PhD in Agricultural Sciences at KU LEUVEN (Belgium)

Key details

• Host institution: KU LEUVEN
• Location: KU LEUVEN, Geel, Belgium
• Application deadline: July 15, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Apply by email to [email protected] (subject line and attachments per the official instructions).
• Full vacancy text and updates: Euraxess listing.

About the position

PhD Position in Optical Sensor Technology for Dairy Health Monitoring

Worldwide, dairy production is an important segment of agricultural production, representing about 10% of the total market value. Over the last 50 years, the average milk production per cow and lactation has increased enormously as a result of genetic selection and improved feed and management practices in dairy farming. However, due to the intense focus on high milk production, modern dairy cows are prone to production-related disorders. As the production of milk is a dominant factor in the metabolism of dairy cows, involving a very intense interaction with the blood circulation, the extracted milk contains valuable information on the metabolic status of the cow. Therefore, regular analysis of the produced milk is considered the most efficient way to monitor cow health.

Today, online measurements of milk production, conductivity, and color are already common practice in dairy farming. Nevertheless, these milk parameters are influenced by many factors next to the health status of the cow. For this reason, there is a need for monitoring parameters that have a more direct link with the cow’s health. The formation of milk components, such as milk fat, protein, and lactose, is the immediate result of the cow’s feed uptake and metabolic status, as well as the health of the milk-producing cells in the udder. As a result, regular analysis of the basic milk components for each individual cow can give valuable information on its udder health and metabolic and nutritional status.

In this project, an optical sensor prototype will be designed and built based on miniature spectrometers with the aim to measure milk quality. This sensor technology will be implemented in automatic milking systems to monitor the milk quality at the level of individual mammary glands. This will allow for the elimination of systemic effects of the animals through inter-quarter comparison, supporting a high-performance warning system for identifying mastitis. Furthermore, the robustness of the sensor will be evaluated and improved by applying different multivariate calibration strategies and machine learning approaches. Finally, the variation of the sensor measurements will be studied in relation to the cow’s health and combined with advanced data-processing techniques to obtain a robust early-warning system.

To perform this active, practice-oriented research, the Livestock Technology group of KU Leuven is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate.

Requirements

• Hold an MSc degree (with minimal distinction) in biosciences, bioscience-engineering, engineering (technology), or equivalent
• Are eager to perform research on the crossroads of bioscience, engineering, and precision farming
• Are a hands-on engineer with a creative, critical, analytical, and innovative mindset
• Have good oral and written communication skills in English
• Are eager to work in a multidisciplinary and diverse team of national and international researchers and learn and explore innovative technologies
• Have a strong interest in sensor technology, data processing, and scientific research
• Are interested in building a career in sensor technology and data science

Experience with scientific data-processing software (such as Matlab, Python, R, C, Labview, or equal) is a plus, as well as experience with statistics and chemometrics and interest in dairy farming.

You are not eligible for this position if you don’t hold a MSc degree with minimal distinction and obtained in the last 3 years at a university in the European Economic Area (EEA).

We Offer

We offer a fulltime PhD position with competitive salary for 4 years, preferably starting on the 1st September 2026. Our young, dynamic, and multidisciplinary team will support you in all aspects to successfully obtain a PhD degree and proper scientific training at a top-ranked university, with excellent education and learning opportunities.

You will work closely together with the research center for dairy production “Hooibeekhoeve” and the milking technology industry. You will have opportunities to participate in national and international meetings, establish your own network, and gain experience in transferal skills.

Contact

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Ben Aernouts, mail: [email protected].