Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group (AFSG)
Wageningen, 6708 PD (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Job description
The Divisions of Food Physics and Product Design and Quality Management are cooperating in a project on preferences of vegetable products in infants and young children. In order to influence vegetable consumption, it is essential to study the opportunities to develop vegetable products.
The PhD-project focuses on the technological development of new starch-based vegetable products for young infants, and deals with the processing, structure and physical properties of new vegetable matrices. The specific research questions that are addressed in this project are: which structure and physical properties correspond best to children’s preferences; which are the optimal production processes for starch-based vegetable matrices; what are the effects of the matrix properties and processing conditions on flavour release, and availability of bio-active compounds. Physical properties of the products will be determined using a combination of rheological techniques (Paar Physica controlled stress rheometers, Caber 1 extensional rheometer, and texture analyzers). The structure of the products will be investigated using microscopic techniques such as Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Also a small-scale transparent extrusion cell and a shear cell, both coupled to microscopes, are used to study formation of the structure of the product during processing. Flavour release and availability of bio-active compounds will be analyzed by MS-Nose or Head space analysis in an artificial mouth system. Release of bio-active components from the food matrix will be studied by simulated digestion of the products in vitro. The research will be performed in close collaboration with a second PhD, in the Division of Human Nutrition, focused on the development of vegetable preferences in young infants.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate with strong interest in product development
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
Organization
Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group (AFSG)
AFSG is the organisation for development and transfer of knowledge in the field of sustainable applications of agro-components for safe and healthy food and non-food products.
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Temporary contract for 18 months, contract can be extended with 2,5 years.
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
Temporary contract for 18 months, for 38 hours per week. Salary: from € 2,000.00 to € 2,558.00, based on full time employment. After a positive evaluation of the first 18 months, contract will be extended for the remaining 2 ½ years.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr Leonard Sagis
Telephone number: 0317-485023
E-mail address: leonard.sagis@wur.nl
Application
You can apply for this job before 13-08-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
Wageningen UR - AFSG
Bode 118
I. Lamers
P.O.Box 17
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: afsg-vacatures@wur.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AFSG 08.081.
Job description
The Divisions of Food Physics and Product Design and Quality Management are cooperating in a project on preferences of vegetable products in infants and young children. In order to influence vegetable consumption, it is essential to study the opportunities to develop vegetable products.
The PhD-project focuses on the technological development of new starch-based vegetable products for young infants, and deals with the processing, structure and physical properties of new vegetable matrices. The specific research questions that are addressed in this project are: which structure and physical properties correspond best to children’s preferences; which are the optimal production processes for starch-based vegetable matrices; what are the effects of the matrix properties and processing conditions on flavour release, and availability of bio-active compounds. Physical properties of the products will be determined using a combination of rheological techniques (Paar Physica controlled stress rheometers, Caber 1 extensional rheometer, and texture analyzers). The structure of the products will be investigated using microscopic techniques such as Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Also a small-scale transparent extrusion cell and a shear cell, both coupled to microscopes, are used to study formation of the structure of the product during processing. Flavour release and availability of bio-active compounds will be analyzed by MS-Nose or Head space analysis in an artificial mouth system. Release of bio-active components from the food matrix will be studied by simulated digestion of the products in vitro. The research will be performed in close collaboration with a second PhD, in the Division of Human Nutrition, focused on the development of vegetable preferences in young infants.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate with strong interest in product development
- MSc in Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or Physical Chemistry
- Excellent social and communication skills
- Team player, but also able to work independent
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
Organization
Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group (AFSG)
AFSG is the organisation for development and transfer of knowledge in the field of sustainable applications of agro-components for safe and healthy food and non-food products.
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Temporary contract for 18 months, contract can be extended with 2,5 years.
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
Temporary contract for 18 months, for 38 hours per week. Salary: from € 2,000.00 to € 2,558.00, based on full time employment. After a positive evaluation of the first 18 months, contract will be extended for the remaining 2 ½ years.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr Leonard Sagis
Telephone number: 0317-485023
E-mail address: leonard.sagis@wur.nl
Application
You can apply for this job before 13-08-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
Wageningen UR - AFSG
Bode 118
I. Lamers
P.O.Box 17
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: afsg-vacatures@wur.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AFSG 08.081.
