiovascular health following dietary nitrate supplementation. Working as part of a collaborative and inter-disciplinary team, the successful candidate will oversee well-controlled human nutritional interventions and receive training in non-invasive procedures to assess cardiovascular function and analytical techniques for the assessment of nitric oxide intermediates, including ozone-based chemiluminescence, to address the overall research question. The School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEH) will provide an excellent environment in which to develop your research career. The National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) provides a world-class research facility with the ability to conduct high-quality scientific research and to translate research findings into evidence-based interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation.