[Belgium] Catholic University of Leuven PhD Studentship 3D Modelling of Process Spaces

The research group Measure, Model, and Manage Bioresponses (M3-BIORES) headed by Prof. Daniel Berckmans is one of the leading groups at bio-monitoring and control together with research on imperfectly mixed fluids around living organisms. The research objective is to measure in an on-line manner biological responses of living organisms and their individual micro-environment and to predict their dynamic response in order to monitor and control their well being, health and performance.

Currently, there exists an open position as: Research Assistant – PhD Candidate

For 4 years with a global intention to complete a doctoral degree. The title of the project is:
“Active Control of Climate- Related Production Processes of Meat Products with Focus on Product Safety, Constant Quality and Reduction of Energy Usage”

Job Summary:
Air speed, temperature, and humidity are rarely uniformly distributed (Figure 1) in biological processes such as in meat production. However, product quality is independent of the average environmental conditions in the process. It depends on the local instantaneous values of the micro-environmental variables (e.g. temperature, air humidity, air speed, air turbulence) around the product. Nowadays, the environmental conditions are controlled by measurement at one position with the temperature or air humidity as a feedback. Rarely, measurements of the spatial distribution of the environmental variables are used, nor the spatial distribution of the quality of the biological product is monitored.

The purpose of this project is to improve the spatial distribution of air temperature, humidity and speed in the meat processing production. Consequently, a higher percentage of the end products will meet the minimum product quality specifications and the amount of second choice products can be reduced.

Requirements:

• He/She must have a master’s degree (food, engineering, physics, mathematics, or another relevant field) and the ambition to obtain a PhD within 4 years. He/She must have an interest in the development and application of mathematic modelling techniques on living organisms.
• He/She must be able to speak and write English fluently. Working knowledge of the MATLAB programming environment is an advantage.

Application deadline: 01 June 2008

More information:
ir. Sezin Eren Ozcan
Catholic University of Leuven
M3-BIORES
Kasteelpark Arenberg, 30
Heverlee 3001
BELGIUM
Phone: +32 16 32 1731
Fax: +32 16 32 1480
E-Mail: sezin.erenozcan@biw.kuleuven.be
Website: www.m3-biores.be