Job DSTI (Dutch Separation Technology Institute) - PhD Student Separation of vitality ingredients 3/3
Want to do research on process design for concentrated streams to isolate antioxidants while retaining their functionality both experimentally and theoretically?
- Specifications - (explanation)
Location WUR (Wageningen University and Research Centre) Scientific fields Natural Sciences, Food Function types PhD positions Education University Graduate Hours 40.0 hours per week End procedure 31 December 2009 Job number FO-10-03 WUR Translations en
Job description
Many foods contain antioxidants (phytochemicals), primarily to improve their shelf-life, but away from that, antioxidants are also known to convey health benefits. Obviously, the level of antioxidants in the food (after processing) needs to be such that an appreciable shelf-life is guaranteed, and this may imply that antioxidant needs to be supplemented to the food. Within DSTI, we develop new methods to isolate these components, to be used in healthy food products. At present, there are no large-scale technologies available to isolate polyphenols from large process streams cost-effectively, that don't use environmentally unfriendly toxic solvents.
In this project a separation toolbox, based on molecular affinity will be developed and applied in several industrial cases brought by the project partners, in which also food matrix effects have to be taken into account. Primary food targets are liquid streams of green and black tea. The first activity of all partners involved in the project will be to define the scope of the toolbox in more detail. We propose to build on the Product Driven Process Synthesis methodology and to refine the toolbox further while applying it to the designed separation systems.
Within this project we have a vacancy for a PhD student on the conceptual design of processes for the isolation of vital ingredients from concentrated streams. The PhD student will study the properties of selected components and foods, and from this derive rules on how to design processes to isolate these ingredients while retaining their functionality.
The foods will be concentrated; this implies that they may be concentrated slurries or even pastes or solids. This means that many conventional separation technologies, such as filtration or centrifugation cannot be easily applied. Recently developed methods to handle these concentrated foods will therefore be evaluated experimentally and in theory, which will be the basis for the conceptual process design.
The work will be carried out in close collaboration with another PhD student and a post-doctorate fellow, located at two different universities, and with two companies.
For more information please contact prof.dr.ir. R.M. Boom (tel.+31 317 482884) or email remko.boom@wur.nl.
Requirements
Affinity and background in process technology to apply. You should have a MSc degree in food or chemical engineering or similar, from a Dutch university, or equivalent.
The candidate should have excellent communicative skills, be familiar with the basis of process engineering and the basis of process design, and be willing to explore new and unknown paths. Furthermore, the candidate is: Analytic in approaching problems, creative, innovative and both result & team oriented.
Conditions of employment
We offer a full-time contract for 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year. Your salary will be in line with the Dutch standards for PhD students and Post Docs.
Furthermore, you will also benefit from the opportunity to do research that is scientifically challenging and of industrial relevance. At last, you can expect extra support towards your next career step within the DSTI network and benefit from other attractive secondary labor conditions.
Organisation
DSTI (Dutch Separation Technology Institute)
DSTI (Dutch Separation Technology Institute) is a partnership in which industry, universities and knowledge institutes work closely together to develop breakthrough technologies for application in different sectors of the process industry. "Together we can take bigger steps, have more impact, and share the risks".
So far, over 55 companies from the Food, Pharmaceutical, Oil and Gas, Chemical and Process Water Industries, together with 10 knowledge centers, have joined DSTI. The estimated budget is EUR 80 million. The research program covers all aspects from (fundamental) knowledge generation to technology implementation.
DSTI Partners include: Afira • Aker Solutions • Akzo Nobel • Albemarle • Aquamarijn • Aquastill • BAC • Bodec Process Technology • Bronswerk • CDS • Cofely • DSM • ECN • Elektrolyse Project • Evodos • FeyeCon D&I • FIB Industriële bedrijven • Fluxxion • Frames • Friesland Campina • Freeze Tec • GCA • GTI • Heineken • Huntsman • IPCOS • Larox • Logisticon • LyondellBasell • MACT • Mahle • Mallinckrodt Baker • Ministry of Economic Affairs • Mosaic Systems • NIZO Food Research • Norit X-Flow • NL-GUTS • Organon • Perdix • Pervatech • Proxcys • Purac • ResQLab • Royal Cosun • RWTH-Aachen University • Sabic • Schering Plough • Screening Devices • Shell • Solsep • Syncom • Synthon • TNO • TOP • TU Delft • TU Eindhoven • Unilever • Universteit Twente • Vito • Wageningen Universiteit & Research Centre • Wintershall • Zeton
Additional information
Please make sure to check the other DSTI vacancies in this project:
The short URL code for this job opening is: 2149
Direct link to this job www.academictransfer.com/2149
