Hydrogen is becoming one of the key energy carriers for the future to deal with the challenge of climate change and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, also because it can help to compensate for the intermittency of renewable energy resources, while it can be sustainably produced from e.g. solar and wind power through the electrolysis of water. Large-scale usage of H2, however, will necessitate its storage at massive scales. Multiple H2 storage options exist, among which through the production and use of NaBH4, associated with the regeneration of the spent fuel NaBO2.

It is the purpose of this research project to develop and assess NaBH4 as circular H2 storage option. Also a comparison will be made of the techno-economic features between H2 usage from NaBH4 storage and the direct usage of NaBH4 in fuel cells to generate and use electricity.

What are you going to do

You will be expected to:

• be active in the fundamental and applied electrochemical research of our research group that operates at the intersection of fundamental physical organic chemistry, main-group chemistry, and circular chemistry, publishing in high level international journals, presenting at leading conferences and supervising PhD students;

• developing in particular the Electrochemical Conversion of Alkali Metal Metaborates to Achieve the Circular Use of Alkali Metal Borohydrides;

• attract external funding;

• involve in the regular meetings with our industrial partner on this project;

• collaborate with other partners by contributing electrochemistry expertise to (joint) research projects.

What do we require

• a PhD degree in electrochemistry and/or main group (electro)chemistry;

• a strong scientific expertise in electrochemistry and main group chemistry;

• demonstrated experience in electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and synthetic (circular) chemistry;

• the ability and willingness to expand your knowledge to industrial electrochemistry and scale-up, as well as techno-economic analyses;

• you can show enthusiasm and scientific rigor that meets the requirements of the project.

Fixed-term contract: 24 months.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week, preferably starting on 30 April 2022, for the duration of 24 months. Initially, we will appoint you on a temporary basis for 12 months. We offer you subsequently an extension of the employment contract of 12 months if we assess your performance positively.

Based on a full-time contract (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2,846 to €4,490 (scale 10), depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a function in which initiative is strongly valued;
• an enthusiastic team that welcomes new members;
• an inspiring academic and international environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Informatics Institute

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, flavour & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics.

The Synthetic Organic Chemistrt group (SOC) is part of the Sustainable Chemistry research theme. As part of SOC and sustainable chemistry, the Slootweg group focuses on developing sustainable main-group chemistry, ideally suited to realize a circular economy. The mission of Slootweg group is to educate students at the intersection of fundamental physical organic chemistry, main-group chemistry, and circular chemistry.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.