As part of a large public-private partnership funded by the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT) the Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), one of eight institutes of the Faculty of Science, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in Computational Chemistry. 

In 2010, we invented a new type of plastic resin, which is non-toxic, biodegradable, and 100% plant-based. This bioplastic is now being commercialised by a spin-off company, Plantics BV. Yet even as the production is being scaled up, we still don’t understand how the resin actually forms. To understand the polymer formation process, we will combine computations and experiments. You will be part of a team that will deliver an understanding of the resin properties and especially insight into its formation process and the resulting material characteristics. In our iterative workflow, models are used for predicting the properties of resin formulations, and experimental measurement of these formulations are then used as feedback for improving the models.

The computational models will be studied in collaboration with the Amsterdam Centre for Multiscale Modelling (ACMM). Experimental data will be obtained in our labs, as well as in the labs of the project partners.

• A PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering;
• at least four papers in peer-reviewed international journals in English;
• experience with molecular dynamics and/or Monte Carlo methods;
• ability to program, write original code and modify existing codes and packages. Knowledge of FORTRAN is an advantage;
• an understanding of coarse grained modelling;
• excellent communication skills in oral and written English.

A background in polymer chemistry is an advantage, as is knowledge of Dutch and/or Finnish.

You will be employed by the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam on a fixed-term full-time position (38 hours per week) for a period of one year, extendable for another six months based on performance and results. Depending on experience, the gross monthly salary will range from €2,709 to €4,274 (scale 10) and will be supplemented with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (Cao) is applicable.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

The Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavour & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organised into four themes: Sustainable Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry and Molecular Photonics.

The Heterogeneous Catalysis & Sustainable Chemistry group in Amsterdam, led by Prof. Gadi Rothenberg, is internationally known for its research on catalytic biomass conversion and biobased materials. Converting biomass to useful chemicals is a key research theme in the group.

The group has a strong ongoing interest in combining modelling and experiments for predicting the performance of materials and has developed several modelling and experiment workflows that are now used worldwide by academia and industry.