Biobased materials hold great promise to be sustainable alternatives for fossil based materials due to renewable feedstock use, possibility to use (enzymatic) low energy production routes and possible alternative waste strategies, such as biodegradation. However, biobased materials are not intrinsically sustainable. The biomass feedstock supply, manufacturing process, interdependency and competition with other product value chains, and waste scenarios play an important role in the level of sustainability. Consistent and full sustainability assessments are needed to evaluate the sustainability performance of biobased materials.  It is important to address multiple issues at the same time, to avoid shifting one sustainability issue to another.

The PhD candidate will work on the project “Sustainability of biobased materials in a circular economy” The project is financially supported with a donation of Saudi Aramco. The aim of this PhD project is to develop improved life cycle assessment methodologies to better assess the environmental impact of biobased materials over the entire product life cycle. Important issues specific for biobased materials need to be properly reflected in environmental impact assessments, in particular the effects of the use of biological feedstock and the supply chain. Moreover, end-of-life options of materials are being improved to avoid negative consequences like plastic waste pollution. Life cycle assessment methodologies need to further developed to be able to assess the environmental consequences of such changed waste scenarios.

The offered position is a fully funded PhD position, starting with a 1-year contract that can be extended to a total of 4 years after positive evaluation. You will work in the sustainability team of the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials. The mission of the team is to provide suitable instruments and sustainability impact assessments to guide the transition from a fossil-based economy to a biobased economy. It is a relatively young international team of sustainability experts with various backgrounds. In addition to the scientific challenges, this activity offers the opportunity to become an expert and build an international network in the field of sustainability of biobased products.

• You hold a MSc or Master Engineering degree in the areas of materials & resources, environmental science/engineering, or a related field;

• You are eager to obtain a PhD degree in the proposed research field.

• You have a passion for analyzing data, modelling (LCA, mass and energy balances) and writing.

• You have excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively and closely with scientific team members and BSc/MSc students.

• Preferably, you have proven experience with publishing scientific work in refereed international scientific journals.

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills in English.

• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently.

• You are passionate about sustainable development.

Key expertise

• Demonstrable experience with Life Cycle Assessment or sustainability assessment studies

• A strong background and demonstrated experience in environmental technology or biobased products.

• The PhD appointment lasts four years. The contract starts with a 1-year appointment. The probationary period is 2 months. After a positive evaluation, an additional 3-year contract will be offered.

• Your salary would be € 2.266,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.897,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD salary scale

• In addition, we offer an attractive package of fringe benefits such as, reduction on collective health insurance, substantial leave arrangements, parental leave packages, attractive retirement benefits and application for attractive fiscal arrangements for employees from abroad;

• We offer you a stimulating working environment with excellent facilities for professional and personal development

• Our international network has researchers coming from a variety of disciplines, but we are an academic community linked by a biobased materials value chain approach

• We provide you with a collaborative, entrepreneurial research environment with innovative and cross-disciplinary research

• The position is embedded in a lively and creative working environment at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO), supplement with local UM provisions. For more information on terms of employment, please visit our website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)

The Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) is a European research institute focusing on the development of advanced biobased materials. AMIBM is located on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus and strives for excellence in applied and translational research by creating synergies between academia and industry. AMIBM is a cross-border cooperation between Maastricht University, RWTH Aachen University and Fraunhofer IME. AMIBM’s vision is to provide the missing link between fundamental and applied research and the market in the field of biobased materials. It aims to do this by changing the relationship between the production of biobased materials and the value chain. The goal is to achieve this by developing an integrated, interdisciplinary research program. The program focusses on new strategies to produce advanced biobased materials in a sustainable and economical way. It also emphasizes the development of these novel materials into innovative products with high added value for technical and medical applications.