The Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group is part of the Department of Chemistry and the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science. The group includes 4 Full Professors, 6 Assistant Professors, 11 Technicians and circa 80 PhD candidates and/or Postdoctoral Fellows. We are currently looking for a colleague within the group of Professor Weckhuysen. You will focus on the synthesis and (operando) characterization of heterogeneous catalysts.

To develop better performing catalysts for societal challenges (e.g. waste and/or CO2 reduction), it is paramount to develop an understanding of the relation between catalyst structure and performance. In this project, the PhD candidate will develop and characterize novel catalysts and use operando spectroscopy techniques to monitor chemical species at reaction conditions to unravel mechanistic pathways for a variety of (electro)chemical processes.

We are looking for a candidate with a Master degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, with a focus on catalysis. The perfect candidate:

• has a strong interest in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, spectroscopy and/or electrochemistry;
• is proficient in spoken and written English;
• is creative and a team player with good communicative skills;
• has hands-on experience in using or building chemical setups in the lab environment;
• is able to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.

The candidate is offered a full-time position for 1,5 years, which can be extended to 4 years if the candidate functions well. The salary ranges between €2,266 and €2,897 (P-scale Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year. In addition we offer a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project. More information is available on our website.

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 societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.

The Faculty of Science consists of six Departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 6,500 students and nearly 1,500 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society. Read the overall impression 2018 of the Faculty of Science.

The Department of Chemistry addresses teaching and research about chemistry. Starting already at the first year of the bachelor Chemistry programme, students are trained to become well-rounded scientists with many practical courses and multiple internships within research groups. Three different Master programmes are available after the general chemistry education of the Bachelor programme. One Master programme focusses on biochemistry, one focusses on the entrepreneurial side of research and the final Master programme focusses on physical chemistry. PhD candidates are expected to be involved as supervisors in these practical courses and also for supervision of students during their internships during the Bachelor or Master phase.