PhD position on reverse engineering Milk Fat Globules

As a PhD candidate, you will join a unique project aiming to deep-dive into the milk fat globule structure and the emerging properties at all scales. Your results will help to fundamentally understand the role of milk fat globules in the structure and taste of foods, and also assist in their replacement with healthy and sustainable plant-based counterparts.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Use nano-mechanical and -chemical mapping to unravel the structure-function properties of single milk fat globules and plant lipid droplets
• Use super-resolution microscopy to investigate the molecular arrangement on the surface of milk fat globules and plant lipid droplets
• Develop chemical analytical tools (NMR, HPLC) to track the molecular compounds present in milk fat globules and plant lipid droplets
• Development of surface rheology protocols to investigate the mechanical properties of milk fat and plant lipid droplet interfaces
• Apply microfluidics to formulate, track, and analyse milk fat globule mimicsin a controlled manner.

The research is part of the HARMOny project, which is carried out between Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and TU Delft. This particular PhD position will be embedded fully at WUR within the chairs Biobased Chemistry and Technology, and Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter. You will become a member of the Biobased Soft Matter team, which is led by Assoc. Prof. Costas Nikiforidis. You will be co-supervised by Assist. Prof. Siddharth Deshpande (EmBioSys Lab) and Assoc. Prof. Francesco Simone Ruggeri.

You will also collaborate with a PhD student working at TU Delft, who will use molecular modelling to simulate the milk fat globules and plant lipid droplets and guide the experimental work.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a background in physical chemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science, skilled in experimental soft-matter techniques, and with a strong desire for multidisciplinary work. The candidates should be fluent in written and spoken English and enjoy working at the interface between curiosity-driven and application-inspired research.

A key success factor of this project is the collaboration with the molecular simulation PhD project at TU Delft and a another postdoc/PhD at WUR who will work on the sensory performance of the formed milk fat globule mimics.

You also possess:

• An MSc degree in physical chemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science

• Proven skills in chemical and physicochemical analytical tools. Experience with atomic force microscopy is an advantage
• Experience with numerical modelling and programming is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and multicultural research environment.
• Good organizational and communication skills

For this position, your command of the English language is expected to be at the C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Costas Nikiforidis, Associate professor Biobased Soft Matter costas.nikiforidis@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter, via evelien.janssen@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?

You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter.

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply until Sunday 14 December 2025. The first interviews are scheduled for 19-23 January 2026.

Welcome, safe, and valued

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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