Large scale electrification of the energy and chemistry sectors is a crucial condition for the transition from a society based on fossil fuel to a sustainable society based on renewable building blocks. Electro-organic synthesis will be central to the approach to combine building blocks to organic molecules to form of 'electrofuels', as well as to use electricity to make 'electrochemicals'. Therefore, efficient electrochemical energy conversion and production of fuels and chemicals are important technologies for the future of sustainable energy. We aim to investigate at atomic and mechanism level the chemical transformations under different conditions such as; electrocatalyst, electrolyte, pH and temperature. We will focus on the coupling between building blocks and organic molecules using in-situ spectrocopic techniques. Our findings will be translated into cell design and scaling up in collaboration with industrial partners.

This project requires multidisciplinary research (materials science, (electro)catalysis, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, spectroscopic techniques and applied science).

Are you exceptionally interested in sustainable energy and production of chemicals? If you like to work in a team of young researchers, we are seeking two PhD candidates who are interested in this multidisciplinary research project. This project is part of the ECCM Tenure Track programme.

What are you going to do?

You will:

• perform synthesis and characterization of electrocatalysts as well as the electrochemistry and spectroscopic experiments;
• plan and execute your experiments;
• collaborate with other groups at the HIMS;
• analyse and interpret the results and report them in peer-reviewed journals and at national and international conferences;
• present your results in group meetings.

You will have access to the laboratories of the Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry group and in the final year, you will write your thesis.

What do we require?

• An MSc degree in chemistry (physical chemistry) or science;
• enthusiasm about working with sustainable energy and focus;
• experience in laboratory and ability to develop experimental plan;
• good communication skills in oral and written English;
• ability to collaborate and adapt in a multidisciplinary team.

Experience in electrochemistry and / or (electro) organic chemistry is an advantage as is affinity with fundamental and / or applied science.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week starting on 1 September 2020 for the duration of 4 years (initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.  

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,395 to €3,061 (scale P) gross per month, based on a full-time contract (38 hours a week). These amounts are exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science. 

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavour & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organised into four themes: Sustainable Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry and Molecular Photonics.