PhD in Bioscience Engineering (Animal Or Nutritional Science, Agricultural Science)

This doctoral research is part of a project where collaboration with sector stakeholders (e.g., feed companies) is essential./nSome of the practical work will take place in Merelbeke-Melle at ILVO, and some will be conducted in the NAMES lab at KU Leuven (Heverlee campus)./nThe candidate will therefore be based at two institutions and will be enrolled as a doctoral student at KU Leuven, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering./nDuring this doctoral research project, we aim to promote animal health and welfare without negatively impacting the growth performance by optimizing feed structure (particle size and distribution, and fiber fractions) of pigs and broiler diets./nWe aim to evaluate Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) as an inline method for determining feed structure in pellets./nYou will be based in Leuven (KU Leuven) and in Merelbeke-Melle (ILVO).