Thesis title: Supporting a brewing industry in the shift towards sustainable use of brewing spent grain for human consumption

Thesis title: 

Supporting a brewing industry in the shift towards sustainable use of brewing spent grain for human consumption Affiliation: EcoFoodLab, Food Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Quebec City, QC, Canada. Research Fields: Food Science and Technology, Sustainability Supervisor: Pr. Sergey MIKHAYLIN Co-Supervisor: Pr. Laurent BAZINET (Univesité Laval, INAF) Collaborators: Pr. Rozenn Ravallec (Université de Lille, France), Dre Élodie Choque (Université Picardie Jules Verne, Pr. Rémy Lambert (Université Laval, INAF) PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Quebec brewing industry has been growing strongly over the past twenty years, contributing to the economic and socio-cultural development of almost all regions of Quebec. However, beer production is accompanied by the generation of by-products, the main one being spent grain. Currently, spent grain, easily perishable due to its high moisture content, is mostly sent to composting sites or animal feed, which represents costs or low profit for brewers. However, this by-product, rich in nutrients of interest such as proteins and fibers, is an excellent candidate for higher value-added use in human food or even as a health ingredient. In order to address the complex issues related to the sustainable management of brewers’ spent grain, this project aims to study the sustainability of innovative electrodialysis and pulsed electric field technologies in order to valorize brewers’ spent grain in human nutrition and the by-products generated in the production of alternative bioplastics.

Additional Notes / Comments: The candidate should hold a master's degree in food science (or equivalent). Having practical experience in electrodialysis and pulsed electric field technologies is an asset. 

Desired qualities: Academic excellence; motivation, curiosity, autonomy; excellent readiness for interdisciplinary teamwork; good ability to communicate in French and English (oral and written).

Required Documentation

- Motivation letter, 

- Curriculum vitæ

, - Transcripts from undergraduate and post-graduate diplomas, 

- Names, affiliations and contacts of at least 2 reference persons. 

Financial support will be presented in the form of a scholarship.

The project begins in the Autumn 2025 

Contact (e-mail): Sergey.Mikhaylin@fsaa.ulaval.ca

link to Laval University Ph D offer