PhD fellowship in Food Engineering

Department of Food Science (FOOD KU), Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Food Engineering. The project is in collaboration with Arla

Start date is (expected to be) 1 June 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

There is an increasing demand for sustainable processing for example in terms of reducing of energy and water demand. Cleaning In Place (CIP) processes have a significant environmental bearing, in terms of energy consumption (estimated at 20% of the total energy used in manufacturing), water usage and use of chemicals. There is a substantial risk in product quality and safety associated with reducing the intensity of CIP processes making optimization challenging. Monitoring tools and advanced data analytics at industrial scale provide an opportunity that can be augmented by using models that capture the relevant physico-chemical phenomena

The aim of the PhDis to develop knowledge that will enable optimization of Cleaning in Place (CIP) processes in the dairy industry. The PhD will investigate the fundamental mechanisms at microscopic and macroscopic scales during cleaning of dairy formulations. Small scale rigs will be used to obtain fundamental understanding of the phenomena. Interactions of dairy materials with equipment surfaces and cleaning material, e.g. swelling, will be investigated using a range of techniques, e.g. microscopy, to obtain relevant kinetics. The potential of using a range of sensors, e.g. spectroscopy, to monitor the process will be explored. We will model the dynamics and cleaning processes aiming to develop on-line optimisation/monitor systems

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with the field(s) of  Food Processing. Applicants can have a background for example from Dairy Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The group is a part of Deaprtment of Food Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include access to state of the art pilot plants, ability to use a range of sensors and expertise in process modelling and design.

The PhD project will be undertaken in collaboration with Arla Foods Ingredients. Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), a subsidiary of the European dairy cooperative Arla Foods, is a global leader within specialized high quality milk and whey ingredients used to meet specific needs of children, athletes, patients and consumers. Close collaboration with AFI presents a unique opportunity for the student to benefit from a dynamic environment, state of the art facilities as well as be exposed in an industrial environment that will enable transformation of fundamental knowledge to practical findings

Principal supervisor isProf. Serafim Bakalis, Department of Food Science, E-mail: [email protected], Direct Phone:  +4535336314.

Qualifications needed
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in Sustainable Food Processing
• Good language skills

***************************************************************************

Application and Assessment Procedure

 Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 March 2022, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in April

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/ .

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.