prof.dr.ir. MW (Heidy) den Besten

Heidy den Besten obtained a BSc in Food Technology and a BSc in Mathematics. She completed her MSc Food Technology cum laude specialising in Food Safety at Wageningen University, after which she started her PhD project entitled "Quantification of Bacillus cereus stress responses" in the Laboratory of Food Microbiology of Wageningen University. Her PhD research combined a mathematical modelling approach with single-cell analyses and molecular techniques for elucidating B. cereus’ adaptive stress responses. In 2011 she started as Assistant Professor in the Laboratory of Food Microbiology of Wageningen University. In her current position as Personal Professor, her research domain focuses on quantitative pathogen ecology interlinking functional genomics and modelling of microbial behaviour. She supervises BSc, MSc and PhD projects and teaches in the MSc and BSc Food Microbiology programmes.

• Elsevier (1-7-2014/31-12-2099)
  editorial board member International Journal of Food Microbiology
• ILSI Europe (1-7-2018/31-12-2099)
  Chair and expert working groups
• WHO/FAO (24-10-2022/31-12-2099)
  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment; consultancy work for JEMRA meetings
• ISO (1-10-2019/31-12-2099)
  Development of international guidelines of the International Standardization Organisation
• ICPMF (1-6-2020/31-12-2099)
  Board member of the International Committee on Predictive Modelling in Food
• KNVM (1-9-2019/31-12-2099)
  Organisation of scientific meetings for the Royal Society of Microbiology, section Food Microbiology
• Dutch Health Council (11-7-2023/31-12-2099)
  Participation in the Committee on Dietary Recommendations for Breadfeeding Women and Young Children