Do you want to contribute to the story of food security, sustainable nutrition, and the protein transition to aquatic proteins? Do you believe that seaweed will be a key component in future human nutrition? Are you interested in exploring how seaweed by-products can be used as feed for poultry and as aquafeed for shrimp?

Job description

A PhD position is open as part of the SuproSea project, in collaboration between ILVO, UGent, UAntwerpen, and Bio Bbase Europe (BBE).The project investigates the potential of proteins from local seaweeds for food and animal feed. Local seaweeds will be cultivated on a small scale (UGent) and then upscaled to a pre-pilot scale (ILVO).

The seaweeds and their proteins will be characterized for their nutritional value, sensory properties (taste panel), and potential use as food additives. The project is also interested in high-value molecules such as pigments. With a focus on sustainability and zero-waste, the project aims to utilize the entire biomass. Therefore, it also explores the potential of seaweed as feed for livestock (poultry) and as aquafeed (shrimp). This PhD position is a collaboration between UGent and ILVO.

You will work at different locations (i.e. Ostend and Ghent) and in different working environments (laboratory, (occasional) trips at sea, experimental environment with animals (chickens, shrimps), experimental environment for seaweed cultivation.

What does your job looks like?

• You grow local seaweeds on a small laboratory scale and then scale up to pre-pilot scale
• You perform analyses on the composition of the different seaweeds (proteins, amino acids, pigments)
• You examine the potential for food (analysis of sensory properties via expert taste panel)
• You carry out feeding tests on poultry (nutritional and health-promoting properties) and on shrimp (Aquafeed) (nutritional and health-promoting properties)
• You process your results and publish them in scientific journals and present your results during the consortium meetings.

Your Profile

• You have a master degree in a major in Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry or equivalent. Students who will graduate in 2024 may also apply.
• If you have a foreign diploma, you are asked to obtain equivalence recognition. You can apply for this at NARIC Vlaanderen
• You meet the generic conditions to carry out a PhD Doctoral grants: requirements and regulations
• You speak and write fluent English
• You have an affinity for working in a 'wet' lab for cultivation of seaweed
• You have experience in an analytical chromatography lab

How to apply?

You can apply online via “Jobs - ILVO Vlaanderen” and this at the latest until 01/09/2024 . If you cannot apply online, you can request the application form via personeel@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.

The following documents are uploaded as 1 pdf file:

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Copy of diploma
• Overview of your study results