Last application date Jun 15, 2025 00:00
Department LA23 - Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health
Contract Limited duration
Degree You obtained a master's degree in bioengineering or a related study (food technology, bio-sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, ...).
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
Job description
ABOUT UGENT
Ghent University is a world unto itself. More than 15,000 staff members work there every day in teaching and research, management and administration, technical and social services, etc. For them, Ghent University is a logical choice: it is one of the largest, most exciting and forward-looking employers in the region. Ghent University has 11 faculties and more than 80 departments, offering high-quality, research-supported courses in each of the scientific disciplines.
ABOUT THE TCNA-FOOD project
Exposure to carcinogenic and genotoxic nitrosamines through our food is almost certainly a public health hazard. The Belgian Federal Public Service of Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, has therefore allocated research funds to UGent and Primoris Belgium to investigate this issue.
In doing so, the following are pursued:
(1) developing a reliable analytical method that covers a sufficiently broad spectrum of nitrosamines;
(2) making available a significant dataset of concentrations in relevant foodstuffs and
(3) identifying strategies that reduce nitrosamine formation through mechanistic-based experimental studies in relevant food matrices, complemented by data from the literature.
The research consortium comprises the Department of Food Technology, Food Safety and Health (Prof. Bruno De Meulenaer, Prof. Liesbeth Jacxsens and Prof. Katleen Raes) and the Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology (Prof. Stefaan De Smet) of UGent and Primoris Belgium, part of the Primoris Group, a spin-off of UGent.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Your research is part of the TCNA-FOOD project. This project aims to gain insight into the food safety issues of nitrosamines present in food products.
This project is carried out by UGent (Department of Food Technology, Food Safety and Health and Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology) and Primoris Belgium. The research partners involved are based at Campus Coupure, Campus Kortrijk and Campus Ardoyen.
The main analytical part of the research, consisting of advanced LC-MS and GC-MS measurements will mainly be carried out within Primoris Belgium (Campus Ardoyen). The other research activities will be carried out within UGent (Campus Coupure, Campus Kortrijk).
You will join the various research groups in a broad team of colleagues who will guide you and support you wherever necessary.
As a PhD student, you carry out independent scientific research within the framework of the TCNA project. You collect scientific data relating to the analysis of nitrosamines in various foods, to the occurrence of these components in foods and you study their formation in selected food models. You also calculate dietary intake of these components and perform risk analysis.
You will present your research results to the project's supervisory committee, the international scientific community, write down your findings in research reports and scientific publications, and prepare a doctoral dissertation.
Job profile
YOUR PROFILE
- You obtained a master's degree in bioengineering or a related study (food technology, bio-sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, ...).
- You have a keen interest in the chemical analysis of biological raw materials and in understanding the physicochemical processes that occur during the processing of biological raw materials. You also have a keen interest in working mathematically with analytical data in the context of risk analysis.
- You are eager to learn and critical and have a scientific attitude when carrying out your research.
- You have a good knowledge of current software packages (MS Office), especially in the field of spreadsheets (including macros) and presentations
- You can communicate fluently and clearly in oral and written English. Knowledge of Dutch is highly recommended.
- You are able to operate smoothly with different partners; as well as with students.
- You are a team player who communicates smoothly with colleagues and supervisors.
- You can work independently and do so in a well-organised manner.
- You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and cooperative.
- You are flexible.
- You know how to set priorities and can take decisions in consultation.
- You have the ambition to obtain a PhD and a keen interest in scientific research.
OUR OFFER
- We offer a full-time PhD fellowship position consisting of an initial period of 12 months - which after positive evaluation, will be extended to a period of up to 48 months in total.
- The earliest employment date is after closure of the selection procedure.
- The scholarship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual scholarship amount is determined by team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. The scholarship amount is a non-taxable scholarship. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- Furthermore, every UGent staff member can count on a number of benefits, such as a broad training and education offer, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time position), a bicycle allowance, eco vouchers, etc. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
How to apply
Send your CV and motivation letter to Prof. Bruno De Meulenaer ([email protected]) on 15-06-2025 at latest. We do not accept late applications.
For more information related to this vacancy, please contact Prof. Bruno De Meulenaer ([email protected], +32 9 264 61 66 ).
