This is the last issue of VLAG FLASH in 2007, a productive year in which MidTerm Review took place, we reached a record number of PhD defences (81), published VLAG Current Research, and organised many courses. In addition a big Wageningen Graduate Schools PhD party took place.
For the PhD fellows it is the time of the year to plan the course schedule for the next year. Therefore we would like to ask your special attention for the courses Food Enzymology (11-13 February) and Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology, and for the symposium Pectins & Pectinases (21-23 April). Please register ASAP.
We wish you a nice Sinterklaas, a merry Christmas and a wonderful 2008!

The deadline for submitting information for the 13th VLAG FLASH is 29 January 2008.

Next VLAG Board meeting will take place on Monday, 11 February 2008, starting at 14:00 hrs.
During this meeting special attention will be paid to the medium-term strategy between now and mid 2009, when External Peer Review and submission of request for reaccreditation of the graduate school will take place. This strategy debate, based upon the recommendation of VLAG International Advisory Board, aims at identifying opportunities for the enhancement of the School's performance in coming years.

64th meeting of VLAG Contact Persons will take place on 7 April 2008 starting at 15:00 hrs in the lecture room 63 in Biotechnion (WUR building 307).

Wageningen Graduate Schools have agreed to collaborate where needed and synchronise where useful the processes surrounding external evaluation of the schools which is on the agenda in 2009. The intention is to organise the meeting of the External Review Committee in the period between 15 and 19 June 2009. Currently VLAG management team is defining the list of potential reviewers based upon the lists of peers submitted by research groups affiliated with VLAG.

•	Food enzymology - 3rd edition 11 - 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.
•	Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology - 3rd edition February and March 2008, Wageningen In February and March 2008 VLAG will organise the third edition of the 'Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology' course. This course will include hands-on dealings with ethical, philosophical, and societal issues surrounding science. The discussion with the guest scientists from various VLAG disciplines is based upon relevant actual cases from the realm of food technology, biotechnology, nutrition and health. The goal of this discussion series is to spark educated discussions on various facets of science and about the responsibilities of being a scientist. The course is conceptualised and guided by four ethicists/philosophers: Prof. Frans Brom, Prof. Bart Gremmen, Dr. Josette Jacobs and Prof. Michiel Korthals. From now on this course will be organised under the wing of Wageningen Graduate Schools.
•	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.
•	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.
•	Pectins and pectinases symposium - 3rd edition 21 - 23 April 2008, Wageningen This symposium will provide an up-to-date insight into the research on pectin and pectic enzymes involved in their biosynthesis, degradation, modification or utilization. It will function as a 'state of the art' podium for both beginners and experts working in all disciplines of pectin research.
•	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 23 - 27 June 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.

• 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, 11:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. J.A. van den Berg, Dr. P.J. Schaap, Dr. J.J.M. Vervoort • T. Kilkens (Tessa) 'Serotonin and integrated brain-gut function in irritable bowel syndrome. 07-12-2007, Maastricht Prof. A. Honig, Prof. R.J. Brummer • H. Wu (Hao) Structural and functional analysis of Eukaryal-like proteins from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus 10-12-2007, Wageningen Prof. J. van der Oost, Prof. W.M. de Vos, Prof. Z. Rao • G. Sala (Guido) Food gels filled with emulsion droplets. Linking large deformation properties to sensory perception. 11-12-2007, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Dr. G.A. van Aken, Dr. F. van de Velde • K. Vanschoonbeek (Kristof) Haemostatic variation in subjects with atherothrombotic risk: modulation by dietary fish oil. 13-12-2007, Maastricht Prof. W.H.M. Saris, Prof. C. Kluft, Dr. J.W.M. Heemskerk • S.F.E. Praet (Stephan) Exercise therapy in Type 2 Diabetes. 14-12-2007, Maastricht Prof. H. Kuipers, Dr. L.J.C. van Loon • L.N. Kwak (Lydia) The NHF-NRG In Balance Project; development, implementation and evaluation of a weight gain prevention programme. 14-12-2007, Maastricht Prof. J. Brug, Dr. M.A. van Baak, Dr. S.P.J. Kremers • 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, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. H. Gruppen, Dr. L.A.M. van den Broek, Dr. S.J. Koppelman

• L.C. Wilms (Lonneke) Evaluation of antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of quercetin in humans, in vitro and ex vivo. 20-12-2007, Maastricht Prof. J.C.S. Kleinjans • G.J. Coenen (Gerd-Jan) Structural characterization of native pectins. 21-12-2007, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. A.G.J. Voragen, Dr. H.A. Schols • M.M.W. Wels (Michiel) Unraveling the regulatory network of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. 07-01-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Prof. R.J. Siezen, Prof. M. Kleerebezem • M.J. Tijhuis (Mariken) Fruits and vegetables, detoxification genes and intermediate endpoints in colorectal cancer prevention. 10-01-2008, Wageningen Prof. F.J. Kok, Dr. E. Kampman, Dr. J.M.M.J.G. Aarts • M.J.A. Stevens (Marc) Transcriptome response of Lactobacillus plantarum to global regulator deficiency, stress and other environmental conditions. 11-01-2008, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Prof. M. Kleerebezem, Dr. D. Molenaar • R.H.W. Maas (Ronald) Microbial conversion of lignocellulose-derived carbohydrates into bioethanol and lactic acid. 16-01-2008, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. G. Eggink, Dr. R.A. Weusthuis • M.C. Busstra (Cora) Design and evaluation of digital learning material for academic education in human nutrition. 29-01-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. P. van 't Veer, Prof. M. Müller, Drs. R.J.M. Hartog • E. Silletti (Erika) When emulsions meet saliva: a physical-chemical, biochemical and sensory study. 01-02-2008, Wageningen Prof. W. Norde, Dr. G.A. van Aken, Dr. M. Vingerhoeds • G.C.H. Rodenburg (Wendy) Transcriptome analysis of the challenged gut barrier in rats: mucosal response to Salmonella and Fructo-oligosaccharides. 05-02-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.B. Katan, Dr. I.M.J. Bovee-Oudenhoven, Dr. J. Keijer • H.B.A. Wegkamp (Arno) Modulation of folate production in lactic acid bacteria. 08-02-2008, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Dr. E.J. Smid • D.M. Dresselhuis (Diane) The fate of fat: tribology, adhesion and fat perception of food emulsions. 22-02-2008, 13:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Dr. G.A. van Aken, Dr. E.H.A. de Hoog

13 - 27 October 2007
Last autumn a group of 27 PhD students visited the North-Eastern part of the United States. The scientific programme consisted of interactive symposia, lectures from keynote speakers from the Division as well as from the hosting research groups, and oral and poster presentations of the current research of the Division. read more

11 - 28 May 2008
PhD students from the Food and Bioprocess Engineering Group are organising a PhD-trip to Japan. They will be visiting for example the Universities of Tokyo, Tsukuba, Kyoto, and Osaka; the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and the National Food Research Institute; and companies such as Kikkoman and Suntory. The research themes of these groups and companies all have parallels with research carried out at Food and Bioprocess Engineering.

20 June - 5 July 2008
15 PhD students from the Laboratory of Food Microbiology will go on a PhD trip to Canada. Toronto, Guelph, London, Ottawa and Montreal will be visited. The aim of this trip is to gain knowledge about research and applications in the field of food microbiology at an international level. (visit FHM)

11-26 October 2008
The PhD students of Food Chemistry are organising their PhD tour to China. As they are still planning no details are available yet.

•	Techniques for Writing and Presenting a Scientific Paper - 11 December (visit WGS)
•	Scientific Writing - 17 January (visit Centa)
•	Project- and Time Management - 22 January (visit WGS)
•	Long-term dynamics of food and human development - 15 February (visit WGS)
•	PhD Competence Assessment - 19 February (visit WGS)
•	Ethics and the public role of life scientists - 5 March (visit WGS)
•	Communication in Interdisciplinary Research - 6 May (visit WGS)

•	Heineken Prizes 2008 The scientific Heineken Prizes ($150,000 each) recognise and reward unique achievement in the fields of biochemistry and biophysics, medicine, environmental sciences, history and cognitive science. Deadline is 1 January 2008. (visit KNAW)
•	NIH Research related to genomics, incl. analysis of genome structure and function, genetic variation, population genomics and ethical, legal and social implications. Deadlines are 7 January, 7 May, 7 September 2008. (visit NIH)
•	The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Clinical investigations grants, innovative grants and research grants, varying from $110.000 for 1 year to $660.000 for 5 years. Deadline is 15 January 2008. (visit JDRF)
•	CAS-KNAW Joint PhD Training Programme The aim of the CAS-KNAW Joint PhD Training Programme is to offer the possibility of joint PhD training, to excellent Chinese PhD and also to Dutch PhD students, within the context of proven successful joint research projects between CAS Institutes and Netherlands universities or research institutes. Deadline is 21 January 2008. (visit KNAW)
•	Blaise Pascal International Research Chairs For renowned scientists who like to work for one year in France. Research fields are: exact or applied sciences, natural, health and ageing sciences, environmental sciences, new technologies, human and social siences. Deadline is 28 January 2008. (visit Chaires Blaise Pascal)
•	British Council and Platform Bèta Techniek Within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the British Council and Platform Bèta Techniek applications can be submitted for subsidies for research visits to the UK or for organising joint workshops or seminars with British researchers. Deadlines are 14 March and 15 August 2008. (visit British Council)

•	Workshop Nutrient Sensing A programme and a request to register will follow in due time. Wageningen, 14 January, 2008 from 10.00 - 14.00 (visit TIFN)
•	NWO-Talent Days Your chance to get professional training and advice in other than technical skills. Registration will start on 6 December 2007 on first comes first serves basis. 18 March, 2008 (visit NWO)
•	NWO-Talent Classes A Talent Class is an extensive workshop, based on the Talent Day. In 2008 the following dates are planned for the Talent Classes: 22 April, 20 May, 17 June, 23 September, 4 November and 9 December. Registration for the first three Talent Classes in 2008 is possible from 17 December 2007 onwards. (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)