The search for new and environmental friendly routes towards chemicals, materials and fuels is dependent on the use of novel catalysts, reactors and reaction concepts. Within the field of heterogeneous catalysis, we are looking for researchers, which are willing to develop an attractive and ambitious research program along the following research lines.

For the research line ‘Smarter and more sustainable chemical processes’ Advanced Research Center – Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC) is seeking a highly qualified and motivated experimental scientist, who is capable to develop new catalytic routes and related materials to activate small molecules, such as CO2, N2 and CH4. The overall aim is to synthesize, characterize and test these novel solid catalysts, for gas- and liquid-phase heterogeneous catalytic routes, as well as for electro- and photo-electrocatalytic routes for these small molecules. A strong emphasis is here thus placed on the materials synthesis and catalytic testing aspects of heterogeneous catalysis.

For the research line ‘Experimental methods for rational catalyst and material design’ ARC CBBC is seeking a highly qualified and committed experimental scientist, who wishes to develop and use new characterization tools to investigate the reaction and deactivation mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic processes. The research trend worldwide is towards space- and time-resolved in-situ spectroscopy under true reaction conditions, including the development of nano-spectroscopy, tomography, combining techniques as well as single molecule and single atom detection. A strong emphasis is here thus placed on the materials characterization aspects of heterogeneous catalysis.

We are especially looking for an enthusiastic and cooperative team player with excellent communication and networking skills, who is focused on achieving multidisciplinary research targets. A minimum experience of two to three years as a Postdoctoral Researcher is highly recommended.

As a successful candidate you should:

• have a PhD degree in the field of heterogeneous catalysis;
• have demonstrable experience to multi- and interdisciplinary research;
• have excellent communication, networking and organisational skills;
• be well connected and maintaining a network of academic partners as well of industrial partners;
• have an outstanding record of academic research, as reflected in high-quality scientific publications;
• be willing to actively obtain research grants and actively develop new research lines;
• have obtained a basic teaching qualification, or must obtain this qualification within 3 years.

You are expected to have an excellent level of English, both written and oral. At the point of a tenure decision, Dutch language skills should be at the level of practical communication.

The candidate is offered a Tenure-Track Position (1.0 FTE), which will be subject to a mid-term evaluation after approximately three years and an end-term evaluation. When evaluations are positive the position becomes permanent after five years. The appointment is at the level of assistant professor (“universitair docent”). The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €3,475 and €5,405 (scale 11/12 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % per year. We offer a pension scheme, (partly paid) parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information is available at: 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 societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

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 5,600 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.

The recently started Advanced Research Center – Chemical Building Blocks Consortium focuses on the necessary science and technology breakthroughs to synthesize both new and existing chemical building blocks in a more sustainable manner. This is done within a national research institute, in which universities and industries exchange state-of-the-art knowhow, ideas as well as infrastructure. ARC CBBC consists of three main ‘hubs’, uniting three technological clusters:

1) homogeneous catalysis, materials and synthesis, presented by Groningen University;

2) heterogeneous catalysis, materials and synthesis, presented by Utrecht University;

3) process technology, materials and chemical engineering presented by Eindhoven University of Technology.

Utrecht University has embedded ARC CBBC in the department of Chemistry with Prof Dr Ir B.M. Weckhuysen as its scientific director. To foster the necessary cutting-edge developments in the field of heterogeneous catalysis Utrecht University seeks to attract two new scientists as Tenure-Track Assistant Professors.