As part of a national consortium (ARC CBBC), the Stratingh institute of Chemistry is establishing an expertise center focusing on synthesis automation, photo- and flow chemistry, electrochemistry and new functional materials. The new laboratories of this center have recently opened and contain a variety of chemical laboratory equipment and experimental facilities. Once up and running, day-to-day usage of this equipment and these laboratories need to be managed, together with two scientific staff and the ARC CBBC research coordinator. This includes the maintenance of the equipment, instructing and assisting students and researchers with the use of the equipment and experiments, as well as overseeing the overall lab safety. In the first months, a significant part of the tasks includes supporting the installation and proper operation of lab equipment.

The equipment includes devices such as (automated) flow/batch reactors, galvanostats, potentiostats, spectrophotometers, mass spectrometers, liquid and/or gas chromatography, fluorescence microscopy, as well as smaller lab equipment (ovens, fridges, rotavaps, balances, etc.).

Responsibilities and activities:

• installing and setting-up of equipment and lab facilities, together with the research coordinator
• knowing how to use analytical/technical equipment and being responsible for trouble-shooting issues with these, for day-to-day usage
• ensuring proper operation and regular maintenance of analytical/chemical equipment
• training, assistance and supervision of users with different levels of experience (from Bachelor students to highly experienced scientists). The CBBC research technician will also become scientifically involved in specific projects and/or techniques of his/her interest, e.g. perform experiments or optimize protocols together with the researchers and industrial partners
• maintaining lab safety
• working in a team with the already present research coordinator and technician.

• higher Professional Education (HBO/HBO+) degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/electrical engineering
• curious about new technologies/techniques; eager to build, maintain and operate state-of-the-art lab facilities
• experience with lab safety
• proactive and independent mindset
• excellent communication skills and service mentality
• proficient in both Dutch and English
• experience with (chemistry) laboratory management is a plus
• experience with synthesis automation, photochemistry, flow chemistry, electrochemistry and/or material science is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

The University of Groningen offers, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary from a minimum of € 2,700 (scale 8) up to a maximum of € 4,078 (scale 9) gross per month for a full-time position depending of relevant experience and training
• a gross holiday allowance of 8%
• a gross 8.3% year-end bonus
• a time-limited employment for one year. If the outcome of the evaluation after one year is positive, the appointment will be prolonged for an indefinite term.

The preferred starting date is 1 February 2022

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programs and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36.000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global center of knowledge.

The position we offer will be embedded in the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, that focuses on research in molecular and supramolecular chemistry, with overarching impact on biology, chemical engineering, and physics based on fundamental organic and inorganic chemistry. The Stratingh Institute has an (inter-)national excellent position in synthetic chemistry and catalysis in the Dutch chemical landscape.

The Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (https://arc-cbbc.nl/about/) is the Dutch national research center that investigates chemical building blocks for novel sustainable energy and materials. It is a public-private organization in which academic, industrial and governmental partners are cooperating intensively.