PhD Position in Colloidal Assembly for Nanostructured Lithium-Ion Batteries

This PhD project aims to develop a nanostructured bijel lithium-ion battery (BLIB) with fast charge/discharge (<1 min) and high energy density. Working with 3 PhDs and 1 postdoc, you'll help synthesize a conductive anode within a bicontinuous emulsion, coat it with a nanoscale separator, and fill it with cathode material. The goal is a scalable, robust fabrication method that could revolutionize battery technology and support sustainability.

Your job
Join the Van ’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry at Utrecht University as a PhD candidate in a collaborative, non-hierarchical research environment. You'll be part of the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, with access to research schools, colloquia, career events, and social activities.

Your project focuses on developing the BLIB, an experimental system studied using techniques such as modern microscopy, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and materials synthesis. You’ll work extensively in the lab, using equipment like 3D printers, furnaces, centrifuges, and microfluidic devices. Meticulous data recording and analysis are essential, as the project combines practical engineering with fundamental physical chemistry.

You will collaborate with four industry partners, reporting progress twice a year and contributing to written reports. In addition to that, you will also present your work at national and international conferences and aim to publish open-access papers forming your dissertation.

Besides your research work, you will contribute to BSc and MSc teaching by supervising lab work, guiding projects, and supporting academic development. You'll have freedom to explore ideas within the project scope, supported throughout by your supervisor, Dr. Martin Haase. This PhD offers strong preparation for a career in academia or industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• conducting experimental research on the BLIB using advanced physical chemistry
  techniques;
• designing and building setups with lab equipment and 3D printing;
• maintaining an electronic lab journal and organising research data;
• presenting regularly to internal teams and industrial partners;
• publishing in scientific journals and contributing to progress reports;
• attending and presenting at scientific conferences;
• supporting teaching in physical chemistry and mentoring students;
• engaging with the wider research community through the Debye Institute.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated colleague with an MSc degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry, who meets several (or ideally all) of the following qualifications:

Scientific and Technical Competence

• A strong interest in topics such as colloids, electrochemistry, transport phenomena, and physical chemistry.
• A solid understanding of thermodynamics.
• Experience working in a laboratory environment, including tasks such as calculating sample compositions.
• A quantitative mindset with the ability to analyse data, make predictions, and perform back-of-the-envelope calculations.

Mindset and Personal Qualities

• You have a genuine curiosity and a critical, science-driven mindset, combined with a strong drive to explore and understand complex systems.
• You are enthusiastic about problem-solving, tackling engineering challenges, and contributing to the advancement scientific knowledge.
• You are committed to contributing to a respectful, inclusive and supportive work environment.

Teamwork and Communication

• The ability to communicate complex research ideas clearly and collaborate effectively with researchers from different disciplines.
• You have an excellent command of spoken and written English.
• You have a passion for inclusive, high-quality teaching and an interest in contributing to student supervision and education.

• a position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary starting at € 3,059 in the first year and increasing annually up to €3,881 in the fourth year, based on full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.

Utrecht University’s Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science brings together five research groups from the departments of Chemistry and Physics. The central research theme is 'Nanomaterials for Sustainability', supported by three strong, interconnected research themes: Catalysts & Energy Materials, Colloids & Biomaterials and Nanophotonics & Quantum Materials.

Research in the Van ’t Hoff Laboratory focuses on the interplay between colloidal synthesis and the physical description of soft matter. We prepare colloidal particles of different shapes, sizes, materials, and interactions. Characterization using various experimental techniques and the development of theoretical models help us understand their physical chemistry.

The Haase research group specialises in colloid and interface science, with a focus on non-equilibrium soft matter structures—especially bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels (bijels). We engineer bijels through the interfacial self-assembly of colloids during liquid-liquid phase separation. Our work explores fundamental questions about bijels and their emerging applications in energy storage, filtration, and catalysis.

For more information, please contact Martin Haase via m.f.haase@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.