He received a BSc (hons) in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Oxford Brookes University in 1999 and a PhD in Biological Sciences in 2003 for research relating to age-related changes in appetite. Between 2003 and 2006 Dr Hollis completed post-doctoral training at Purdue University where he conducted research on appetite and body weight regulation in adults. Between 2006 and 2008 he was a faculty member at Queen’s University Belfast in the Institute of Agriculture, food and Land Use before moving to Iowa State University in 2008.