Internship Opportunity – Colostrum Fermentation

Internship Opportunity – Colostrum Fermentation

Are you looking for an internship for the 2025 or 2026 academic year? Great news! Our Immunobiology Laboratory in Aye is looking for its next generation of interns.

We are offering the following internship topic : “Fermentation of GOS- and HMO-Enriched Colostrum by Lactic Acid Bacteria: Production and Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Properties of Postbiotics”

Background

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are key prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, particularly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

Colostrum, rich in antibodies, bioactive peptides, and nutrients, represents an ideal matrix for generating postbiotics through fermentation. These postbiotics, which include microbial metabolites and cellular components, have well-documented health-promoting properties.

The combination of colostrum, GOS, and HMOs may create a unique synergistic effect, enhancing the production of bioactive compounds capable of positively modulating the immune system.

This project aims to explore the potential of these fermentation processes for the development of functional ingredients targeting health and immune support.

Internship Objectives

• Ferment GOS- and HMO-enriched colostrum using selected Lactobacillus strains.
• Monitor fermentation kinetics and the production of metabolites of interest (organic acids, bioactive peptides, and oligosaccharide-derived compounds).
• Isolate and characterize the postbiotic components produced during fermentation.
• Evaluate the in vitro immunomodulatory properties of postbiotics on immune cell lines (cytokine profiling, cellular activation, and modulation of inflammatory pathways).
• Compare the effects of different combinations of prebiotics and lactic acid bacterial strains.

Methodology

• Preparation of substrates and GOS enrichment.
• Controlled fermentation using lactic acid bacteria (monitoring pH, bacterial growth, and substrate consumption).
• Biochemical analyses (HPLC, LC-MS, quantification of organic acids and peptides).
• Culture of immune cells and stimulation with postbiotics.
• Cytokine quantification (ELISA) and analysis of immune response profiles.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Master’s degree student (MSc Year 1 or 2) or engineering student in:
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Nutrition
• Immunology

Skills

• Microbiology
• Fermentation processes
• Cell culture techniques
• Biochemical analyses

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work independently
• Strong experimental rigor
• Interest in applied research in health and nutrition

Duration and Location

Duration: 4 to 6 months

Location: CER Groupe Rue de la Science 8 6900 AYE (Marche-en-Famenne), Belgium

Please note: the site is not easily accessible by public transportation.

Application

Interested in this internship opportunity?

Please send your CV and cover letter to : Héloïse WILMET, HR Business Partner

📧 Email: recrutement@cergroupe.be