Rubber Researcher for the Elastomer Competence Center (1.0 FTE)

The Elastomer Competence Center (ECC) (https://www.service-ecc.nl/) is a specialized service centre with extensive experience and expertise in applied elastomer technology. Our mission is to provide support and tailor-made solutions to drive progress and deliver high-quality tangible value to the rubber industry.

With extensive and well-proven know-how and a network throughout the rubber value chain, we bridge the gap between academic world and applied technology environment, creating a powerful synergy and providing excellent value-added services.

As a rubber Researcher, you will work for the ECC. ECC is part of the Elastomer Technology Engineering (ETE) Group (https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/ms3/research-chairs/ete/) being part of the Department Mechanics of Solids Surfaces and Systems (https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/ms3/) (MS3), Faculty of Engineering Technology.

The ETE group has modern, well-equipped laboratories with standard as well as special-purpose testing machines for the production and characterization of rubber compounds. ECC has full access to this equipment.

ETE is seeking a Rubber Researcher for a full-time position for 13 months to be responsible for covering small projects. For this, it is required to produce and characterize rubber compounds in lab scale and evaluate the results.

As Rubber Researcher, you are responsible to cover the whole lab work of small projects: produce and characterize rubber as well as characterize the raw ingredients of rubber plus evaluate the results.

For this, you will:

• carry out experiments to characterize raw ingredients as well as to produce and characterize rubber compounds.
• Evaluate the results in form of Excel or Origin-based graphs and create a power point presentation

You have at least a master degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, and hands-on experience in the field of production and characterization of rubber. You are familiar with setting up and conducting experiments using lab devices which enable the characterization of raw ingredients for rubber (e.g. GC, HPLC, TGA, DSC) as well as the production (e.g. internal mixer, two-rill mill, compression molding) and characterization (e.g. rheometer, tensile machine, DMA, Rebound, hardness, LAT100, AFM) of rubber compounds. You have at least a basic knowledge of rubber technology. You are a highly motivated, self-reliant person and possess the communication skills to thrive within a multicultural research team. You are fluent in both written and spoken English.

We offer

• a position in an inspiring, multidisciplinary and international environment with an attractive campus and lots of facilities for sports and leisure. The university provides a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues. You will be appointed as a Researcher in a full-time position for 13 months. An extension of the contract is a possibility.
• a gross salary between € 3.378- and € 5.331,- per month (depending on experience and qualifications)and in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities.
• excellent facilities for professional and personal development
• holiday allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8,3% of the gross annual salary
• A minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment.

Are you interested in being part of our team? Please send your application by May 15th, 2025, via the "apply now" button and include:

• a cover letter (maximum one A4 page)
• a detailed CV
• contact details of at least 2 references.

Interviews are planned for May, 23 and May, 28, 2025.

For more information about this vacancy you can contact Prof. Anke Blume, +31 (0) 53 489 3217, e-mail: a.blume@utwente.nl.