We are seeking a PhD candidate to drive the transformation of food product development through the integration of high-throughput experimentation (HTE), data science, and food processing. The project, as a part of the PREDICT project, aims to accelerate the shift toward sustainable and climate-friendly food products by replacing traditional trial-and-error methods with predictive, data-driven approaches.
Current food product development struggles to handle the complexity of new, sustainable ingredients. This project will address that challenge by developing automated high-throughput methods to assess ingredient techno-functionality and product properties. You will work with developing HTE-based methods to characterize functional properties of complex food ingredients. The project plans to collect large-scale experimental datasets and apply machine learning techniques to predict the performance of complex food ingredients, supporting the creation of products with lower environmental footprints and enhanced functionality.
As a PhD researcher, you will:
You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair groups of Food Process Engineering. You will work under the supervision of Julia Keppler, Yizhou Ma, and Remko Boom. Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
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.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands. The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about accelerating sustainable innovation in the food industry through data-driven experimentation. You may be a food scientist with strong computational skills, eager to integrate artificial intelligence into ingredient and product development. Alternatively, you may come from a data science background, motivated to apply your expertise in machine learning to experimental settings and real-world food systems.
In this project, success requires a hands-on mindset: combining automated experimental workflows with predictive modeling to transform food product development from trial-and-error to targeted innovation. You will work at the intersection of food science, high-throughput experimentation, and machine learning to help design the next generation of sustainable food ingredients and products.
You also possess:
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected].
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 14 July 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 21 July 2025.
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
Current food product development struggles to handle the complexity of new, sustainable ingredients. This project will address that challenge by developing automated high-throughput methods to assess ingredient techno-functionality and product properties. You will work with developing HTE-based methods to characterize functional properties of complex food ingredients. The project plans to collect large-scale experimental datasets and apply machine learning techniques to predict the performance of complex food ingredients, supporting the creation of products with lower environmental footprints and enhanced functionality.
As a PhD researcher, you will:
- Develop and validate high-throughput experimental methods to assess food ingredient functional properties;
- Apply machine learning techniques to create predictive models that guide sustainable product design;
- Publish research outcomes through datasets, scientific software, and academic publications;
- Collaborate with researchers in food science, data science, and industrial partners to drive innovation.
You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair groups of Food Process Engineering. You will work under the supervision of Julia Keppler, Yizhou Ma, and Remko Boom. Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- Partially paid parental leave;
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
- 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
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.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands. The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.
We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about accelerating sustainable innovation in the food industry through data-driven experimentation. You may be a food scientist with strong computational skills, eager to integrate artificial intelligence into ingredient and product development. Alternatively, you may come from a data science background, motivated to apply your expertise in machine learning to experimental settings and real-world food systems.
In this project, success requires a hands-on mindset: combining automated experimental workflows with predictive modeling to transform food product development from trial-and-error to targeted innovation. You will work at the intersection of food science, high-throughput experimentation, and machine learning to help design the next generation of sustainable food ingredients and products.
You also possess:
- A successfully completed MSc degree in food technology, food science, data science, chemical engineering, material science, or a related program;
- A strong commitment to developing predictive models that link ingredient functionality to product performance and sustainability outcomes;
- Working knowledge with the Python programming language (with helps from generative AI);
- A “tool-builder” mindset with the ability to develop methods and solutions from scratch;
- A general understanding of food production processes and unit operations in food processing.
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected].
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 14 July 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 21 July 2025.
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
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