The research project (GREENER) is part of a larger European private-public cooperation (Interreg V Flanders-the Netherlands, https://www.grensregio.eu/projecten/greener) which aims at the synthesis of biobased and biodegradable polymers that can replace polyacrylic acid, as well as copolymers thereof. In this way, GREENER aims to contribute to a more sustainable world. At present, it happens still far too often that plastics based on polyacrylic acid are burned after use or dumped in landfills or oceans, where they contribute to microplastic pollution (“plastic soup”) since polyacrylic acid is not biodegradable. The alternative polymer that will be developed in this project has the great advantage that it is biodegradable and non-toxic while natural substances are released upon degradation. The aim of this project is to valorize the new polyacrylic acid replacement polymer platform in the widest possible range of applications, namely superabsorbents in concrete, biomedical materials, cosmetic applications, paper processing and coatings.

As the PhD candidate of Maastricht University, you will play an active role in the GREENER consortium. You are responsible for the synthesis of the biobased and biodegradable (co)polymers, and to evaluate their potential in mainly coating and paper applications. The candidate will collaborate with researchers at both universities and industrial partners, and based on their feedback, the research will be tuned. The candidate is open to upscale successful leads in the lab for application testing by industrial partners.

The PhD candidate will be appointed at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), which is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. You will work in the group of Associate Professor Katrien Bernaerts, which focusses on the synthesis and design of polymer materials with tunable properties exploiting the functionality of biobased building blocks.  You will operate from the Brightlands-Chemelot Campus in Geleen (Nl), where the labs of AMIBM are located.

The PhD candidate
- holds a Master in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related fields;
- has strong polymer synthesis and characterization skills; experience in coating/paper applications is a pro;
- has a strong interest to investigate structure-property relationships of the newly synthesized polymers in different applications;
- aims at helping to create ready-to-market products from the insights gained during the PhD study – in balance with profound scientific publishing in peer review journals;
- is open for upscaling of novel products or processes to support application tests by industrial partners;
- likes to interact with academic and industrial partners;
- is result driven, inventive, creative, counts with potential impact, works ‘accountable’ and works with ownership;
- masters scientific English for speaking, reading, and writing. Knowledge of Dutch is not required.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The full-time position is offered for four years (first year + three years after receiving a positive evaluation) with a yearly evaluation. The salary will be set in PhD salary scale of the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities (€2.325 gross per month in first year to €2.972 last year). On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance. The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labor Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO), supplemented with local UM provisions. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

The Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)

The Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) is a department of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University. AMIBM is a European cross-border research institute established by Maastricht University and RWTH Aachen University focusing on the development of advanced biobased materials. The mission of AMIBM is to replace traditional polymer building blocks with innovative and sustainable alternatives for the development of novel and environmentally-beneficial materials. AMIBM promotes world-class multidisciplinary research in the field of biobased materials, by training PhD students with the multiple skills needed to be future leaders in the field, and creating the research breakthroughs that will enable the utilization of sustainable and renewable materials for advanced materials applications. The multidisciplinary team draws together scientists with expertise in organic chemistry, biocatalysis, lead finding of new biobased blocks, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, polymer engineering, biobased and biomedical materials, tissue engineering, and industrial and medical applications. More information can be found via https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/institutes/aachen-maastricht-institute-bio-based-materials.

https://fhs.maastrichtuniversity.nl/AMIBM/