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August 20, 2025

**Job Description**
This Ph.D. project, SHIELT, aims to develop predictive microbiology and risk assessment tools to support the safe-by-design development of plant-based meat alternatives, thereby improving supply chain sustainability and limiting food waste. The project’s novelty lies in creating multi-species prediction models and risk assessment frameworks that describe the dynamics and interactions of spoilage microorganisms and pathogens, including *Listeria monocytogenes* and *Bacillus cereus*, in plant-based products. This initiative is a collaborative effort with Wageningen Food Biobased Research (WFBR) and various industrial partners.

**Skills & Abilities**
• Experience in predictive modelling and quantitative microbial risk assessment approaches.
• Experience with relevant software tools and programming languages such as R or Python.
• Interest in working together with people from the food industry.
• Ambitious and highly motivated scientist.
• Creative researcher, independent yet a team player.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (C1 level expected).

**Qualifications**
Required Degree(s) in:
• Food Safety
• Data Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

**Experience**
Other:
• Successfully completed MSc degree in a relevant field.

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Experience
Other: • Successfully completed MSc degree in a relevant field.
Work Level
Ph.D
Employment Type
Full-time, Scholarship, Temporary
Salary
Annual Salary: €36,708 (first year) - €46,572 (fourth year) Position Classification: Scale P (CAO-NU) Benefits: Partially paid parental leave, flexible working hours for work-life balance, option to accrue additional compensation/holiday hours, access to campus sports facilities, fixed December bonus of 8.3%, excellent pension scheme, fully funded Ph.D. position, tailored course program.
Valid Until
September 12, 2025
Details
Full-time / Temporary Duration: 18 months (initial, with extension based on performance) Remote Work: No Location Requirement: Relocation required to the Netherlands Campus-based
School / Department / Center / Lab
• Laboratory of Food Microbiology • FHM team
Supervisor(s)
Cristina Serra-Castelló (Assistant Professor, Co-supervisor) Heidy den Besten (Professor, Co-supervisor) Marcel Zwietering (Professor, Head of FHM team)
Supervisor Email
cristina.serra-castello@wur.nl rutger.voorrips@wur.nl
Wageningen University & Research
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