Postdoc in cellular agriculture (animal-free milk protein functionality)

 Are you ambitious and want to perform pioneering research on the next generation of sustainable alternative food proteins? Do you want to become an important part of a large collaborative and interdisciplinary project?

We have a Postdoc position in our new project on functional food proteins from cellular agriculture. Will you join us?

As Post-Doc Researcher you will mostly be involved in research (80 %) but will also have the chance to join the project management and outreach activities (20%). Your tasks include:

• studying and tuning the functionality of different animal-free milk and single cell protein fractions for food applications;
• regular publishing the results in peer-reviewed journals;
• developing a proof-of-principle product in collaboration with our academic and industrial partners;
• supporting PhD students with development of downstream processes and actively initiating/strengthening collaborations among the various project partners;
• Support the project lead with project management tasks (e.g., organize project meetings, conduct interviews with media, initiate collaborations).

The position will be based in the Food Process Engineering group at Wageningen University.  

About the project
The position is funded by the NWO Key Technologies Project: Protein Transition 2.0, with co-funding from a large number of international companies and several involved PhD students and post-docs:

Cellular agriculture, and single-cell proteins are part of a major revolution that will allow us to meet future food protein needs very efficiently and with high sensorial and nutritional quality, while requiring hardly any agricultural land. A multidisciplinary team of researchers will explore the potential of these new protein sources together with companies and stakeholders, using existing raw material from start-up companies involved in producing A) tissue engineered milk, B) precision fermentation derived milk proteins and C) single cell proteins (biomass). For application impact, we explore the bottlenecks that currently hinder affordable large-scale production: protein quality, mild downstream processing, scalability, and application, EU legislation, and safety.

This project is a collaboration with Wageningen University, Utrecht University and Maastricht University and will provide insights into the applicability, sustainability and feasibility of using animal-free milk proteins for food applications.

You will be embedded within the chair of Food Process Engineering (Chairholder Prof. Remko Boom), and part of the Protein Functionalization team, which is led by Associate Prof. Julia Keppler.

Your qualities

You have:

• a successful PhD in food science, biotechnology, chemical technology, or equivalent;
• a good track record of internationally recognized peer-reviewed publications;
• experience with protein analyses (physicochemical properties, techno-functionality);
• experience in sustainability analyses and, and or protein extraction processes is a bonus;
• have excellent communication, writing and organizational skills and are able to work both independently and in a team environment;
• Are fluent in English at C1 level.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 2960,-. and € 4670,-. for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 17^th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Do you want more information?

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Julia Keppler, Associate Professor, by email: julia.keppler@wur.nl.
For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, recruiter, by e-mail: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV and motivation letter, using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including March 10th 2023. The preferred starting date for this position is spring 2023.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

Apply now