In this 11th edition of the VLAG FLASH we would like to draw your attention to the following meetings and courses as there are still some places available.
Please register ASAP.

•	The Introduction lunch for PhD students on 10 October
•	VLAG Contact Persons meeting on 15 October
•	Management of Microbiological Hazards in Foods (19 - 23 November)
•	CHN-symposium: Learning by doing, the results (22 November)
•	Food perception and food preference (26 - 29 November)
•	VLAG-NZO Master class: Diet and Cancer (29 - 30 November)

The deadline for submitting information for the 12th VLAG FLASH is 30 November.

Next meeting of VLAG Contact Persons will take place on 15 October 2007 starting at 3 PM in the lecture room 55 in Biotechnion. We have invited Willem Wolters (Wageningen EU Desk) as a guest speaker. His presentation about European Research Council, KP7, and other relevant EU developments will start at 4.15 PM.
If interested in joining the presentation please contact Vesna.Prsic@wur.nl.

•	Polysaccharides as Food Colloids and Biomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications - 1st edition 22 - 24 October 2007, Wageningen This course consists of a mixture of introductory lectures in soft matter science mixed with lectures on recent topics of interest for polysaccharides as food colloids and biomaterials. The course aims at bridging the gap between the forefront of academic soft-matter research and applications in foods and non-foods.
•	VLAG PhD-week - 18th edition 5 - 8 November 2007, Wageningen This activity is a compulsory part of the VLAG education programme and it is meant for the PhD students that have recently started their PhD study.
•	Management of Microbiological Hazards in Foods - 10th edition 19 - 23 November 2007, Wageningen The aim of this course is to further improve the knowledge of course participants regarding the management of micro-organisms that may compromise the safety of foods. The course programme combines lectures and group work ("case studies") with plenary discussions.
•	Master class Nutrigenomics - 7th edition 19 - 22 November 2007, Wageningen During the Master class we will discuss new developments in nutrigenomics research including specific aspects of human and mouse studies, molecular epidemiology, applications of microarray analysis, metabolite profiling or biomarker identification strategies.
•	CHN Symposium: Learning by doing: the results. 22 November 2007 afternoon, Wageningen The symposium marks the end of the Dutch Centre for Human Nutrigenomics (CHN). During several lectures an overview of 5 year human nutrigenomic research will be given. Also two visions for the next 5 years in nutrigenomics research will be given.
•	Food perception and food preference - 4th edition 26 - 30 November 2007, Wageningen The course will focus on how food preferences develop and how they are maintained or changed in later life. Special attention will be devoted to perceptual and sensory determinants of preference behaviour and food intake.
•	Master class Diet and Cancer 29 - 30 November 2007, Wageningen The course will be mainly composed of lectures with ample opportunity for discussions. Research plans of the participants will be presented and discussed. At the end of the course there will be a round table discussion on the future of Diet and Cancer including scientists, representatives of the food industry, policy makers and a major funding agency. Professor John D. Potter is the VLAG-NZO Visiting Professor 2007.
•	Genetics and physiology of food-associated microorganisms - 3rd edition 10 - 12 December 2007, Wageningen This advanced course aims to develop expertise in the genetics and physiology of food-associated micro-organisms, in particular with respect to their reactions to variety of stresses that can be imposed deliberately on micro-organisms during food processing, by food preservation techniques and during distribution and storage.
•	Food enzymology - 3rd edition 10 - 13 February 2008, Wageningen The course consists of a series of lectures and provides ample opportunity to discuss the food enzymology field and aims at providing detailed background information on enzymatic conversion processes with relevance to the food industry. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.
•	Regulation of Food Intake - 6th edition 24 - 28 March 2008, Maastricht The regulation of food intake is an exciting and challenging area of research which is highly relevant for people interested in biology, nutrition, psychology, and health sciences. Knowledge of these developments is of crucial importance for people from the food industry dealing with nutrition. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.
•	Food fermentation - 3rd edition 14 - 18 April 2008, Wageningen After an introduction into the biodiversity of fermentation micro-organisms and the product technologies involved, this course deals with the specific aspects of functionality related to health, flavour and ingredients, models and control of fermentation and quality, and ~omics in particular the relevance of proteomics, genomics and metabolomics in fermentation innovation and control.
•	VLAG PhD-week - 19th edition 21 - 24 April 2008, Wageningen This activity is a compulsory part of the VLAG education programme and it is meant for the PhD students that have recently started their PhD study.
•	Bioreactor Design and Operation - 4th edition 26 - 29 May 2008, Wageningen Products from biotechnology cover a wide range, from pharmaceutical blockbusters to bulk energy carriers. In the research phase for new products main attention goes to the optimization of the microorganism. Genomics, physiology and metabolic engineering are the main study tools. Scale of operation is not really important in this case. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.
•	Summer Course Glycosciences - 10th edition 9 - 12 June 2008, Wageningen This course combines general introductions in the field of polysaccharides and glycoproteins with in depth parallel sessions. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.

• M.C.F. Dalm (Ciska) Acoustic perfusion processes for hybridoma cultures: Viability, cell cycle and metabolic analysis. 10-10-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. J. Tramper, Dr. D.E. Martens, Dr. W.M.J. van Grunsven • M. Gielen (Marij) Aspects of prenatal growth and further development in twins. 11-10-2007, Maastricht Prof. R.F.M. Vlietinck, Prof. J.G. Nijhuis, Dr. P.J. Lindsey, Dr. C. Derom • T. Baks (Tim) Process development for gelatinisation and enzymatic hydrolysis of starch at high concentrations. 12-10-2007, Wageningen Prof. R.M. Boom, Dr. A.E.M. Janssen • S. Moço (Sofia) Metabolomics technologies applied to the identification of compounds in plants. 15-10-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. S.C. de Vries, Prof. R.J. Bino, Dr. J.J.M. Vervoort, Dr. C.H. de Vos • M.P. Machielsen (Ronnie) Microbial alcohol dehydrogenases: Identification, characterization and engineering. 16-10-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. J. van der Oost, Prof. W.M. de Vos • D.P.A. Cohen (David) Functional analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1: a proteomic approach. 17-10-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Dr. E.E. Vaughan • M.E. Schutte (Maaike) Effect of (mixtures of) flavonoids on the in vitro and in vivo bioavailability of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP): a biologically based modelling approach. 19-10-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. I.M.C.M. Rietjens, Prof. J.P. Groten, Dr. G.M. Alink, Dr. J.J.M. van de Sandt • H. Hadiyanto (Hady) Product quality: Driven food process design. 27-11-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. G. van Straten, Prof. R.M. Boom, Dr. A.J.B. van Boxtel • A.M. Werkman (Andrea) An energy balance intervention at retirement: Impact on body composition, physical activity and diet. 28-11-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. E.G. Schouten, Prof. F.J. Kok, Dr. A.J. Schuit

• S.A. Burt (Sara) Antibacterial activity of essential oils: potential applications in food. 29-11-2007, 16:15 hrs, Utrecht Prof. F. van Knapen, Prof. H.P. Haagsman, Dr. E.J.A. Veldhuizen • M. Schurink (Marloes) Peptides as inhibitors of lipoxygenase and tyrosinase. 03-12-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. S.C. de Vries, Dr. W.J.H. van Berkel, Dr. C.G. Boeriu • Y.Y. Hinz-Lee (Yee) In vitro and in vivo interplay between NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 and flavonoids. 07-12-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. I.M.C.M. Rietjens, Prof. S.C. de Vries, Dr. W.J.H. van Berkel, Dr. J.M.M.J.G. Aarts • H.J. Joosten (Henk-Jan) 3DM: From data to medicine. 07-12-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. J.A. van den Berg, Dr. P.J. Schaap, Dr. J.J.M. Vervoort • G. Sala (Guido) Food gels filled with emulsion droplets. Linking large deformation properties to sensory perception. 11-12-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Dr. G.A. van Aken, Dr. F. van de Velde • Yanping Li (Yanping) Childhood obesity in China: prevalence, determinants and health. 17-12-2007, Wageningen Prof. E.G. Schouten, Prof. F.J. Kok, Prof. G. Ma • E.L. van Boxtel (Evelien) Protein quaternary structure and aggregation in relation to allergenicity. 18-12-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. H. Gruppen, Dr. L.A.M. van den Broek, Dr. S.J. Koppelman • B.L.H.M. Sperber (Bram) 19-12-2007, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. A.G.J. Voragen, Prof. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Dr. H.A. Schols • G.J. Coenen (Gerd-Jan) Structural characterization of native pectins. 21-12-2007, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. A.G.J. Voragen, Dr. H.A. Schols

On 10 October an introduction lunch for new VLAG PhD students will be organised. This meeting is intended for new PhD students from Wageningen University to meet the people from the VLAG office and hear more about VLAG, TSP, courses etc.
For more information please contact Yvonne Smolders.

•	Meike Bunger (WU-Human Nutrition) received a science award for her poster “Organ-specific function of PPARα as revealed by gene expression profiling”
•	Mark Bouwens received the 3rd communication award for his poster titled: “Fasting induces changes in PBMC gene expression profiles related to increases in fatty acid β-oxidation. A functional role of PPARα in human PBMC”

The awards were handed over to both Meike and Mark during the 4th European Nutrigenomics Conference (NuGOWeek), 18-21 September 2007, Oslo, Norway.

The Wageningen PhD Councils are organising a huge party for all the PhD students from Wageningen. Free food, drinks, cabaret and dancing! The registration period is extended to October the 12th so it is still possible to register! visit wageningenphdparty

The PhD council discussed the idea from the board of VLAG to stimulate demand driven education within VLAG. The idea is that the graduate school will visit all the VLAG groups annually or biannually to meet the VLAG students and discuss about the provided courses and possible ways to fill up the gaps. We think that this is an excellent idea. Not only to improve the courses, but it will also immediately create more affiliation of students to their graduate school and will provide the opportunity for students to ask anything that might be unclear to them, about for example promotion regulations.

17th of October, place and time are not fixed yet but you are welcome to join.
If you have questions, subjects to discuss or want to join the next meeting ask your local VLAG council member or mail: Bart.deKoning@wur.nl

•	The Art of Writing - 9 October (visit CENTA)
•	Personal Efficacy - 18 October (visit WGS)
•	Career Perspectives - 23 October (visit WGS)
•	Career Assessment - October (visit WGS)
•	Interpersonal Communication for PhD students - 1 Nov. (visit WGS)
•	Communication in Interdisciplinary Research - 1 Nov. (visit WGS)
•	Project- and Time Management - 6 November (visit WGS)
•	Writing Grant Proposals - 8 November (visit CENTA)
•	Presentation Skills - 12 November (visit CENTA)
•	PhD Competence Assessment - 13 November (visit WGS)
•	Information Literacy, incl. Intr. Endnote - 27 Nov. (visit WGS)
•	Scientific Publishing - 29 November (visit WGS)
•	Techniques for Writing and Presenting a Scientific Paper - 11 December (visit WGS)

•	NWO Innovational Research Incentives Scheme According to Dutch Education Minister Plasterk the budget that the Dutch government has earmarked for knowledge and innovation must be invested in independent, fundamental research and will be spent on research talent, the research infrastructure and on excellent research. This will be implemented by increasing the budget for the Veni-Vidi-Vici grants by € 50 million. Furthermore Dutch Universities will no longer have to 'match' grants received from the Dutch research organisation NWO. Wageningen UR coordinates the application process and offers financial means to create extra space for proposal writing for the Veni-Vidi-Vici scheme. Timelines stated apply for VENI / VIDI respectively: - 5 / 29 October 2007 for draft proposals for those interested in financial support - 5 December deadline for submitting proposals For additional information about procedures at Wageningen UR please visit http://www.wur.nl/ (available only in Dutch). For those of you working at Maastricht, Nijmegen or Utrecht University please inquire about the process applied at your university.
•	NWO Top Talent The memorandum 'Onderzoekstalent op waarde geschat' [Recognising research talent] from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science contains initiatives for making a PhD study more attractive. One of these initiatives is to give young, creative talent the chance to determine the research content of their PhD. NWO has set up a prestigious programme aimed at graduating top talent who have their own creative research ideas. The program is intended for highly talented students enrolled in the final year of a two-year research-based Master's course at the university. Students should have obtained their Master's degree not before September 1st 2007 and due to complete it no later than September 2008. Wageningen Graduate Schools will first make the internal selection of candidates. Applications should be sent to Joeri Kalwij before 12 November 2007. (visit NWO) For procedures at Maastricht University, please contact Marco Berndes.
•	Rubicon NWO Rubicon grants are a step up to an NWO Veni grant and can be submitted in 2007 on 3 September and 3 December. read more
•	NWO Cooperation Great Britain Within the framework of the cooperation agreement between NWO and the British Council applications can be submitted for subsidies for research visits to the UK or for organising joint workshops or seminars with British researchers. The conditions are stated in the brochure. Deadline is 31 January 2008. (visit NWO)

•	Prof. Michael Grossman from the University of Illinois will give a presentation about opportunities for collaboration. Monday 8 October 2007, 16:00 h, Zodiac building (room 80) Marijkeweg 40, Wageningen
•	Presentation on thesis printing PrintPartners Ipskamp is one of the printing companies for printing your thesis. On October 17th they will give more information about how to correctly supply a manuscript for printing by PrintPartners Ipskamp 17 October 2007, 15:00 - 17:00, room C217 (Forumbuilding, Droevendaalsesteeg 2, Wageningen) (e-mail P. den Hertog)
•	Wageningen UR @ Latin America The Wageningen UR Latin America office was inaugurated last May and is now fully operational. Peter Zuurbier and Jos van de Vooren invite Wageningen UR colleagues for a presentation of relevant developments in Latin America, their strategy and benefits for Wageningen UR. Tuesday 16 October, 15.30 h, WUR administration centre (WUR Building 400, Costerweg 50)
•	3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis Prague, 7-9 November, 2007 (visit IAEAC)
•	Het element 'Het Element 2007' is a national meeting for professionals and students with an interest in molecular sciences and innovation and is organised by the Royal Dutch Chemical Society and C2W. 8 November 2007, Delft (visit Het element)
•	Genomics Momentum 2007 This annual event of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative brings together the genomics network in the Netherlands, to offer insight in and discuss the latest developments in R&D in academia, industry and society. 28 November 2007
•	Genomics Researchers Event 2007 Science is all about people. That's why GRE2007 addresses issues - besides science itself - important to those working in science, especially early career researchers. Career development, professional networks, communication, ethical aspects of science and the valorisation of research results are examples of topics important to scientists that are however, seldom discussed at scientific meetings. Genomics Researchers Event 2007 aims to fill this gap by providing a high level, all-round programme specifically geared to the needs of early career genomics researchers. 29 November 2007 (visit GRE2007)
•	NWO-Talent Classes Your chance to get professional training and advice. Registration for the last two Master classes will start in September on first comes first serves basis. 4 December, 2007 (visit NWO)
•	Bio Career Event This fourth edition of the Bio Career Event will take place in the Amsterdam RAI. This unique network & recruitment event brings talent in the Life Sciences in touch with future employers, recruitment agencies, training agencies and other parties that play an important role in their career development. 21 May, 2008 (visit Bio Career Event)