Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and do you want to be active in a project that aims to impact the sustainability of plastics? Would you like to work at the interface between the creativity of academia and the relevance of industrially guided research? The

Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

is looking for an ambitious postdoc.

Shape the Future of Sustainable Plastics. Come join us!
The European chemical industry aims for climate neutrality by 2050. For polymers, widely used in products like plastics, this can be achieved with a biobased circular economy — maximizing recycling of current, fossil-based plastics as well as progressively increasing the use of biomass as feedstock. Converting biomass to drop-ins (bio-PE, bio-PET) is inefficient and resource-intensive as abundantly present oxygen in the biomass must be removed, which in most cases also means increasing the number of process steps required. Novel plastics have the potential for more efficient production and improved performance. Polyesters, known for their good recyclability and/or biodegradability, are ideal novel candidates but require development to match the properties of the incumbent fossil polymers.

This is what you will do
The aim of the project is to develop synthesis methods for monomers (mainly furandicarboxylic acid) from Algae biomass and to apply these monomers in polyester applications. This means that the majority of the work will concern parallel catalysis experiments in pressurized lab equipment and the synthesis of polyesters at lab scale. The project is part of a larger European consortium, meaning that interaction and knowledge sharing with various parties will be required.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Design and execution of high and medium throughput parallel experiments;
• Polyester synthesis at lab scale;
• Polyester synthesis at kg scale;
• Reporting within the consortium;
• Communicate research via peer-reviewed publication and at conferences;
• Supervising students;
• Contribute to the overall development of the group through cooperation and knowledge sharing.

This is what we ask of you

• A Ph.D. in chemistry;
• Extensive experience in polyester synthesis and experience in sugar dehydration chemistry;
• A committed researcher, demonstrated by previous research experiences, publications and presentations at international conferences;
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English;
• Cooperative mentality;
• The ability to work independently.

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38,00 hours per week for a period of 12 months. An extension of up to 24 months may be granted, subject to the demonstration of adequate performance. The preferred starting date is as soon as possible.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,546 - € 5,538 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look

here

.

This is where you will work
The Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science . HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavor & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry , Computational Chemistry , Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics .

The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry Group focuses on the transition to a circular economy and more specifically the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy, connecting sustainable development and production of energy and chemicals. The group’s focus is on future polymers with bulk volume potential. We are active in projects involving biorefinery technology (industrial sugars), and monomers from biomass and from CO2 (the only two alternatives for fossil feedstock when making polymers).

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

If you think the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the red button. We accept applications until and including 01 October 2025, but can close as soon as a suitable candidate has been identified.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;
• a list of publications;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure.

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr Robert-Jan van Putten, [email protected]
• Prof. dr. Gert-Jan Gruter, [email protected]

If you receive an error message while applying from abroad, please try again later or contact us for assistance.

If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application by 01 October the latest. You may apply online using the red button. We will recruit until the position is filled and when a suitable candidate is found. If you receive an error message while applying from abroad, please try again later or contact us for assistance.