Do you excel in research? And are you eager to learn and gain new experience? We are looking for a PhD candidate to join the department of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter to study nanomechanical cohesion effects in savoury powders.

Many powders processed in industry are purposefully exposed to or suffer from the ingress of humid air. Water condenses in the porous medium and so causes coagulation among particles, but also allows diffusion of ingredients, partial dissolution of the particles, etc. The aim of this study is to use microscopic tomographic techniques to resolve the contact level physico-chemical processes that play a role in this dynamics. The aim is to assess weak-link intergranular networks in static powders at early stages of caking and to understand how these networks contribute to fracture and flow behavior of such granular packings. Part of the work thus entails building predictive structure-flow relationships and validating current industrial scale powder flow testing devices.

The research work is part of a larger network of international partners in the context of the EC-funded Horizon 2020 "Marie Curie" MSCA Innovative Training Network (ITN) "CALIPER" (caliper-itn.org). CALIPER aims to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanics of granular materials and suspensions by merging DEM approaches with the latest developments in the field of three dimensional imaging. This particular project is an intensive collaboration with CALIPER partner Unilever and will be carried out partly at their R&D facilities, which will have moved to the campus of Wageningen University by late 2019.

We envision that micro-CT and FIB-SEM will be used to visualize intergranular bridges in static savoury powders at sub-micron scale. There is access to in-house micro-CT; for sub-micron resolution, images will be obtained at the ID19 beamline at ESRF. In house expertise in image processing and quantitative image analysis is available to support the effort of revealing and quantifying structural features at early stages of caking. The sub-micron scale view will be complemented by (semi-) solid-state μMRI (UTE) imaging of regions with enhanced intergranular bridging due to μm-scale heterogeneity in water ingress/absorption. Powder flow will be studied using neutron and X-ray tomography (via a secondment at CALIPER partner in Grenoble). The validity of the current standard test geometries (e.g. shear ring) for predicting powder flow under industrial conditions will be validated. Both descriptive modelling and DEM will be used to relate weak-link intergranular bridging to powder flow characteristics. The handling of 3D image data sets, from feature extraction to physical interpretation of data is a central element of the position.

Your profile should signal:

• Physics background: you are holding a master's degree in (fluid) mechanics, process engineering, chemical engineering, (technical) physics, particle technology or similar.
• You have a basic understanding of granular materials and feel at ease with complex instrumentation such as FIB-SEM and X-ray tomography.
• Software and programming background: you have at least basic programming skills in Matlab/Octave/Python, and you should be open to use a Linux-based operating systems, as well as computing clusters.
• Advanced skills in C/C++ is a strong plus.
• Having Modeling and simulation expertise is a plus; for example, you are already a user of Discrete Element Method-based or CFD-DEM-based simulators such as LIGGGHTS®, CFDEM® or OpenFOAM®.
• You are goal-oriented and well-organized and you have the capability to learn rapidly and sustainably.

You are able to communicate socially and effectively using English as a language.
As the project is funded within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), researchers can be of any nationality but need to demonstrate transnational mobility. To be eligible applicants must satisfy the requirements that apply to all Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early Stage Researchers, therefore on the date of appointment (their start date) applicants should be junior researchers with a recently obtained (max 48 months ago) MSc degree. As one of the goals is to stimulate transnational mobility for the future generation of scientists, applicants should have spent less than 12 months (out of the previous 36) living, studying or working in the Netherlands.
In this ITN consortium, each recruited researcher will be seconded to other beneficiaries and/or to partner organizations for a duration of up to 30% of his/her recruitment period. For this project currently three secondments are tentatively planned: 2 months in 3SR Grenoble, 1 month in Magdeburg as well as several months at DCS computing located in Linz (Austria). Also attendance in off-site training events and meetings is expected. All travel is fully funded. Additional family allowance is provided if the applicant can provide evidence of eligibility (marriage (equivalent) and/or dependent children) at the beginning of the appointment.

We offer you a challenging position, starting in September-December 2019, for a period of 1.5 years with extension of 2.5 years after successful evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2325,- in the first year rising up to € 2972,- in de last year. In line with ITN funding rules, a travel compensation is part of the benefits.

You will enroll in the VLAG graduate school at Wageningen University, which offers a wide range of excellent career broadening and deepening courses, also from the Caliper network. As this project is part of a broader industry collaboration, you will interact with and be able to learn from both academic and private sector professionals

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours based on a working week of 38 hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
• use the sports facilities on campus against reduced fee.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.
We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

Wageningen University & Research

Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter at Wageningen University is interested in phenomena at the nanoscale, where creative chemistry is essential, complex physics is a rule rather than an exception and biology comes the life. The laboratory works on Soft Matter in the broadest sense of the word, combining experiment and theory, chemistry and physics and fundamental and applied science. The laboratory has a large range of state-of-the art equipment. See www.pcc.wur.nl

The Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group is part of Wageningen University & Research where fundamental and applied sciences complement each other. As an important European player, we carry out top-level research and work alongside authoritative partners within the international business world as well as the government on "Healthy food in a biobased society". We have a crucial role in innovations within the market. Entrepreneurship and professionalism are what define us. In short, we are an interesting, international employer of stature.

The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.
Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at http://www.wur.nl/en/Jobs.htm

Acquisition regarding this vacancy is not appreciated.