Postdoc in Recycling Plastic Waste via Mechanochemistry

Use your heterogeneous catalysis and/or polymer science background and join us in developing a new chemical pathway for recycling plastic waste via mechanochemistry!

Your job
You will use your background in chemistry, catalysis, polymer science and/or mechanochemistry to discover new recycling technologies for plastics using mechanochemistry. You will enter a relatively unexplored field of chemistry together with an expanding team of 5 PhD candidates and an experienced postdoc. The core objective of this project is to pioneer the conversion of polyolefins into essential chemical building blocks like monomers, aromatics, and other hydrocarbons through innovative ball-milling and extrusion techniques. By unravelling the intricate interplay between mechanical forces, catalysis, and polymer chain cleavage, you will gain valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms shaping the future of recycling technology. Embrace the array of cutting-edge spectroscopic and analytic techniques (e.g., EPR, SEC, Raman, IR and TGA) within the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ICC) section, enhancing your proficiency in catalyst design and becoming a trailblazer in mechano-catalysis.

This project addresses the global challenge of plastic waste. To achieve this mechanochemical and mechanistic fundamentals of polyolefin conversion are combined with the possibility to develop a viable recycling technology. You will have the opportunity to apply for patents and make valuable connections to industrial leaders along the plastic value chain. There are plenty of possibilities for outreach, e.g., via webinars or open days of the university.

You will work closely with a diverse team of peers, offering guidance, support, and mentorship. The ICC section offers a stimulating environment with fostering collaborations with distinguished researchers, postdocs, and PhD candidates specialising in operando spectroscopy techniques for catalyst analysis. Your main tasks include:

• developing a new chemical recycling technology based on mechanochemistry;
• overcoming the challenge of performing reactions inside a shaking ball mill at elevated temperatures and under gas atmosphere;
• understanding the fundamental mechanism of mechanochemical polymer chain cleavage;
• developing a strong knowledge base for mechanochemistry of polyolefins;
• advising, supervising and working closely with other team members.

You enjoy working in a team, while also being able to take full responsibility for your own research project. You have experience in and like overcoming experimental and scientific challenges. And you are someone who looks beyond the academic boundaries of your research: you think about possible applications of your research and you are interested in working with companies. Except for that, you are an inspiring and motivated professional and bring the following qualities:

• an intrinsic drive to contribute to a relatively unexplored field of chemistry;
• motivation to develop new plastic recycling technologies and contribute to solving the plastic waste issue;
• strong expertise (through studies and PhD/Postdoc research) and experience in one or all of the fields mechanochemistry, polymer science, catalysis and spectroscopy.

• A job for one year, working in a top chemistry group with an extensive variety of state-of-the-art equipment;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – between €3,226 and €5,090 (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.

The department of Chemistry is renowned as a world class centre of excellence and innovation in both research and education, fully resourced and equipped with state-of-the-art technological platforms. Research and education form an integrated whole and all our researchers are involved in teaching alongside their research programs and commitments. Vice versa, all our students are involved in cutting-edge research right from the very beginning. Our undergraduate students are enrolled in a general Chemistry BSc programme or an interdepartmental programme on Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences, which prepare them for MSc programmes like those on Nanomaterials Science or Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences at UU. Research in our department develops around two strategic themes; Life Science is studied in the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research and Sustainability in the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science.

Our team, led by Dr Ina Vollmer, is focussed on chemical conversion of polyolefins to valuable chemical building blocks. Our aim is to develop new technologies for chemical recycling and to contribute to solving an important societal issue of our time, while performing excellent, high impact research. We are part of the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis section of the Chemistry department and the newly founded Institute for Circular and Sustainable Chemistry.

For more information, please contact Dr Ina Vollmer at i.vollmer@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.