Postdoc in Recycling Plastics Waste via Mechanochemistry

Use your heterogeneous catalysis and/or polymer science background to develop a new chemical pathway for recycling plastic waste via mechanochemistry.

Your job
You will use your background in chemistry, catalysis, polymer science and/or mechanochemistry to discover new recycling technologies for plastics using mechanochemistry. You will enter a relatively unexplored field of chemistry together with an expanding team of six PhD candidates and two Postdocs. The core objective of this project is to pioneer the conversion of polymers into essential chemical building blocks like monomers through innovative ball-milling. By unravelling the intricate interplay between mechanical forces, catalysis, and polymer chain cleavage, you will gain valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms shaping the future of recycling technology. Embrace the array of cutting-edge spectroscopic and analytic techniques (e.g., EPR, SEC, Raman, IR and TGA) within the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ICC) section, enhancing your proficiency in catalyst design and becoming a trailblazer in mechano-catalysis.

This project addresses the global challenge of plastic waste. To achieve this mechanochemical and mechanistic fundamentals of polyolefin conversion are combined with the possibility to develop a viable recycling technology. You will have the opportunity to apply for patents and make valuable connections to industrial leaders along the plastic value chain. There are plenty of possibilities for outreach, e.g., via webinars or open days of the university.

You will work closely with a diverse team of peers, offering guidance, support, and mentorship. The ICC section offers a stimulating environment with fostering collaborations with distinguished researchers, postdocs, and PhD candidates specialising in operando spectroscopy techniques for catalyst analysis. Your main tasks will include:

• developing a new chemical recycling technology based on mechanochemistry;
• overcoming the challenge of performing reactions inside a shaking ball mill under gas atmosphere with continuous product analysis;
• understanding the fundamental mechanism of mechanochemical polymer chain cleavage;
• developing a strong knowledge base for mechanochemistry of polymers;
• advising, supervising and working closely with other team members;
• excel in a top chemistry group with an extensive variety of state-of-the-art equipment.

Requirements:

You enjoy working in a team, while also being able to take full responsibility for your own research project. You have experience in and like overcoming experimental and scientific challenges. And you are someone who looks beyond the academic boundaries of your research: you think about possible applications of your research and you are interested in working with companies. Except for that, you are an inspiring and motivated professional who brings multiple of the following:

• an intrinsic drive to contribute to a relatively unexplored field of chemistry;
• motivation to develop new plastic recycling technologies and contribute to solving the plastic waste issue;
• strong expertise (through studies and PhD/Postdoc research) and experience in one or all of the fields mechanochemistry, polymer science, catalysis and spectroscopy.

Salary Benefits:

We offer:

• a job for one year;
• a fulltime working week and a gross monthly salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – between €3,378 and €5,331 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

36 - 40 hours per week

Padualaan 8