PhD-positions within the coordinated action GENESYS:

                                                            PhD-position 1:

                               ‘Instruments to develop successful system innovations‘

Location within ILVO

Name of Unit:                           Social Sciences Unit (SSU)
Research Area:                         Farm and Sector Development
Scientific Director:                     Ludwig Lauwers
ILVO Promotor and Contact:           Koen Mondelaers
Address:           Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115 bus2
                         9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
e-mail:            koen.mondelaers@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
  tel:               +32 9 272 23 69

Specific objectives

PhD   1 investigates  and  develops   instruments   to develop   successful  system   innovations.  This PhD   thereby
implements    the  methodological   objective  of the  GENESYS    project: to  devise  instruments  that  support  the
development of successful system innovations. Empirical testing of these instruments is achieved by means of the
three case studies (see PhD 2, 3 and 4) which focus on the thematic objective of the GENESYS  project. Extensive
support is provided by ILVO’s Social Sciences Unit and other units.

The  following  methodological    challenges  are  elaborated   in the  socio-economic    PhD  on  system   innovation
processes:

•  A  literature study  of the  different  models and  concepts for  system  innovation.  Examples are  socio-technical
   systems, technological  innovation systems, triple  helix innovation, open innovation, co-evolution, co-creation,
    and others.

•  Work to  combine these  models and  concepts  into a workable  concept for  by-products. Amongst  others, this
    means identification of  instruments for  steering  and  monitoring as well  as the  elaboration  of a generic  road
    map based on cases of success and failure from within the GENESYS project and outside it.

•   Monitoring of the process of system innovation for the three case studies.

•   Design and study of the multistakeholder and participatory processes within the three cases.

•   Provision of instruments for the execution of socio-economic analyses within the three cases (methods for ex
    ante  cost-benefit  analyses,  for  analysis of  innovation   acceptation  and   for the  design   of  institutional
    arrangements within the stakeholder networks formed).

Our offer

The Social Sciences  Unit of ILVO, located at  Merelbeke,  Belgium, is a young  multidisciplinary research group with
over 30 researchers. We execute socially relevant scientific research within the context of sustainable agriculture
and rural development.

You  will receive  considerable  personal   responsibility within a  dynamic   working  environment    with  attractive
working conditions.

                                                              PhD-positie 2:

                                  ‘Valorisatietraject voor plantaardige nevenstromen‘

Location within ILVO

Name of Unit:                          Technology & Food Science Unit
Research Area:                         Product quality & innovation
Scientific Director:                   Marc De Loose
ILVO Promotor and Contact:             Bart Van Droogenbroeck
                   Address:            Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115, 9820 Merelbeke
                   E-mail:             bart.vandroogenbroeck@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
                   Phone:              +32 9 272 28 39

Specific objectives

The  research for  PhD 2 will focus on the development of a valorization  process for  plant-derived by-products and
waste. The objective of this  PhD thus fits seamlessly with the thematic focus of the GENESYS project: valorization
of by-products.

Plant-based by-products from vegetable, fruit and potato production have a high moisture content, which  makes
them subject to  rapid decay. Moreover, these  by-products are not available year-round. At the same time, these
by-products contain many valuable components that could lead to a product with a higher added value. Currently,
the known by-products from vegetable, fruit and potato production remain unused and are either reapplied to the
field or are used for animal feed or energy production.

Before  higher added  value  can  be extracted  from  these  by-products, some  problems  need to  be  resolved. The
practical part of this PhD research will address the following questions:

•   Which plant-derived by-products in Flanders are most relevant and have the potential to lead to products with
    a higher added value?
•   How can a number of selected plant-derived by-products be stabilised without significant loss of quality?
•   Which types of processes and products can be developed in an economically cost-effective way, starting from
    the (stabilised) plant-derived by-products?

Besides   the  more   technical   aspects  of  stabilisation, process-   and  product   design,   many   questions   remain
unanswered, such  as  cost  efficiency,  logistics (e.g. fit  within  the  (farm) enterprise  or  potential cooperation with
other  stakeholders)  and  institutional  hindrances  (e.g.  regulations on  functional  food  and food  supplements). As
such,  these  social,  socio-economic  and   institutional  aspects  will also be  considered   in  close  cooperation  with
experts and PhD 1.

Our offer

ILVO’s Technology &  Food Science  Unit, located in Merelbeke,  Belgium, is a multidisciplinary research unit with a
combination of over 20 junior  and senior  researchers. We conduct socially  relevant scientific  research within the
context  of  sustainable  agriculture  and  food   production.  At  the  location  in  Melle, a  well-equipped    pilot  food
processing plant called the Food Pilot is available for the practical aspects of process and product design. Technical
expertise is also available in-house from the Agricultural Engineering research group.

You  will  receive  considerable   personal   responsibility  within  a dynamic    working   environment    with  attractive
working conditions.

Postdoc fellowships to non-EU researchers ofselected countries

Postdoc fellowships to non-EU researchers (Latin America, Asia, Africa, non-EU Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe)

As promoter of the BCCM/ULC public collection of (sub)polar cyanobacteria, I want to inform you of the possibility to apply for a post-doc fellowship of 6 to 18 months to work on the molecular taxonomy of polar cyanobacteria and their potential to produce secondary metabolites. The collection is described at : http://bccm.belspo.be/about/ulc.php. The candidate must prove that (s)he will be able to go back to its country after the fellowship.

To stimulate the S&T cooperation, the Federal Science Policy Office does implement a fellowship scheme for highly qualified researchers (i.e. postdoctoral level or equivalent experience) from specific regions, granting them an opportunity to work a certain period in a Belgian research team before going back to their institution.

Are excluded the citizens of the countries member of the EU, of those associated to the 7th PC (Switzerland, Israel, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova) and of the following countries : Qatar, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, USA, Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Taiwan, Japan, Bahamas, South Korea, New Zealand, Bahrain, Oman, Seychelles, Barbados, Saudi Arabia. The duration of the stay is 6 to 18 months. Applications must be sent to the Federal Science Policy Office by the Belgian project leaders.
Closing date: Monday 5 March 2012, 17 PM

Information, FAQs and application documents can be downloaded at http://www.belspo.be/belspo/organisation/Call/postdoc12_en.stm

File with successful applications since 2006: http://www.belspo.be/belspo/organisation/Call/forms/Grants/tab_country2006_en.pdf

For contact: Dr Annick Wilmotte, Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium. Email: awilmotte@ulg.ac.be

Plaza vacante en Lieja

Job Advertisement: POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION
We are inviting applications for a POST DOCTORAL RESEARCHER in the Unit of Animal Genomics at the University of Liège in Belgium.

The Unit of Animal Genomics, under the supervision of Prof Michel Georges, focuses on the forward genetic dissection of Mendelian and complex traits in domestic animals and humans. One of the key projects of the group is the development of approaches for the utilization of molecular information in livestock breeding, including genomic selection and transgenics. We are based in the Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-Research) at the University of Liège in Belgium (http://www.giga.ulg.ac.be/jcms/prod_205624/unit-of-animal-genomics).

The successful candidate will work on a project aimed at implementing genomic selection in Belgian Blue cattle and will be under the supervision of Dr Tom Druet. The research will explore the use of genotype and sequence data to characterize the Belgian Blue cattle breed and to develop statistical methods related to phasing, imputation and identity-by-descent probabilities estimation and genomic selection.

The main qualifications include:
-A PhD degree in quantitative genetics, statistical genomics or related fields, PhD students who will be presenting their thesis in the coming months are also encouraged to apply.
-Experience in programming with Fortran, C or Perl -Experience and strong interest in the field of quantitative genetics
Funding for a full-time position is immediately available and will be for an initial duration of 12 months with the possibility of an extension.

Applications should be addressed to:

Dr Tom DRUET
tom.druet@ulg.ac.be

Please email application documents with the SUBJECT: UAG POSTDOC

Deadline for submission: 15 March 2012

PhD vacancy for Geneticist, Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent, Belgium

The Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital in Belgium is looking for a highly motivated Ph.D. student interested in human embryonic stem cell research.

The research will focus on identification of molecular pathways involved in early human embryo development and during human embryonic stem cell derivation. In addition, comparative transcriptome and epigenomic analysis of human embryonic stem cell lines derived in different conditions will be performed. A strong background and relevant experience in molecular cell biology is an absolute prerequisite together with practical knowledge of molecular techniques such as immunocytochemistry, q-RT-PCR, FACS, microarray analysis.
Candidates should have a Diploma/Master's degree or the equivalent in Genetics, (Molecular/Cell) Biology, Biotechnology or equivalent, and should have experience in molecular biology techniques.

The position is available from the beginning of next year (2012) and is foreseen for a period of 4 years under promoter ship of Prof. Petra De Sutter to obtain a PhD in Medical Sciences at our Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Application review begins immediately.

Please submit curriculum vitae before 15th December 2011, a letter outlining your research experience and career goals, and names and addresses of  two references to: Bjorn.Heindryckx@UGent.be

VIB-PSB is recruiting 5 new post-docs - Boost your career in Plant Biotech

The Department of Plant Systems Biology is recruiting five post-doctoral researchers .The enclosed flyer can be downloaded from:
http://www.psb.ugent.be/images/stories/psb/pdf/Postdoc_positions.pdf

Professor of Food Biophysics

The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven invites applications for a full-time tenure track academic position in food biophysics at the Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems. We are looking for a dynamic and motivated individual (m/f) with an excellent research record in the application of physical methods to foods, who is able to teach courses in the various programs related to food technology.

DUTIES INCLUDE:
Research: The candidate is expected to develop a fundamental, interdisciplinary and internationally oriented research program in food biophysics, with a scientific output that adheres to the highest international standards. Elements of the research program will include to apply spectroscopic, microscopic, thermal or rheological methods to the characterization of foods, to use these tools for researching the structure of food molecules and materials at different organization levels, to follow the evolution of this structure as a function of food processing parameters, and to develop new food processing principles for improved profiles in terms of consumer needs, based on insights starting at the molecular level.

A successful candidate will support and further expand national and international research collaborations of the department. The candidate is expected to work in concertation with the chairs in food chemistry, food biochemistry, food microbiology and food processing and engineering already in place at the Centre for Food and Microbial Technology of the department. She/he is particularly expected to offer and develop a complementary expertise, leading to joint research proposals and synergies with the other academic staff members of the Centre for Food and Microbial Technology and the department at large. The research program should be embedded in a natural way in the Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe). A vision on potential interactions with other centres at the department (Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Centre for Microbial and Plant Genetics) is expected as well.

Teaching: Accepted applicants will take on teaching responsibilities in the ongoing programs in food technology (master bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: levensmiddelentechnologie and master of food technology), focusing on the biophysical dimension of food technology, and/or in other faculties. They are expected to meet the reigning K.U.Leuven standards regarding academic program level and orientation and to adhere to the K.U.Leuven’s concept of education. A commitment to quality of education as a whole is naturally understood.

Services: We expect an enthusiastic effort in the various committees and working parties in the Department M2S and in the Faculty of Bio-Engineering Sciences.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should hold a Ph.D. or doctoral degree in bio-engineering, engineering, sciences, or any other field that prepares equally well for the research program. This PhD should have been obtained no longer than 7 years before the start of the appointment (1 March 2012).

Qualified candidates are expected to have an excellent research record and very good teaching and training skills, in order to contribute to the research output of the department and to the quality of its educational program. The high quality of the candidate's research should be evidenced by publications in international peer-reviewed journals. International research experience is highly appreciated.

At K.U.Leuven the main language of instruction is Dutch. Successful applicants who are not proficient in Dutch, will be provided language training in order to be able to also instruct in the Dutch language within three years time.

Near-native proficiency in the English language is expected of all applicants.

Apply to: dirk.devos@biw.kuleuven.be