Safety and Processing Stability in Indonesian Smallholder Dairy Systems
KU Leuven, Belgium
- Institution
- KU Leuven
- Country
- Belgium
- Subject area
- Agriculture & Food Science
- Application deadline
- 12 October 2026
- Location
- Leuven, Belgium
- Funding
- Fully funded position
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About this position
About VLIRUOS
As the operational agency of the Flemish rectors’ conference (Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad - VLIR), VLIRUOS is the leading funding body for scholarships and for partnerships between academics from Flanders and partner institutions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, focused on global sustainable development.
About SAFE-ID
The VLIRUOS TEAM project SAFE-ID (Enhancing Milk Safety and Processing Stability in Indonesian Smallholder Dairy Systems through in vitro-in silico Data Integration) drives a long-lasting shift in Indonesian smallholder dairy systems by improving hygiene, processing stability, and data-driven quality management. By integrating combined in vitro-in silico PhD level research focusing on microbial interventions, climate-resilient processing strategies and predictive modelling, SAFE-ID will eventually help farmers and cooperatives deliver consistently safer, higher-quality milk, yogurt, and cheese despite tropical climate and infrastructure challenges.
In the SAFE-ID project, 3 universities join forces to realize its objectives via 2 PhD level positions: KU Leuven/BioTeC+ is collaborating with Indonesian partner universities UNIMUS-Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang and UNDIP-Universitas Diponegoro.
About KU Leuven/BioTeC+ (Campus Gent, Belgium)
The vision of BioTeC+ (Chemical & Biochemical Process Technology & Control) (PI: Prof. Jan F.M. Van Impe) is to consolidate and strengthen both its international research position and its societal impact by focusing on a carefully selected number of research areas and
application domains in applied chemistry/chemical and biological process engineering.
At present, these application domains can be characterized by the keywords industrial biotechnology, closing the waste/water cycle, and public health. These constitute the pillars (columns) (bio)chemical reactions & reactors, (biological) waste(-water) treatment systems, and predictive microbiology/microbial risk assessment within BioTeC+’s research matrix. This broad range of application domains is supported by our long standing systemic (systems and control) approach towards applied chemistry/chemical and biological process engineering. The research areas (i) systems theory and analysis, systems biology, process model identification (including optimal experimental design), (ii) process monitoring, and (iii) optimization and model based control characterize the transversal rows in the research matrix. These rows constitute the longstanding fundament of BioTeC+’s research covering and underpinning all application domains (pillars).
KU Leuven/BioTeC+ runs a state-of-the-art L2 accredited laboratory for experimental predictive microbiology research, as well as high end computing facilities. Our 4 postdocs and 14 PhD researchers are involved in numerous (inter)national research projects and networks, including 6 ongoing EU projects.
Full details: https://cit.kuleuven.be/biotec/
About UNIMUS-Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (Central Java, Indonesia)
Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (UNIMUS) brings expertise in milk microbiology and hygiene interventions, supported by well-equipped biomedical and microbiology laboratories. Proficiency in pathogen detection, antimicrobial testing, and biofilm research, provides reproducible, locally relevant microbiological data to guide cooperative milk collection and handling. UNIMUS addresses critical gaps in farm-level microbial risk assessment and hygiene innovation, while building laboratory training capacity.
About UNDIP-Universitas Diponegoro (Central Java, Indonesia)
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) complements this with strengths in milk production, dairy processing, and value-chain implementation. Its Department of Animal Science and Dairy Research Unit operates a teaching farm, milk laboratories, and food technology facilities, with established farmer engagement across Central Java. UNDIP translates microbiological insights into improved processing stability, fermentation standardization, and quality control for yogurt and fresh cheese, leveraging expertise in animal nutrition, lactation physiology, and smallholder systems.
SAFE-ID strengthens institutional capacity by combining UNIMUS’s microbiology excellence with UNDIP’s applied dairy and cooperative engagement. Joint experimental design, shared protocols, predictive modelling, and collaborative PhD supervision enhance research quality and translational impact. Embedding interventions within teaching farms and cooperative networks ensures locally applied innovation.
About the Consortium KU Leuven/BioTeC+ - UNIMUS - UNDIP
The 3 universities involved already collaborate within the context of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building Project CBHE - FIND4S ("find force"): Enhancing Higher Education Capacity for Sustainable Data Driven Food Systems in INDonesia.
Full details: https://cit.kuleuven.be/biotec/find4s
Website unit
Project
Indonesia’s smallholder dairy sector faces persistent challenges in raw milk hygiene, microbial safety, quality consistency, and processing stability. In Central Java, including Semarang, milk is mostly produced by small-scale farmers under tropical conditions, often without adequate cooling, rapid transport, or hygienic milk-contact surfaces. Total plate counts frequently exceed national standards, accelerating spoilage, lowering processing yields, and causing high rejection rates during hotter months, undermining food safety, cooperative efficiency, and smallholder income.
Processing challenges compound these losses. High microbial loads reduce pasteurization safety margins and destabilize fermented products such as yogurt and fresh cheese. Inconsistent starter performance, contamination during handling, and temperature fluctuations result in short shelf life (often less than 5-7 days), post-acidification defects, and variable texture. Yield variability limits cooperatives’ ability to scale higher-value products and weakens competitiveness. Women engaged in milk handling and rural youth often have limited access to training, infrastructure, and innovation, reinforcing inequalities and highlighting the need for a Leave No One Behind (LNOB) approach.
The SAFE-ID project supports a long-lasting shift in Indonesian smallholder dairy systems by improving hygiene, processing stability, and data-informed quality management. By reducing spoilage, strengthening milk safety, and promoting climate-resilient practices, it enables farmers and cooperatives to deliver higher-quality milk and dairy products despite tropical and infrastructure constraints. It directly contributes toSDG2, SDG12 and SDG9, and links to SDG3, SDG13 and SDG5. Through a Leave No One Behind approach, SAFE-ID promotes equitable access for women and rural youth to training, infrastructure, and innovation, strengthening inclusive participation and economic empowerment.
Impact occurs at multiple levels. Farmers gain practical tools to increase milk value and reduce losses. Cooperatives and processors benefit from more stable, standardized quality systems, improving competitiveness. Consumers access safer dairy products, while validated practices will inform provincial guidelines and extension programmes, enabling scale-up beyond pilot sites.
By embedding predictive modelling, antimicrobial surface strategies, and processing standardization within university laboratories, teaching farms, and cooperative networks, solutions remain locally grounded and institutionally anchored. Collaboration between universities, cooperatives, industry, and governmental bodies supports sustained innovation, safer food systems, stronger rural livelihoods, and more resilient dairy value chains aligned with Agenda 2030.
The SAFE-ID project integrates experimental research, predictive modelling, doctoral training, and structured stakeholder engagement to improve milk hygiene, safety, and processing stability in Indonesian smallholder dairy systems. Two complementary PhDs form the scientific/technological backbone, jointly addressing microbial contamination and physicochemical variability as interconnected drivers of quality loss.
- PhD1 (KU Leuven - UNIMUS) "Development of Antimicrobial Milk-Contact Surfaces and Predictive Models to Improve Raw Milk Safety in Tropical Smallholder Dairy Systems" develops chitosan-based antimicrobial and anti-biofilm milk-contact surfaces, and models microbial (de-)contamination dynamics under tropical conditions. Work includes biofilm assays, microbial growth/inactivation kinetics, contamination pathway mapping, and hygiene protocol evaluation.
- PhD2 (KU Leuven - UNDIP) "Improving Dairy Processing Stability through Experimental Dairy Science and Predictive Process Modelling in Tropical Climate" analyses raw milk physicochemical variability and its impact on pasteurization, fermentation, coagulation, and shelf-life. Controlled processing trials generate datasets to model processing performance enabling model based optimization.
Profile
PhD1 (KU Leuven - UNIMUS) "Antimicrobial Milk-Contact Surfaces for Raw Milk Safety" will:
- Develop biodegradable antimicrobial milk-contact coatings (e.g., chitosan-based systems),
- Investigate bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on dairy equipment,
- Evaluate antimicrobial efficacy against dairy spoilage microorganisms and pathogens,
- Characterize contamination pathways from farm to cooperative,
- Develop predictive microbial growth models under tropical temperature conditions,
- Design practical hygiene recommendations for smallholder dairy cooperative.
- Novel antimicrobial milk-contact materials,
- Predictive microbial contamination models,
- Scientific publications in high-impact journals,
- Practical hygiene protocols for Indonesian dairy cooperatives,
- Decision-support tools for safer milk handling.
- Characterize microbial and physicochemical variation in raw milk from Indonesian dairy cooperatives,
- Evaluate effects of milk composition on pasteurisation performance,
- Study fermentation kinetics for yoghurt production,
- Investigate coagulation behaviour for fresh cheese manufacture,
- Assess product shelf-life and quality stability,
- Develop predictive models linking raw milk quality with processing performance,
- Establish intake quality standards for dairy cooperatives.
- Models predicting dairy processing performance,
- Improved milk intake criteria,
- Optimized processing protocols,
- Scientific publications,
- Practical decision-support tools for dairy cooperatives and processors.
We seek 2 highly motivated candidates with a background in food science & technology, (bio)chemical engineering, biotechnology, microbiology or a related field. The ideal candidates will possess:
- A master’s degree, with an excellent academic record,
- Interest in food processing, food microbiology, and food safety and quality,
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, collaborative spirit and innovative thinking,
- Experience with relevant lab-scale experimentation, data processing and scientific writing is a plus.
Language proficiency: Minimum B2 English (written/spoken). Non-native speakers must provide proof of competency.
Offer
- 4-year PhD programme (KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School), pending a positive evaluation by the doctoral committee at the end of the first year;
- Successful candidates will perform full-time research for 36 months in UNIMUS (PhD1) or UNDIP (PhD2), while completing 2 secondments of 6 months at KU Leuven/BioTeC+ in Gent, Belgium;
- Remuneration according to VLIRUOS SAFE-ID project budget;
- Supervision by leading experts at KU Leuven, UNIMUS and UNDIP;
- Dynamic research environments in Belgium and Indonesia;
- Opportunities to present at international conferences and publish in high ranking peer reviewed journals.
- A cover letter outlining relevant experience and motivation for applying to either PhD1 or PhD2,
- A 3-page project proposal for the PhD position of their choice, outlining their interpretation of this call and detailing a project they would work on throughout the duration of their doctoral studies,
- Proof of language proficiency, and
- Contact details of 2 referees.
KU Leuven/BioTeC+
Erasmus+/FIND4S
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jan Van Impe, mail: [email protected] and Dr. ir. Monika Polanska, mail: [email protected].
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Go to the official application page →Applications close 12 October 2026.