Heterogeneous metal catalysts are of tremendous importance to chemical industry. Activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts during chemical reactions is largely determined by the size, location and composition of catalytically active metal particles typically supported on metal oxides such as silica, alumina or titania. Within the framework of ARC-CBBC consortium, this project aims to deepen the understanding of reduction step of catalyst precursors, which is often a vital step in catalyst preparation as it determines the dispersion and thereby activity. The focus will be on the preparation of supported metal catalysts, and the evolution of the active phase will be investigated using both ex-situ and in-situ approaches. In-situ transmission electron microscopy will play a crucial role (see J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138, 2016, 3433), and thanks to the development of in-situ gas phase cells it will be possible to follow the evolution of metal nanoparticles under high temperature and in gas environment inside the TEM.

You are an enthusiastic, motivated and skilled student holding an MSc in a relevant area of Chemistry, Materials Science or Chemical Engineering. You preferably have some experience with catalysis, catalyst synthesis and/or electron microscopy.

Your work will consist of the following tasks:

• PhD research tasks – catalyst synthesis, characterization using (in-situ) TEM and other relevant techniques
• Education and career development – attending conferences, seminars, courses
• Teaching – participating in BSc/MSc education as teaching assistant, supervising BSc/MSc projects

We offer a   Full-time position (1.0 FTE) for 4 years. The gross salary depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges € 2.222,- and maximum € 2.840,- (P scale according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time position.

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % per year. We offer a pension scheme, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). You’ll find more information about working at Utrecht University here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, colleagues from 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 center 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 livable 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 5600 students and nearly 1500 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 2016 of the Faculty of Science.

In the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, physicists and chemists work closely together on nanomaterials research. The group Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis comprises of more than 100 people, with research focus on nanostructured solid materials for applications in catalysis, hydrogen storage, and sustainable production of fuels and chemicals.