Job description

The Elastomer Competence Center (ECC) is part of and run by the chair of Elastomer Technology and Engineering (ETE) where the chair of Sustainable Elastomer Systems (SES) is included. They jointly operate 3 labs: one for elastomer processing (mixing, milling, curing), one for elastomer analytics (mechanical, dynamic, thermal properties, microscopy, spectroscopy), and one for chemical treatments and analyses (swelling, extraction, gas chromatography, plasma modification). Another special equipment is the Laboratory Abrasion Tester (LAT100) for measuring tire performance indicators such as abrasion and traction under different circumstances.

The main task of the technician is to handle small projects in the frame of ECC independently. This task means: to have the contact with the customer, to prepare a project offer, to carry out the measurements, to keep track on the project progress and to evaluate and to report / present the data.

The tasks of the technician will be in detail as following: The technician will discuss the frame of the characterization with the customer and agree to the final test program. In consultation with the financial department, a project offer will be send to the customer. When the customer has accepted the offer, the agreed test program has to be carried out. This contains the preparation and characterization of elastomeric materials as well as the performance of the agreed measurements. These measurements can contain the characterization of the viscosity, Payne effect, cure behavior, stress-strain and dynamic properties. Tests with the LAT100 will be performed on request as well. If required, measurement devices of other groups will be included in the test program, this has to be coordinated with the technicians of other chairs. If desired, existing test equipment has to be modified in a way that special requests of characterization techniques can be covered as well. Special requests of the customer like compound development will be handled as well. The results will be summarized and finally reported to the customer in a written form as well as (if requested) in a presentation. The technician has to work rather independently and has to make his own schedule in agreement with the other researchers in the lab.

The technician works jointly together with 2 other technical colleagues within ETE/SES, they have to keep all equipment in the 3 labs running.

The chair of the ETE group is Prof. Dr. Anke Blume, the SES group is headed by Dr. Wilma Dierkes. Besides, there are 3 more assistant professors and one additional vacancy. The group of PhD's and EngD's counts on an average of 20 students. For more information about the ETE group, click here.

For more information about Elastomer Competence Centre click on the following link.

In accordance with international law, only applicants holding the nationality of a member state of the EU/EEA or Switzerland could be employed in this support (non-academic) position.

• You have a BSc (HBO) or even a MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Material sciences (preferably with focus on polymers and elastomers), or something similar;
• You are skilled in lab work and have practical experience in mixing and characterizing elastomeric compounds;
• You have at least a basic knowledge of elastomers in terms of material composition and properties;
• You are willing to familiarize yourself with new equipment and measurements;
• You are able to evaluate and discuss the measured results in a written form in English;
• You are fluent in English, Dutch and / or German language skills are also appreciated;
• You work well-structured and have good organization skills;
• You are highly motivated and enthusiastic and like to work in an international environment with young researchers.

• We offer an excellent and stimulating scientific environment with an attractive campus and lots of facilities for sports and leisure;
• The university provides a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda;
• A fulltime position for 1 year;
• A gross salary between € 3.098,- and € 4.257- per month, depending on experience and qualifications;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• Professional and personal development programs.