Rational design of bi-structured emulsions for tailo...

Rational design of bi-structured emulsions for tailored in vitro lipid digestion

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Laatst aangepast: 29/10/25

The Laboratory of Food Technology is one of the seven research groups of the Centre for Food and Microbial Technology, Department Microbial and Molecular systems, and is located at the Campus Arenberg in Leuven. The research mission of the Laboratory of Food Technology is to understand and quantify process-structure-function relations of food systems during processing, preservation and storage by optimal exploitation of the endogenous potential of fruit- ,vegetable- and legume-derived systems, both for developed and for developing countries. They do this on a daily basis through a joint effort of 25 co-workers and 15 MSc. students.

Prof. Tara Grauwet and Prof. Sarah Verkempinck will be the supervisor and co-supervisor of this PhD research, respectively. Prof. Tara Grauwet leads a research team studying until now majorly process-structure-health relations of food systems. In other words, the research includes in silico and in vitro digestion and bio-accessibility studies to understand how food structure can be steered to influence/optimize nutrient bio-accessibility and digestion of foods. For this, the lab acquired an international reputation for using static to semi-dynamic models to simulate digestion in vitro, and developing a solid analytical platform to quantify digestion on a molecular level. Prof. Sarah Verkempinck initiated her research line in September 2024, focusing on process-structure-function relations as a basis for (reverse) engineering approaches to steer food functionality through targeted processing strategies and intelligent product formulations. On of her aims is to investigate the functionalization potential (e.g., emulsifying potential) of by-products created by the plant-based food industry. For more information on the research aims of LFT, we kindly refer to our website: or our social media pages:

Project

The Laboratory of Food Technology (LFT) is looking for a PhD candidate to work on the rational design of bi-structured emulsions for tailored in vitro lipid digestion kinetics, a research topic funded by FWO Vlaanderen.

In recent years, it became obvious that several factors influence lipid digestion: (i) oil phase properties, (ii) oil droplet size, (iii) interfacial properties, (iv) properties of the continuous phase. One recent research trend aims to explore and understand the use of a mix of emulsifiers to modulate emulsion stability and lipid digestion with specific perspectives for satiation and satiety induction. For this, both traditional molecular emulsifiers are studied as well as colloidal (nano)particles such as proteins, polysaccharides and polyphenols.

In this project, we aim to first establish the structure-function relations between novel emulsifier structures on the one hand and emulsion stabilization potential and (in vitro) lipolysis digestion kinetics on the other hand. Novel Pickering particles will be included and process-induced modifications thereof. Fundamental understanding on interfacial changes of emulsions will be built due to an international collaboration. We will study lipid digestion phenomena starting from static in vitro conditions, up to semi-dynamic digestion and absorption evaluations of these emulsions.

Your work will focus on:

• Emulsion design and characterization
• Protein as a surface active compounds and protein modification
• Analysis of emulsion stability
• In vitro macronutrient digestion evaluation
• Statistical analysis

Your responsibilities will be:

• You will modify protein-rich extracts using different techniques
• You will design and characterize bi-structured emulsions using various ingredients and techniques
• You will study the in vitro digestion behavior of emulsions using static and semi-dynamic digestion simulation tools
• You will extend our in vitro simulation toolbox
• You will perform statistical analysis on the data obtained
• You will supervise bachelor and master students
• You will report your data to your supervisors, other researchers, as well as at (international) conferences

Profile

We are looking for a PhD candidate should fulfil the following requirements:

• You have a Master's degree cum laude in Bioscience Engineering, Food Science & Technology or related discipline
• You are highly motivated to do research in a dynamic research environment
• You have interest in food science and basic knowledge of colloidal chemistry
• You are communicative, creative, eager to learn and able to work independently as well as part of a team
• You are passionate about research with a critical, analytical and innovative mindset
• You are familiar with general laboratory practices and have attention to details
• You have good communication skills in written and spoken English
• You are proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
• Having experience in performing in vitro digestion studies is a plus

Offer

We offer:

• An attractive fully funded scholarship for PhD research with multiple benefits (health insurance, access to university infrastructure and sports facilities, etc.), continuation after the first year is dependent upon a positive evaluation.
• The opportunity to develop scientific and personal skills via participation at trainings, workshops, and conferences (more information can be found here: ).
• Supervision by recognized experts and access to (beyond) state-of-the-art research and infrastructure
• A stay in a vibrant environment in the hearth of Europe. The university is located in Leuven, a town of approximately 100,000 inhabitants, located close to Brussels (25 km), and 20 minutes by train from Brussels International Airport. This strategic positioning and the strong presence of the university, international research centers, and industry lead to a safe town with high quality of life, with a warm welcome to non-Dutch speaking people and with ample opportunities for social and sport activities. The mixture of cultures and research fields are some of the ingredients making the university of Leuven the most innovative university in Europe. Further information can be found on the website of the university:
• KU Leuven (University of Leuven) has been a center of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. The university caters to over 60,000 students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuven's three doctoral schools provide internationally oriented PhD tracks for more than 4,000 doctoral students. KU Leuven and affiliated knowledge institutes provide fertile ground for innovation and high-tech entrepreneurship in the Leuven region. This favorable climate for knowledge-driven entrepreneurship and innovation makes the Leuven region an attractive location for many high-tech companies.

Interested?

The application should be submitted exclusively through the KU Leuven portal; a separate email is not required. Equal consideration will be given to female or male applicants.

Interviews are now tentatively scheduled to take place in the week of November, 24th, 2025.

The start date of the PhD project is foreseen for January, 19th, 2026.

Applications (in English) should include:

• CV (contact details, education, work experience, prizes/awards, language skills, etc,...)
• Official academic transcript of Bsc. and Msc. studies
• Motivational letter describing research career goals, skills and experience
• Full contact details of two reference persons

You can apply for this job no later than November 11, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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Tewerkstellingspercentage: Voltijds

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Locatie: Leuven

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Solliciteren tot en met:
11/11/2025 23:59 CET

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Tags: Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen