Shape the future of biomaterials from waste! Job descriptionWe have a new PhD vacancy in our group on solvothermal liquefaction (STL) of waste to biomaterials. This PhD position is part of the newly funded national NWA-ORC project, Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL), which is funded by NWO (Dutch Research Council). See:
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/2025/me/news/new-consortium-aims-to-turn-waste-into-high-value-biomaterials.To close material loops in the Dutch bioeconomy, ABEL brings together a large multidisciplinary consortium from industry, academia, policymakers, and societal partners to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: making high-value, sustainable, and circular biomaterials from low-value waste streams that can compete and even outperform traditional alternatives.
As a PhD student within the ABEL consortium at TU Delft, you will:
- Experimentally study the feasibility of a novel STL technology that is less complex and uses less energy than current ones, using a new generation of solvents and catalysts, to upcycle low-grade waste into biomaterials for many sectors of the Dutch economy. This project targets applications across agriculture, asphalt paving, aviation, construction and the built environment. Furthermore, we will incorporate the experimental data from this project into conceptual process designs that utilize advanced process simulation models to evaluate the potential of solvent-based thermochemical processing for large-scale applications.
- Publish high-quality scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to project reports in collaboration with the project supervisor and others.
- Participate in consortium meetings, workshops, and stakeholder events, and actively contribute to knowledge exchange and impact activities.
- Support the supervision of students where relevant and contribute to the academic life of the department.
This PhD position is a unique opportunity to help reshaping and defossilizing supply chains, material innovation, and explore how the value of biomaterials is defined and perceived across industry, society, policymakers and regulators.
Job requirementsYou are strong in advanced chemical and process engineering research and enjoy hands-on experimental work. You are eager to grow your expertise and enjoy engaging with and supporting students. You need to have:
- A Masters degree in Chemical engineering, Chemistry or related field.
- Experience with material characterization techniques, e.g., elemental analysis, bomb calorimetry and gas chromatography (GC-MS).
- Familiarity with Chemical engineering and Chemistry based experimental work is considered an advantage.
- Demonstrated interest or experience in sustainability transitions, circular economy, waste management.
- A critical attitude towards results is expected, which translates into formulating new research questions.
- Ability to function both in a team and independently.
- Good communication skills. Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core
values and we actively
engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty Mechanical Engineering From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.
ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.
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here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These
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Conditions of employment Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit,
Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A
Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr.ir. Luis Cutz,
luis.cutz@tudelft.nl.
For more information about the research group of Dr.ir. Luis Cutz, please visit:
www.luiscutz.com.
For more information about the department, please visit:
https://www.tudelft.nl/me/over/afdelingen/process-energy.
Application procedureAre you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than
9 March 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV
- Motivational letter
- 2 letters of recommendation (1 has to be from someone in academia)
You can address your application to Dr.ir. Luis Cutz.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the
Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note: - You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
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