Linking aquatic food consumption to human health outcomes in the Kingdom

Aquatic foods are a critical source of nutrients for human populations. They are a key component of healthy and planetary health diets and directly contributes towards reducing all forms of malnutrition. However, very little is known about the consumption of aquatic foods in the Kingdom, and how this contributes to food security and human health. This project provides an exciting opportunity for visiting students to contribute to ongoing efforts compiling, harmonizing, and analyzing available data on aquatic food systems across the Kingdom. Students will work closely with an interdisciplinary research team and local stakeholders to assess relevant available data, identify key knowledge gaps and support the development of an interdisciplinary monitoring program. The internship is especially suited for Saudi students with a nutrition, environmental health, epidemiology or biostatistics background who wish to apply quantitative and analytical skills to tackle real-world planetary health challenges. Participants will gain hands-on experience in data management, harmonization, geospatial analysis, and visualization, while developing a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems, aquatic food systems, sustainability science and planetary health.

By the end of the internship, the student will: - Understand how to design and implement a literature-based data compilation and harmonization project. - Gain proficiency in applied data science techniques, including cleaning, integration, and analysis of complex and multidisciplinary datasets (e.g., knowledge of R and Github). - Learn to interpret results within a food systems context. - Strengthen skills in scientific communication and reproducible research practices. - Build an interdisciplinary foundation to pursue advanced research or a career in applied science in planetary health