The new paper packaging generation

There is a need for a new bio-based materials and you can be part of the development of this new future. The project focusses on the development of cellulose films provided with barrier functionality against gasses, humidity, grease and providing seal-ability, produced in a total new way. There are many plastics like e.g. BOPP with partial or full barrier performance, which are used as packaging material in the food industry. It is generally known that plastics are under pressure in relation to the public opinion related to issues like the plastic soup or the use of fossil sources and because of upcoming regulations like the Single Use of Plastics. The goal of this project is to develop a bio-based packaging material as an alternative for plastics by use of new techniques.

Focus of the project will be on the development of a suitable raw material for cellulose films as well as on the process for producing the film. Also the development of different barrier functionalities will be a key element in this project.

A paper producer in the Netherlands is carrying the research. Facilities to process plastics such as extrusion blowing will be used to find the optimum balance between settings of the machine, type and amount of fillers and film characteristics. Additional processes will be evaluated in order to improve the barrier properties of the film.

You have a technical background, a Master degree in material research like polymers or cellulose fibers. Needed are skills with extrusion of polymers, compounding, and film extrusion, both cast film and blown-film extrusion. You have preferably experience in research modified/thermoplastic cellulose or barrier performance.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

If you have any further questions about this vacancy please contact Prof. Roland ten Klooster; email: r.tenklooster@utwente.nl. General information about PDEng programmes you can find at:

https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/tgs/prospective-candidates/pdeng/.

Please send your letter of motivation, with a curriculum vitae, a list with grades of courses attended, references and, if applicable, a list of publications before March 24th, 2019 through the link below.

We offer you a contract for a period of two years. During these two years you follow a tailor made post-master design programme with a combination of education (50%) and working on a design project (50%). The salary and conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities. The gross salary is € 1.913 per month. The salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3%. Additionally, the UT provides excellent facilities for professional and personal development. On successfully completing the programme, you will receive a certified and recognised degree. You will be entitled to use the academic degree PDEng and will be registered as a Technological Designer in the Dutch register kept by the Royal Institution of Engineers in the Netherlands (KIVI).

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply. The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) is one of the five faculties of the University of Twente. ET combines Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. Our faculty has approximately 1800 bachelor and master students, 400 employees and 150 PhD candidates. The departments of the faculty cooperatively conduct the educational programmes and participate in interdisciplinary research projects, programmes and the research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute.