Do you see a role for innovative computer science research in developing a healthy and sustainable society? Then we are looking for you!- Consumers make daily decisions about what to eat - or not to eat. What is healthy depends on the characteristics of the person themselves, and their recent food consumption. Our research models knowledge from scientific literature, data on what food products contain, expert knowledge from dieticians, personal characteristics such as allergies, and measurements of the food intake of a specific consumer. How can we bring all this knowledge together in a model and use it for automated, well-founded advice?
- The global population is threatened with a shortage of protein for human consumption. At the same time, optimal use is not being made of resources that contain protein. How can big data and knowledge models help to draw up the different scenarios and calculate their effects, thereby helping to optimise future protein supplies?
These are examples of questions we are working on.We are looking for a researcher who has an affinity for finding innovative solutions for our clients, and who can translate research results into practical advices and applications. As part of the Food Informatics team, you apply your knowledge in the areas of artificial intelligence, conceptual modelling, software development (C#/Java) or semantic web technology. Your tasks are a combination of these fields, and in time you will specialise in one of these topics.
You contribute to relevant projects, for example modelling expert knowledge and data to detect potential food health risks in the international dairy supply chain. It is important to be able to improvise, and to keep asking questions until you reach the heart of the matter. In this way, you work on an innovative solution that helps the client, mostly in the form of software. A good example of our work is the development of a webapp with which people with an acquired brain injury can cook independently. The challenge in this case is to capture implicit recipe and preparation knowledge in an explicit logical model: a surprisingly complex problem.
As a Food Informatics researcher, you have good analytical skills. You have the critical and creative attitude of a researcher, but also keep an eye on what design choices mean for the user. For this reason, the ability to communicate well with your colleagues and clients is an important characteristic. You can also express yourself well in writing, both to clients and in scientific publications.
With us, you get the chance to learn many new things, and to make a personal contribution to innovative projects. We expect that you can function well both independently and in a team, in many projects simultaneously. This requires flexibility and a focus on solutions.