PhDs in Sustainable printing, from processing to performance

Three PhD positions at TU/e in collaboration with Canon Production Printing, combining polymer science, rheology, and computational modeling to create the inks and coatings of tomorrow.

Information
Printing is evolving toward sustainability, precision, and performance. Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), in collaboration with Canon Production Printing, offers three PhD positions to advance eco-friendly latex-based and UV-curable inks. These positions combine experimental and computational approaches to create high-performance inks with reduced environmental impact.

PhD Position one and two: Sustainable Ink Formulation and Performance

Shape the Future of Eco-Conscious Printing

These two PhD’s will experimentally design and study next-generation latex-based or UV-curable inks, exploring how polymer chemistry, rheology, and curing dynamics control mechanical performance and print quality.

Your role:

• Formulate novel ink systems with tailored polymer architectures and additives.
• Investigate how rheology, drying, and curing affect adhesion, mechanics, and wear resistance.
• Characterize inks using advanced experimental techniques like synchrotron imaging (e.g. at the ESRF in Grenoble), DMA, nanoindentation, and single-asperity scratching.
• Correlate composition, process, and performance to establish structure-property-function relationships.
• Collaborate with Canon Production Printing to translate insights into industrial-grade, sustainable inks.

PhD Position three: Computational Modeling of Ink Performance

Model the Mechanics of Tomorrow’s Inks

This PhD focuses on developing multi-scale mechanical models to predict how printed inks behave under mechanical and environmental stress.

Your role:

• Build multi-scale models and extend the Eindhoven Glass Polymer Model for latex-based and UV-curable inks.
• Implement FEM simulations linking chemistry, processing, and performance.
• Integrate experimental data from the experimental PhD’s for model validation.
• Collaborate with experimental PhDs and Canon Production Printing to enable data-driven ink optimization.

Why Join?

• Work in the multidisciplinary Processing and Performance of Materials group
• Work at the forefront of sustainable materials research in collaboration with industry leaders.
• Combine chemistry, mechanics, and computation in a multidisciplinary team.
• Access cutting-edge experimental and modeling facilities.
• Contribute to the development of eco-friendly, high-performance inks that impact global printing and packaging industries.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.