PhD scholarship in Extending the Shelf Life of UHT Plant Protein Beverages

PhD scholarship in Extending the Shelf Life of UHT Plant Protein Beverages

The projects seeks to improve the stability and sensory profile of long life beverages rich in plant based protein. This will enhance the industry partners product range and further enable the uptake of plant based protein for tasty and healthy convenience products.

The project aims to improve understanding and overcome the negative effects of the secondary lipid oxidation products and Maillard reaction in UHT plant protein beverages. This may lead to the extension of shelf life of these products furthering export opportunities.

This project will involve the creation of model beverage systems for thorough chemical characterisation via mass spectroscopy based metabolomics, and shelf life studies. These will be mainly performed at the pilot plant and analytical facilities based at RMIT, Bundoora and CSIRO Werribee. The final aim of the research is to develop food safe methods to block the chemical pathways of malodorous/browning reactions in high protein UHT beverages.

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$47,000

Applications are now open.

31/03/2025

1 (one)

The student must: 

a) Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen. 

b) Meet participating university PhD admission requirements. 

c) Meet university English language requirements. 

d) Not have previously completed a PhD. 

e) Be able to commence the Program in the year of the offer. 

f) Enrol as a full-time PhD student. Part-time arrangements may be considered if approved by the supervisory team and in accordance with university policy. 

g) Be prepared to be located at the project location(s) that the host university has approved and, if required, comply with the host university’s external enrolment procedures. 

h) Be prepared to undergo onboarding to CSIRO, which will include passing mandatory government background checks (allow for between 4 to 8 weeks) and complete any other CSIRO requirements.

a) Applicants are required to submit an expression of interest (EOI) following the instructions detailed on RMIT's How to apply web page.

b) The EOI is assessed by the supervisory team and shortlisted applicants are interviewed.

c) The supervisory team nominates a preferred applicant and informs iPhD office.

d) The nominated applicant will be instructed to apply.

e) The application is then assessed by the host university against PhD admission criteria.

f) The university will issue a letter of offer for the program if all conditions have been satisfied.

Contact stefan.kasapis@rmit.edu.au

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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