Polyolefins are the most produced and discarded synthetic materials every year. They are used in various industries including packaging, energy storage, and transportation. Their lack of biodegradability contributes massively to persistent plastics accumulation in ecosystems. Furthermore, as recycling is inefficient, energy-intensive, and produces polymers with inferior properties, waste polyolefins are often landfilled. Developing alternative biodegradable/recyclable polymers with similar versatile properties as polyolefin is essential to sustainably meet the ever-growing demand for these materials and mitigate plastic pollution.
In this interdisciplinary project, we aim to develop an efficient methodology to introduce cleavable units within polyolefin chains to target fully circular polyolefin-like materials. To make these new materials, we will develop new homogeneous catalysts based on custom-designed ligands, coordinated to late transition metal and test them for the copolymerization of olefins and specific comonomers containing the cleavable units. In combination with collaborative work with theory, all results will be fed-back into iterative design loops to optimize the catalyst activity and chemoselectivity. The thermo and mechanical properties of all materials as well as their degradability and recyclability will be assessed and rationally tuned by controlling the polymerization conditions.
Qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious and driven candidate who has:
- a MSc in inorganic chemistry or polymer chemistry;
- excellent laboratory skills in synthetic and air-sensitive chemistry;
- experience in organometallic chemistry (considered an advantage);
- experience in polymer and material chemistry (considered an advantage);
- experience in theoretical calculations (considered an advantage).
Offer
- the opportunity to work in and with a team of leading experts;
- a full-time position for four years;
- a full-time gross salary that starts at €2,443 and increases to €3,122 per month in the fourth year (scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities);
- 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.
In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the cao for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.
More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found here .
About the organisation
The OCC research group is actively involved with various aspects of catalysis. New organometallic and coordination complexes are designed and synthesized in search of new catalytic properties in, e.g., polymerization, oxidation catalysis, or in the catalytic conversion of biomass. In the design of new catalysts and new catalytic procedures, the active sites of metallo-enzymes play an important inspirational role. In addition, new concepts in ligand design are pursued, e.g. through the development of cooperative and dinucleating ligands, and the design of ligands based on less traditional donor atoms like Si. Furthermore, research is done at the intersection of organic, inorganic and electrochemistry, that is on the design of homogeneous as well as heterogeneous or hybrid catalyst systems that will be used in catalytic organic syntheses, polymerization reactions, and the chemical transformation of renewable feedstocks, such as biomass, CO2 and recycle or waste streams.
We are part of the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science , which unites physicists and chemists. This research institute is part of the Faculty of Science in which there are six departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics.
Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our familiar atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts researchers, professors and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.
Additional information
If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Arnaud Thevenon, via a.a.thevenon@uu.nl .
Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl .
The selection of candidates will be exclusively based on qualification without regard to gender, religion, or national origin. Candidates should be able to demonstrate motivation and a strong eagerness to learn and have the ability to both work independently and as part of a team.
Apply
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If you have the expertise and the experience to excel in this role, then simply respond via the “Apply now” button! Please enclose:
- your letter of motivation;
- your curriculum vitae;
- the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.
If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone who may be interested, please forward this link to them.
Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them
The application deadline is 28 February 2022.
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