Meaningful Work
As a senior researcher, you provide direction to the research line Building for Health within the Biobased Building chair at MNEXT.
You translate societal questions and developments in the construction sector into practice-oriented research that matters. Together with the chair and your colleagues, you ensure coherence between ongoing and new projects. You develop research methods, formulate research questions in co-creation with the field, and supervise (faculty) researchers and students during implementation. This contributes to deepening and embedding knowledge on topics such as indoor environments, health effects, and the use of biobased building materials.
You play a guiding role in scientifically validating claims from the field and society regarding health aspects of biobased construction. In doing so, you apply insights from disciplines such as building physics, materials science, and building biology, ensuring a solid research approach. You safeguard the quality and usability of research results and translate them into valuable end products and advice for partners.
In addition to coordinating research content, you are the public face of the research line. You maintain and expand your network in the construction sector, with government bodies, educational institutions, and research organizations. You know how to engage new partners and acquire research projects that align with the ambitions of the chair. You regularly appear in the public domain, for example through lectures, presentations, or industry meetings.
In all your work, you are aware of the interplay between research, education, and practice. You actively share knowledge and encourage exchange so that results contribute not only to scientific knowledge but are also practically applicable in education and professional practice. In this way, you contribute to innovating the construction sector and realizing a healthy, sustainable built environment.
Your Role as Senior Researcher at Avans
MNEXT is a Centre of Expertise and a collaboration between Avans University of Applied Sciences and HZ University of Applied Sciences. By conducting practice-oriented research with students, lecturers, researchers, and external stakeholders, we drive the materials and energy transition. Your base is in Breda, but you will also regularly work at other locations of both institutions, including Middelburg, Vlissingen, Tilburg, and Den Bosch.
More information about MNEXT and the Biobased Building chair can be found at:https://www.mnext.nl/lectoraat/biobased-bouwen/.
We Offer
An environment where you have the freedom to explore and improve, bringing out the best in you. We support your continuous development, enabling you to contribute to further professionalization. Additionally, we offer:
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A monthly salary of €5,486 to €7,175 gross for a full-time position (scale 12, Dutch higher education collective agreement).
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A year-end bonus, roughly equivalent to a 13th month.
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A permanent position (starting with a one-year appointment).
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A good pension scheme.
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Approximately 50 days of leave per year for full-time employment based on a 40-hour workweek.
You Fit With Us
You are intrinsically motivated to make a societal contribution to the materials and energy transition through your work. You excel at maintaining research direction and quality and coordinating collaboration within and outside research teams. At the same time, you enjoy conducting research yourself and work from equality and collaboration.
You move comfortably between researchers, students, and external partners and know how to translate complex issues into researchable topics with societal impact, always keeping the human dimension in mind. As a senior researcher, you take on a coaching role: guiding (faculty) researchers and students and supporting their development. You are visible, connecting, and leverage your network purposefully to establish new projects and collaborations. You thrive in a hybrid working environment, collaborating with colleagues from two universities and partners from practice, often spread across multiple locations.
Requirements:
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A master’s degree in a relevant field such as architecture or environmental sciences, with a strong focus on building physics, materials science, and/or building biology; a completed PhD is a plus.
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At least 5 years of demonstrable practical experience in the construction sector in biobased and circular building, and experience with practice-oriented research and different phases of research projects at the intersection of construction and health.
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A relevant and active network in the construction or biobased domain, which you can leverage to acquire new projects and partnerships.
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Strong research and writing skills, combined with the ability to make results accessible to education, practice, and the public.
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Excellent command of Dutch, both spoken and written.
Innovative Avans
Large, yet small-scale. Personal and engaged. That’s Avans. Here, you can be yourself. Your unique ideas and insights are given space. This fits our learning and entrepreneurial character. We offer highly flexible education and research in co-creation with the professional field. We continuously adapt to the world around us and aim to offer more customized learning paths, allowing students to partially shape their own route. This is our Ambition 2025.
Contribute to Our Ambition
Do you want to apply your expertise and help build a healthy, sustainable built environment? Apply no later than Monday, October 13, 2025, via the application button. In your motivation letter, explain why you are excited about this challenge. For content-related questions, contact Frank Huijben, Chair of Biobased Building, at faa.huijben@avans.nl or +31 88 5250462. We will provide an update on your application within two weeks after the closing date.
We do not work with recruitment agencies; please do not submit unsolicited applications.