VLAG courses and conferences

VLAG Graduate School forms a community of research and post-graduate education in the areas of Biobased, Biomolecular, Food, and Nutrition Sciences. The Graduate School provides a platform for high-quality post-graduate education and professional development of young researchers.

For detailed information please visit VLAG webpage: External knowledge - VLAG Long-term course planning

1. VLAG Scientific courses

The graduate school organises a large number of advanced scientific courses. Topics chosen for these courses are of particular interest to PhD candidates within VLAG, but the courses are also open to external participants.  Some courses are organised annually, but most are organised every two or three years. All courses are in English.

  • Applied Enzymology
    This course provides detailed information on the basic principles of enzymes, their engineering and industrial application. It consists of lectures by experts, a company visit and training in the use of computational enzyme engineering tools.
  • Advanced Organic Chemistry
    Advanced course for WUR PhD candidates
  • Food proteins
    This course provides an overview of the extraction process, chemistry, composition, and structure-function properties of proteins from different sources. Analytical techniques to investigate protein chemistry and functionality will also be thoroughly discussed.
  • Intestinal Microbiome of Humans and Animals
    This course aims to provide a detailed scientific background on the mechanisms that underlie the role of the microbiome in human and animal nutrition and health. The program combines knowledge on microbial composition and function with dietary factors and health aspects in humans, laboratory and farm animals.
  • NanoBioPhysX Course
    This course focuses on PhD candidates working on fundamental topics (experiment or theory) within the crossover field of nanotechnology, biology, physics and chemistry, interested in broadening their academic scope and societal reach. The course aims to: Immerse participants in an interdisciplinary scientific environment and widen their scientific horizon. Foster scientific discussion and develop an interdisciplinary fundamental scientific community. Gain societal outreach experience and improve popular science writing targeted at the general public.
  • Sensory perception & food preference: Health through the senses
    This course is to acquire expertise regarding sensory perception and food preferences; to obtain knowledge and experience in different methods on how to measure (and analyse) these aspects; to connect with other professionals/colleagues in the field.

2. General and statistics courses

General courses deal with various issues relevant for the professional and personal development of PhD candidates.
VLAG organises the following general courses:

  • VLAG PhD week
  • Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology
  • various Statistics courses

VLAG also contributes to the organisation of general/skills courses jointly organised by Wageningen Graduate Schools. For detailed information please visit: https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/

  • Applied Statistics
    Each day consists of lectures and practicals using R. The examples used in the lectures and practicals are based on data provided by researchers of VLAG.
  • Chemometrics
    Each day consists of lectures and practicals using R. Examples of datasets delivered by the course participants in advance will be used in the lectures and practicals when possible.
  • VLAG PhD week
    The aim of the PhD week is to make freshman PhD candidates aware of the importance of the professional skills such as presentation techniques, scientific writing, project management, science ethics, ... in the research arena. Moreover this week aims at network formation within the VLAG PhD community, and getting insight into the wide spectrum of scientific research being carried out within the Graduate School. More at: http://www.vlaggraduateschool.nl/en/courses/General-courses/VLAG-general-courses/VLAG-PhD-week.htm
  • VLAG Midterm event: PhD on track
    The PhD on track event is organised for VLAG PhD candidates at the end of the 2nd year, or start of the 3rd year of their PhD. It revolves around the following questions: - Am I on schedule? - Am I (aware of and) making optimal use of opportunities? - What do we need for life/career after the PhD?
  • Introduction to R
    The aim is to provide an introduction to R, a computer language and environment for statistics and graphics. The course will focus on getting familiar with the R environment by means of RStudio, to use R for manipulation and exploration of data and to perform simple analysis. Basic programming as well as visualization of results in R will also be part of this course.
  • 18 November 2025 - Writing engaging social media posts for researchers
    Tired of “Happy to share…” posts that nobody reads? In this workshop you’ll learn how to write social media posts that people actually notice. You’ll discover how to go beyond paper announcements, write for your audience, and share your research in ways that gets attention and impact.

3. VLAG conferences