dr. K (Koen) Venema

Education

Sept 86 - Sept 90 -  University of Groningen, NL: MSc Life Sciences; Graduated Cum Laude.

Sept 90 - Sept 95 - University of Groningen, NL:  PhD Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, subfaculty Biology, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen. PhD thesis: Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria: Lactococcins from Lactococcus lactis and pediocin PA-1 from Pediococcus acidilactici.

Professional appointments

Sept 95 – Feb 96  - University of Groningen, NL; PostDoc; Department of Genetics, lab of Gerard Venema; Project: "Secretion of bacteriocins using the sec machinery."

Feb 96 – May 97  - North CarolinaStateUniversity, Raleigh, NC, USA; PostDoc; Department of Food Science, lab of Todd Klaenhammer; Project: "In ovo immunization of chickens with Lactobacillus as a vaccine carrier."

May 97 – Oct 98 - Wageningen University, NL; PostDoc; Department of Phytopathology, lab of Pierre de Wit; Project: "The role of ABC transporters in pathogenicity and sexual reproduction of Mycosphaerella graminicola, the causal agent of septoria tritici leaf-blotch of wheat."

Sept 98 – Dec 2013 - TNO Earth & Environmental Life Sciences (previously TNO Food & Nutrition, and TNO Quality of Life), Zeist, NL; Throughout the years many roles: Project leader, product manager, coordinator Gut Health, team leader, key opinion leader; Specialization: TNO in vitro gastro intestinal models (TIM).

Feb 04 – Dec 14 - Top Institute Food & Nutrition [TIFN] (previously Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences [WCFS]), Wageningen, NL; Project leader; of 2 projects: i) “Microbe-mediated gut metabolism”; Using stable isotope technology and clinical trials the metabolism of the gut microbiota was investigated. ii) “Molecular interaction of probiotics and fibers with the host”; Using high-throughput cell-based assays the interaction of (cell-surface mutants of) probiotics, and dietary fibers or microbiota-derived fermentation intermediates thereof, with the host epithelial and immune cells was investigated.

08 – current - Initiator and scientific organizer of the Beneficial Microbes Conference series, held since 2008. Operational organization by Bastiaanse Communication.

Jan 14 – current - Founder and CEO of Beneficial Microbes® Consultancy; www.beneficialmicrobes.nl. Originating from the need to finish my second TIFN project after leaving TNO, the company still exists and until June 2024 I consult for industry and academia in the area of Beneficial Microbes®, a phrase that I protected with a trademark.

Sept 14 – Sept 15 - Assistant professor at Maastricht University – campus Venlo

Oct 15 – April 24 - Full professor at Maastricht University – campus Venlo; chair in Gut Microbiology; Centre for Healthy Eating & Food Innovation.

Oct 21 – June 24 - Founder and CEO of Beneficial Bugs. B.V. I established this company to be able to participate in the spin-off InnerBuddies that I initiated.

Oct 21 – June 24 - co-CSO of InnerBuddies; www.innerbuddies.com. We sequence the microbiota of fecal samples of consumers and provide them with dietary advice on how to optimize their gut microbiota. From July 2024 onwards I will only be shareholder, due to potential conflict of interest with my WUR/WFBR activities.