PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry and Materials

Vacancy is available for a PhD in the field of the supramolecular chemistry and materials at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.

Information
Are you fascinated by the potential of supramolecular chemistry to create smart, adaptive materials? Do you have an engineering mindset with a passion for molecules? We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to develop next-generation functional supramolecular materials using cutting-edge supramolecular design, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Over the past century, synthetic materials have been designed for durability and stability, yet they largely lack the ability to adapt and respond to their environment. Inspired by nature, this project aims to bridge the gap between synthetic materials and biological systems by leveraging supramolecular chemistry to design adaptive, interactive, and autonomously responsive materials. By utilizing non-covalent interactions, we seek to develop self-regulating materials that can sense, respond, and evolve—just like living systems. This research integrates cutting-edge experimental techniques with robotics and machine learning to accelerate the discovery of functional supramolecular materials.

This PhD position is part of the newly founded National Growth Fund programme Big Chemistry, in which chemists, engineers, and computer scientists across several research institutes in the Netherlands develop cutting-edge automated chemical laboratories for soft materials discovery. You will be embedded in a multidisciplinary team and have access to state-of-the-art facilities.

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD position under the supervision of Prof. Ghislaine Vantomme at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems at TU/e (The Netherlands).

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, molecular science, or a related field.
• Experience in molecular self-assembly and advanced characterization techniques (required).
• Strong experimental skills, coupled with solid analytical abilities.
• Experience in polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, organic synthesis, or related fields.
• An engineering mindset with an interest in integrating chemistry with machine learning and robotics.
• Experience in programming (Python, or similar) is a plus.
• The ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment and collaborate with engineers, materials scientists, and physicists.
• Fluency in English, with strong communication and reporting skills, and a team-oriented attitude.

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager, Ghislaine Vantomme, g.vantomme@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.helix@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.