PhD Student: Polyester based artificial leather

Who are we? 

Avantium Corporate Technologies and the Industrial Sustainable Chemistry group of HIMS (UvA) are working on the (plastic) materials transition. In this project we will develop sustainable artificial leather to replace fossil-based artificial leather such as PVC. The project is a collaboration between the UvA (ISC, HIMS), Avantium Corporate Technology and a fashion brand owner. 

Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and do you want to be active in a project that aims to impact the sustainability of materials for luxury consumer goods applications? Avantium and the UvA are looking for an ambitious PhD student. Your research is part of the Industrial Sustainable Chemistry:  The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry Group.

What will you do? 

You will focus on the development of sustainable, durable, flexible, polyester-based materials/ material combinations to replace PVC-based artificial leather. In this project, fundamental research and applied research will be combined.

Responsibilities: 

• conducting independent research in Industrial Sustainable Chemistry, resulting in patents and/or academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books.
• actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation.
• supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students.

What do you bring?

• MSc in Organic Chemistry and/or Polymer Chemistry;
• a motivated and committed researcher;
• flexible, readiness to participate in interdisciplinary cooperation and multidisciplinary development;
• Professional command of English.
• Experience in chemical synthesis, analysis (NMR, GC/LC-MS, DSC/TGA/GPC) is preferred.
• Preferably, a background in organic- and/or polymer chemistry. 

What do we offer?

PhD position (4 years)

A contract at Avantium for 40 hours per week starting with an initial contract for a period of 18 months (after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended). The preferred starting date is asap, but practically March 1^st 2025. This project should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. You will be working in the Laboratories of Avantium and are mainly based at Avantium’s Science Park location.

We also additionally offer:

• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;

Interested?

If this description matches your skills or interest, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online on our website by clicking the Apply button. We will be accepting applications until and including 31 January 2025. Interviews will be held in the first week of February 2025. 

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;
• a list of publications;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

You can reach our Corporate Recruiter at [email protected]. Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact: Prof dr Gert-Jan Gruter: [email protected]