The beginning of a New Year is a time for ambitious resolutions and Graduate school VLAG is no exception to the rule. With External Peer Review and reaccreditation scheduled for mid 2009 there is a lot to be done. In this context we would like to draw your attention to the annual research inventory (onderzoeksinventarisatie). In February Eva Oudshoorn will contact designated contact persons on this issue.
Scientific achievements of a few VLAG scientists were rewarded in January. We would like to congratulate Dr. Edith Feskens, Dr. Ellen Kampman and Dr. Tinka Murk with their personal professor appointments and Prof. Harry Gruppen with his full professor appointment.

If you are interested in the following courses please register ASAP:

•	Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology (6 sessions in February & March)
•	Food Fermentation (14-17 April) and the symposium
•	Pectins & Pectinases (21-23 April)

The deadline for submitting information for the 14th VLAG FLASH is 25 March 2008.

Next VLAG Board meeting will take place on Monday, 11 February 2008, starting at 14:00 hrs in the lecture room 55 in Biotechnion (WUR building 307).
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.

Next meeting of VLAG Contact Persons will take place on Monday, 7 April 2008, starting at 15:00 hrs in the lecture room 63 in Biotechnion (WUR building 307).
We have invited Dr. Huug de Vries (Manager Food Technology Centre at AFSG) as a guest speaker. His presentation about NovelQ and especially Training and Career Development within the project will start at 16:15 hrs.
For more information please visit http://www.novelq.org/
If interested in joining the presentation please contact Vesna.Prsic@wur.nl.

Harry Gruppen new professor of Food Chemistry
Wageningen University has appointed prof. dr.ir. Harry Gruppen as full professor in Food Chemistry holding the chair of the Laboratory of Food Chemistry starting 1 January 2008. He is succeeding Prof.dr.ir. Fons Voragen who will retire on March 1st.
Harry Gruppen held the position of Personal Professor in Food Chemistry since January 2005.
Harry Gruppen was trained in Food Technology at Wageningen University. After a number of years in food industry he returned to Wageningen University, received his PhD degree with honours at in 1992 on the topic of cell wall biochemistry, and followed an academic career since then. Professor Gruppen has supervised numerous students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers within the area of protein biochemistry and phytonutrients. He is the co-author of more than 120 scientific publications, editor of a number of scientific journals and member of the Board of the Educational Institute (OWI) of Wageningen University as well as member of the Management team of VLAG.
The research of the Food Chemistry group will continue to be oriented towards biochemical conversions of food polysaccharides, proteins and phytonutrients. Focus will shift towards (oral) digestion and fermentation of these components, including the effects of mutual interactions between these food components on digestion processes. Other new challenges are the quantification of biochemical processes in complex mixtures/matrices and the design of new biochemical tools for the integral conversion of raw materials for food and non-food applications (biorefinery).

Three new personal professors
Wageningen University has appointed nutritionist Dr Ellen Kampman, epidemiologist Dr Edith Feskens and toxicologist Dr Tinka Murk Personal Professors starting 1 January 2008.
This title, specific to Wageningen University, is granted annually for a period of five years to the top few percent of the tenured faculty staff based on their outstanding scientific performance.

•	Ellen Kampman was trained in Human Nutrition at Wageningen University. She got her PhD degree at Maastricht University in 1993. Experience with Cancer Epidemiology was gained at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Middle Netherlands, TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Harvard School of Public Health Boston and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Her scientific work at Wageningen University is concentrated on the role of diet, other lifestyle factors and diet-gene interactions in the etiology of colorectal cancer and other gastro-intestinal disorders. Dr. Kampman is co-director of the European Nutrition Leadership Program and senior editor of the American journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
•	Edith Feskens was trained in Human Nutrition at Wageningen University. She got her PhD degree at Leiden University in 1991. Before coming back to Wageningen in 2005 Dr. Feskens worked at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Her expertise fields are epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, overweight, metabolic syndrome and diabetes type 2. Dr. Feskens is a member of various committees of the Dutch Health Council, and member of the Scientific Advisory Council of ILSI Europe. She is research line leader in two FP-6 EU projects, InterAct (diet, genes and diabetes) and Diogenes (diet, genes and obesity), TIFN expert, and involved in several cohort and intervention studies, also in other countries such as China and Vietnam. Dr. Feskens is the co-author of 190 peer reviewed scientific publications and currently supervises 11 PhD students.
•	Tinka Murk got her PhD degree in Environmental Toxicology at Wageningen University in 1997. She is author/co-author of 150 scientific publications and ranks within 1% of most cited scientists. Her expertise field includes toxic effects of low levels of contaminants and mixtures of contaminants on the endocrine function and early development of man and wildlife species, marine environmental toxicology, food chain related environmental contaminants, and development of functional in vitro and in vivo bio-assays. She is member of the scientific board of Wageningen-IMARES.

NUTRIM has a new PhD students coordinator
Dr Roger Godschalk, Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology at Maastricht University, is the new PhD students co-ordinator at NUTRIM. He took over the position from Dr. Matthijs Hesselink who became the chairman of Physical Activity and Health Sciences department at Maastricht University.
Within this function he will help organise the 20th VLAG PhD week which will take place in October 2008 in the south of the country.

•	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 The goal of this discussion series is to spark educated discussions on various facets of science and about the responsibilities of being a scientist. To register send an e-mail to Vesna.Prsic@wur.nl as soon as possible but not later than 4th February.
•	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 - 17 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.

• E. Silletti (Erika) When emulsions meet saliva: a physical-chemical, biochemical and sensory study. 01-02-2008, 13:30 hrs, 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, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Dr. E.J. Smid • N.H. van Nieuwenhuijzen (Neleke) Molecular mobility in crispy bread crust. 15-02-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. R.J. Hamer, Dr. T. van Vliet, Dr. R.H. Tromp • D.M. Dresselhuis (Diane) The fate of fat: tribology, adhesion and fat perception of food emulsions. 22-02-2008, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Dr. G.A. van Aken, Dr. E.H.A. de Hoog • A.L.J. van der Velden (Jos) GSK-3B: central regulator of skeletal muscle plasticity. 28-02-2008, 14:00 hrs, Maastricht Prof. A.M.W.J. Schols, Dr. R.C.J. Langen

• J.W.E. Jocken (Johan) The lipolytic pathway in the obese insulin resistant state. 29-02-2008, 14:00 hrs, Maastricht Prof. W.H.M. Saris, Prof. E.E. Blaak • P.L.G. Weijzen (Pascalle) Dynamics of food choice and sensory specific satiety. 07-03-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. C. de Graaf, Dr. G.B. Dijksterhuis • M. van der Voort (Menno) Fine tuning of the Bacillus cereus stress response: role of transcriptional regulators. 20-03-2008, 11:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. T. Abee, Prof. W.M. de Vos • D. Mendola (Dominick) 09-04-2008, Wageningen Prof. R.H. Wijffels, Prof. J.L. van Leeuwen • L.M. Serrano Davalos (Mariela) Oxidative stress response in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1: a functional genomics approach. 18-04-2008, 11:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Dr. E.J. Smid • J.M. Lambert (Jolanda) Bile salt hydrolase in Lactobacillus plantarum: functional analysis and delivery to the intestinal tract of the host. 18-04-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Prof. M. Kleerebezem

The next VLAG PhD council meeting is scheduled for 13 February 2008, at 16:00 hrs in the Biotechnion canteen.
The council is looking for a new chair person who represents the PhD students and provides important input during the meetings of VLAG Board and VLAG International Advisory Board.
If you are interested in this function, please contact Bart de Koning (Bart.deKoning@wur.nl) for more information.

On 20 February there will be an introductory lunch for all Wageningen based PhD students who started recently. The lunch is from 12:30-13:30 hrs in the Blauwe Zaal (Biotechnion).
Please send an e-mail to Yvonne Smolders (Yvonne.Smolders@wur.nl) if you would like to join this lunch.

•	Career Assessment - February (visit WGS)
•	Analysing Farming Systems and Rural Livelihoods in a Changing World: Vulnerability and Adaptation - 10 February (visit WGS)
•	Long-term dynamics of food and human development - 15 February (visit WGS)
•	Information Literacy, including Introduction Endnote - 18 February (visit WGS)
•	Scientific Writing - 18 February (visit Centa)
•	Ethics and the public role of life scientists - 5 March (visit WGS)
•	Project- and Time Management - 18 March (visit WGS)
•	Ethics and Philosophy of Animal Science - 20 March (visit WGS)
•	Career Perspectives - 26 March (visit WGS)
•	PhD Competence Assessment - 22 April (visit WGS)
•	Communication in Interdisciplinary Research - 6 May (visit WGS)
•	Career Orientation - 16 May (visit WGS)
•	Interpersonal Communication for PhD students - 27 October (visit WGS)

•	KP7 ICT Calls for Information technology are open. For example for: NoE's, Collaboritive Projects, Integrating Projects, Coördination and Suppoprt Actions. Deadline is 8 April 2008. (visit CORDIS)
•	More Women Researchers as University Lecturers (MEERVOUD) The MEERVOUD programme aims to help women postdocs become university lecturers by creating temporary (part-time) lecturer positions (or similar positions in institutes), with the added guarantee of obtaining a (different) scientific position within their research institution. Deadline is 6 May 2008. (visit NWO)
•	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 May and 7 September 2008. (visit NIH)
•	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)

•	Colloquia Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Sciences Every week, usually on Wednesday, the laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Sciences organises colloquia. read more
•	C2W Career Expo The Career expo for Bachelors, Masters en PhD students in chemistry, chemical technology, life sciences or related background. 2 April 2008, Jaarbeurs Utrecht (visit C2W Career Expo)
•	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 still possible. (visit NWO)
•	Course Stereology: Sampling and Measurement of 3D Structures Tune Course Centre and University of Copenhagen, May 6-9, 2008 This course presents theory and practical techniques of stereology for obtaining reliable quantitative data from samples of 3D heterogeneous structures. The focus is on applications in food, plant and soil sciences, agriculture, horticulture and biosystems engineering. (visit University of Copenhagen)
•	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)
•	NWO-Talent Days NWO organises another Talent Day in the Autumn of 2008. Registration will open before summer. Check the website regularly for more information (visit NWO)