The setup of the VLAG Thematic Meetings has been rethought.
These meetings are now primarily intended to communicate the advancements within the PhD projects financed by VLAG and to catalyse possible follow-up projects.
The first VLAG Thematic Meeting 'new style' is on the subject of:

•	NMR and MRI Applications in Food Systems Wednesday, 1 October 2008, 13.00 - 17:00 h, Wageningen

The 20th edition of the VLAG PhD-week taking place in October 2008 is organised by NUTRIM.
We have introduced an online registration system for this event. It worked very well and this edition of the course is fully booked. Registration for the 21st edition of the course will be open in December 2008.

The deadline for submitting information for the 18th VLAG FLASH is 11 November 2008.

The next meeting of the VLAG Contact Persons will take place on Monday, 24 November 2008 starting at 15:30 hrs in the lecture room 63 in Biotechnion (WUR building 307).
We have invited Dr. Frans Kampers, Director of BioNT (Wageningen Bionanotechnology Centre for Food and Health Innovations), as a guest speaker. His presentation about the Centre for Advanced Technology in Agro-Food will start at 16:30 hrs.
If interested in joining the presentation please contact Vesna.Prsic@wur.nl.

The 5th meeting of the VLAG IAB took place on September 3rd and 4th. The IAB members met the representatives of the VLAG PhD council, Division of Human Nutrition (WU), Food Microbiology (WU) and NUTRIM. The developments since recent evaluations as well as the preparation for the External Peer Review in 2009 were discussed. VLAG strategy document was the focus of the meeting. The resulting IAB advice will be communicated to the VLAG community through the Contact Persons platform, Management Team and VLAG Board.

“Microspectroscopy in Biology” is organised by MicroSpectroscopy Centre Wageningen in the honour of Prof. Ton Visser who received the 2008 Gregorio Weber Award for Excellence in Fluorescence Theory and Applications. He obtained this Award for his significant and original contributions to the advancement and applications of fluorescence techniques.
Wageningen, 24 September 2008
For more information and registration visit the MicroSpectroscopy Centre

Professor Cohen Stuart, the chairman of the Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science group at Wageningen University, received impressive recognition for his renowned research in the area of physical chemistry of soft condensed matter.
On the 8th of September Prof. Cohen Stuart had the honour of being officially admitted to the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (KNAW).
Furthermore Prof. Cohen Stuart will receive the AkzoNobel Science Award in Haarlem on October 1st at the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities. Last year he was awarded the prestigious Wolfgang Ostwald Medal for his work in the field of colloids.
Widely recognized for his extensive theoretical knowledge and ability to convert discoveries into innovations, his work essentially deals with understanding how molecules organise themselves to give materials specific properties, such as softness, elasticity or transparency. Cohen Stuart's work is linked to applications in various fields including nutrition, food, water treatment and coatings manufacture.

•	Advanced Course on Applied Genomics of Industrial Fermentation - 3rd edition 13 - 17 October 2008, Wageningen (organised by BODL) This course aims to familiarize industrial and academic research professionals with the modern concepts of genomics, their use in microbial research and development, and their utility in contemporary biotechnological industry.
•	Proteomics - 2nd edition The course is a 4 days hands-on course with a maximum of 16 participants. Lectures on mass spectrometry and proteomics applications are combined with practical work. Participants can bring their own sample for measuring, using splittless nano-HPLC Orbitrap FTMS. 20 - 23 October 2008, Wageningen
•	A unified approach to mass transfer 3 - 7 November 2008, Delft In this course you will learn a method to describe all mass transfer processes. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.
•	Mini symposium Coffee and Metabolic Syndrome 4 November 2008, Wageningen
•	Epigenesis and epigenetics - Physiological consequences of perinatal programming 24 - 26 November 2008, Wageningen The course is aimed at postgraduates (MSc, PhD) with a background in animal, veterinary, biological, health, or food sciences and open for participants from both industry and universities/research centers. The programme combines knowledge on perinatal programming in humans, laboratory and farm animals, both at the physiological and gene expression level.
•	Hands-on training course in metabolomics 24 - 27 November 2008, Leiden The course will be a combination of lectures and practical sessions focusing on LC-MS data acquisition, data extraction and statistical analysis of large datasets.
•	Systems biology course: Statistics of ~omics data analysis - 4th edition 8 - 11 December 2008, Wageningen This course will focus on the principles underlying processing, analysis and visualisation of large datasets derived from transcriptomics and metabolomics experiments.
•	Nutrient Density of Milk 26 - 28 January 2009, Wageningen The course aims to provide detailed scientific background on the significance of the nutrient density of dairy products in the diet, how the nutrient density can be changed at the different stages of the dairy chain and how the concept of nutrient density can be communicated to health professionals and consumers. The course consists of a series of lectures, several workshops and discussions.
•	Food Hydrocolloids: Fundamentals and Applications - 2nd edition 23 - 26 February 2009, 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. The link above gives information on the previous edition of this course.

• S.J. Rietjens (Saskia) Hydroxytyrosol. A versatile antioxidant from olive oil. 18-09-2008, 12:00 hrs, Maastricht Prof. A. Bast, Dr. G.R.M.M. Haenen • G. Gross (Gabriele) Mannose-specific interactions of Lactobacillus plantarum in the intestine. Bacterial genes, molecular host responses, and potential probiotic effects. 29-09-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A. Smits, Prof. T.A. Niewold, Dr. J. Snel • L. van den Berg-Hladíková (Ladislava) Texture of food gels explained by combining structure and large deformation properties. 03-10-2008, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. E. van der Linden, Prof. M.A.J.S. van Boekel, Dr. F. van de Velde, Dr. T. van Vliet • J.J. Knol (Jeroen) Kinetic modelling of acrylamide formation in aqueous reaction systems and potato crisps. 10-10-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.A.J.S. van Boekel, Dr. J.P.H. Linssen • G.J.E. Baart (Gino) Towards a Neisseria meningitidis B vaccine. Introducing systems biology in process development. 17-10-2008, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. J. Tramper, Dr. D.E. Martens, Dr. E.C. Beuvery • R.M. Winkels (Renate) Dietary folate intake: is there a need for folic acid fortification in the Netherlands? 29-10-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. M.B. Katan, Dr. P. Verhoef, Dr. I.A. Brouwer • R.J.W. Brooijmans (Rob) Electron transport chains of lactic acid bacteria. 10-11-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. W.M. de Vos, Prof. J. Hugenholtz

• S.P.J. Dullens (Stefan) 12-11-2008, 14:00 hrs, Maastricht Prof. R.P. Mensink, Prof. E.C.M. Mariman, Dr. J. Plat • M. Djaeni (Mohamad) Energy efficient multistage zeolite drying fo heat sensitive products. 21-11-2008, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. G. van Straten, Prof. J.P.M. Sanders, Dr. A.J.B. van Boxtel, Dr. P.V. Bartels • A. Pukalskas (Audrius) Isolation, identification and activity of natural oxidants from sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata), costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita) and horehound (Marrubium vulgare) cultivated in Lithuania. 01-12-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. Ae. de Groot, Dr. T.A. van Beek, Dr. J.P.H. Linssen • M. Rosso-Vasic (Milena) Synthesis and photophysics of functionalized silicon nanoparticles. 01-12-2008, 13:30 hrs, Wageningen Prof. H. Zuilhof, Prof. L. De Cola • M.G.R. ter Veld (Marcel) In vivo relevance of in vitro detected estrogenic effects of food associated compounds. 05-12-2008, Wageningen Prof. A.J. Murk, Prof. I.M.C.M. Rietjens • A.M.L. Huijbrechts (Annemarie) Multifunctional starch derivatives: synthesis, characterization and properties. 08-12-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. E.J.R. Sudhölter, Dr. M.C.R. Franssen, Dr. C.G. Boeriu • S. van der Veen (Stijn) Listeria monocytogenes growth limits and stress resistance mechanism. 09-12-2008, 16:00 hrs, Wageningen Prof. T. Abee, Prof. W.M. de Vos, Dr. M.H.J. Wells-Bennik

•	Career Assessment - October (visit WGS)
•	Techniques for Writing and Presenting a Scientific Paper - 14 October (visit WGS)
•	Scientific Writing - 20 October (visit Centa)
•	Career Perspectives - 21 October (visit WGS)
•	Science, the press and the general public: communication and interaction - 23 October (visit WGS)
•	Interpersonal Communication for PhD students - 27 October (visit WGS)
•	Effective behaviour in your professional surroundings - 29 October (visit WGS)
•	Writing Grant Proposals - 3 November (visit CENTA)
•	Scientific Publishing - 5 November (visit WGS)
•	Information Literacy, incl. Introduction Endnote - 11 November (visit WGS)
•	PhD Competence Assessment - 20 November (visit WGS)
•	Project- and Time Management - 13 January (visit WGS)

•	Professional in Supervision - beginning 2009 (visit WGS)

On 1 October 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.

Dr. Mark Boekschoten (WU-Human Nutrition) received the 1st prize in the category ‘communication’ for his poster titled: “Dose-dependent effects of dietary fat on the liver transcriptome in C57BL/6J mice. The third NuGO proof of principle study.”
The award was made available by RBM (Rules Based Medicine) during the 5th European Nutrigenomics Conference (NuGOWeek), 2 -5 September 2008, Potsdam, Germany.

•	Rubicon Rubicon offers researchers who have completed their doctorates in the past year the chance to gain experience at a top research institution outside the Netherlands (maximum of two years). Deadline is 2 December 2008. read more

•	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: 23 September, 4 November and 9 December. Registration for the last three Talent Classes in 2008 is still possible. (visit NWO)
•	EG-Liaison course: How to write a proposal for ERC Starting grant 3 October 2008, Wageningen (view concept programme in pdf)
•	Maternal and Child undernutrition: Challenges and opportunities - symposium and workshop In a half-day symposium Professor Robert Black will present the findings of the Lancet's series on Maternal and Child undernutrition and the global impact of undernutrition. His presentation will be followed by representatives of academia, public and private sector in the Netherlands. The symposium will be followed by a half day scientific workshop on the role of trace-elements in maternal and child nutrition. 8 October 2008, Utrecht
•	Postdoc Retreat: Take charge of your career All Postdocs and last year PhD-students in life sciences, technology and health sciences or related research fields are invited for the retreat. The PCDI Postdoc retreat offers 3 days retreat in which motivational speakers and workshops will provide you the opportunity to discover what drives you in your job as a scientist. They can help you discover which skills you possess and help you improve other skills. Deadline for registration: 1 October 2008 5 - 7 November 2008, Heeze (visit PCDI)
•	MINT/NUTRIM symposium: The X-factor of clinical nutrition: Integration of metabolic and medical perspective This symposium highlights the fascinating development of clinical nutrition during the last decennium and presents new areas for research and implementation. The language is Dutch. 4 December 2008, Maastricht (visit MINT)