Great job
In this position at the Center of Expertise Material and Energy Transition (MNEXT), you will conduct research within the Biobased Building Blocks & Products research group and biobased Resource & Energy group. In collaboration with the business, education and societal communities, inside and outside Avans, you:
- Lead research projects. You take charge of research initiatives, mentor junior researchers and students, and collaborate with academic and industrial partners.
- Work on funding and proposal writing. You secure research funding and write grant proposals, particularly for sustainability-focused projects.
- Integrate research with education. You guide internship students and actively contribute to research-education integration.
Your place as a researcher within Avans
As a researcher polymer science and applications, you carry out work for the Center of Expertise Material and Energy Transition (MNEXT) in Breda. MNEXT forms the bridge between innovation and society together with SMEs. More than 80 employees work at MNEXT (including teacher-researchers from various Avans and HZ courses). In addition, 7 research groups are part of MNEXT: Biobased Construction (both at HZ and Avans), Biobased Resources & Energy, Biobased Building Blocks & Products , Smart Energy, Renewable Energy Carriers, Biobased Transitions and Marine Biobased Chemistry.
By conducting applied research with students, teachers, researchers and outside stakeholders, we set the materials and energy transition in motion towards a more sustainable future.
We offer you
An environment where you have the freedom to discover and improve things; This is how we get the best out of you. We facilitate you in your continuous development, with which you then contribute to our further professional and technical professionalization. We also offer you:
- A monthly salary of a minimum of € 4.361 to a maximum of € 6.114 gross for a full-time appointment (scale 11 collective labor agreement for higher professional education).
- An end-of-year bonus, which is approximately equal to a thirteenth month.
- An appointment for 1 year. If the position functions well and there is sufficient training space, an extension is a possibility.
- A good work-life balance and pleasant workplaces.
- A lot of freedom in your job with the option to work from home.
You fit right in
You are expected to have strong problem-solving skills, as you will be addressing complex challenges in polymer synthesis and material development. Collaboration is key, so you should be comfortable working in interdisciplinary teams and with industrial partners. Good communication skills are essential for sharing your findings effectively, both in written reports and presentations. Additionally, you need to be adaptable and open to learning, especially when exploring new techniques like recycling methods. Self-motivation and the ability to work independently will help you drive your research forward. Additionally, you have:
- A PhD in polymer chemistry or materials science. You have a solid academic background in polymer science, with a particular focus on sustainable and biobased materials.
- Experience with composite materials. You have a proven track record in developing and characterizing biopolymer composites, including assessing their properties for industrial applications.
- Experience in polymer synthesis. You have hands-on experience in synthesizing and characterizing biobased materials, especially vitrimers.
- Basic understanding of thermoset recycling. While direct expertise in thermoset recycling (e.g., solvolysis) isn’t required, you should have a basic understanding and be open to learning or collaborating in this area as part of the research.
- Preferably, industrial or collaborative research experience. Since the work will involve applications like coatings or adhesives, it’s beneficial if you have experience in industry or have collaborated with industrial partners.
Innovative Avans
Big ambitions, human scale. Committed, personal – that’s Avans. A place where you can be yourself. With your unique ideas and insights. That’s part of our learning and entrepreneurial character. We offer optimum flexible education, in co-creation with the professional field. We are always changing, and moving with the world around us. Our aim is to offer ever more personalization, so that our students can choose part of their own learning pathways. That’s our Ambition for 2025. Read these stories to discover Avans as an employer.
Contribute to our ambition
Do you see a great role for yourself in further professionalizing our education and research and in contributing to the further development of Avans into a knowledge institution? Please apply no later than November 11, 2024 via the application button. If you have any questions about the content of the position, please contact Qian Zhou, Associate Professor, via q.zhou1@avans.nl or +31 885 256 660. We will provide you with an update about your application within 2 weeks after the vacancy closes.
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