We are looking for someone who can either be our:

• PhD students’ absolute reference for anything related to polymer characterization (profile 1: the Characterization Guru), or
• Leader in projects linked to the Plastics Recycling Value Chain (in collaboration with industry) (profile 2: the Experienced Recycling Enthusiast).

While the academic staff are there to guide and support you, you do step up, taking the day-to-day responsibility of the activities related to your profile and expertise.

In both profiles, you work closely together with PhD students and professors alike to set up joint research and publications in plastics recycling. If you are interested, teaching could be part of your duties, but it is not the main focus of the position.

The position is now open for 1 (one) year contract but can be extended afterwards.

You are an experienced polymer enthusiast, looking forward to collaborate with the professors and PhD students alike. You are very self-sufficient and feel comfortable making decisions and offering scientific guidance to others. You are an expert in either one of the below profiles:

Characterization Guru (profile 1)

• You hold a PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Material Physics, Polymer Processing, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.
• Absolutely required: significant experience and deep understanding of the main characterization techniques and methods used for thermoplastic polymers, such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, GPC, rheology, DMA, SEM, WAXS, AFM, tensile testing, and impact testing. This goes beyond being able to simply perform these tests: you have a deep understanding of how the techniques work, what information you can (or cannot) obtain, and how results can be interpreted. Semi-crystalline structures have no secrets for you. Based on this, you can advise PhD students in their proposed experiments and can trouble-shoot tough problems.
• Recommended 1: your knowledge goes beyond pure, mono-material polymers: you can handle the above for blends just as well.
• Recommended 2: on top of this, you also have good knowledge of polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, film blowing, injection moulding, etc.), knowing how processing conditions affect structure and properties. You can relate characterization results back to this or advise on different procedures.

Experienced Recycling Enthusiast (profile 2)

• You hold a PhD in Environmental Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.
• Absolutely required: you have significant experience in the plastics recycling system. You understand MFA (material flow analysis), are aware of the different sectors in plastics (recycling), and know how waste management works within these different sectors. Moreover, you have a good grasp of current technology in sorting, washing, and pre-treating of disposed plastics.
• Recommended: you have a good knowledge of the characterization and processing methods mentioned above for profile 1 (Characterization Guru), but you would not go as far as to call yourself the supreme expert we are looking for in that profile. Some skills that will be useful include the understanding of quality modelling, environmental impact, process analysis, chemometrics, etc.

Do not apply if you do not meet the absolute requirements.

As Postdoc at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 10 - 11 according to UFO profile Postdoc, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3226,00 and €5929,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Depending on funding, there are possibilities for extension, but this is not guaranteed.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.
  The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University

Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

The Chair of Circular Plastics
Part of the Department of Circular Chemical Engineering, the Circular Plastics team is headed by internationally acclaimed plastic recycling expert prof. Kim Ragaert. We are an open, supportive and multidisciplinary team comprising several nationalities and scientific specialisms. Currently, we are an academic staff of 1 full professor, 2 associate professors and 4 assistant professors, working with a dozen PhD students. We focus on polymer and data science for (mechanical) recycling of plastics as well as the more systemic view.

Our labs and offices or on Brightlands Chemelot Campus, in the middle of the largest chemical site of the Netherlands. As such, we are very well connected to industry. More information on https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/circular-chemical-engineering/research/circular-plastics