PhD Position in Chemical recycling of waste cotton textiles into polyester monomers

PhD Position in Chemical recycling of waste cotton textiles into polyester monomers
PhD Position in Chemical recycling of waste cotton textiles into polyester monomers

Published	Deadline	Location
today	11 Sep	Amsterdam

Job description
The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry group of HIMS (UvA) is working on the (plastic) materials transition. Closed-loop recycling is important in a circular economy. In this project we will develop novel recycling technology for waste textiles, specifically cotton-polyester blends.
Yearly textile waste adds up to 110 million tons globally (13 kg per person), the majority going to landfill or incineration. For cotton/polyester (PET) mixtures (the largest volumes in textiles), no techno-economic recycling options exist today. In this project, Avantium's DAWN Biorefinery technology will be used for hydrolyzing cotton (mainly cellulose) to valuable building blocks, even when mixed with polyester. The residual PET will be recycled to rPET or upcycled to copolyesters. Avantium will host and guide the 2 PhD students in their Amsterdam labs. The project is a collaboration between the UvA (HIMS (2 PhD's) and Social Psychology (Post-Doc studying consumer involvement)), CuRe (PET recycling), Modint (fashion/textile industry org.), Wieland (textile recycling) and Groenendijk (textile user), all relevant partners across the textiles value chain (including sorting and recycling).
Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and do you want to be active in a project that aims to impact the sustainability of textiles? The Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences is looking for 2 ambitious PhD students. Your research is part of the Industrial Sustainable Chemistry: The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry Grou p.
What are you going to do
PhD1 will focus on the optimization and process development of cotton hydrolysis and residual PET recycling/upcycling. The candidate should have a background in organic- and/or polymer chemistry. In this project, fundamental research and applied research will be combined.
PhD2 will focus on converting hydrolysed cotton to FDCA, the monomer for the polyester PEF, currently being commercialized by Avantium. PhD2 should have a background in organic chemistry/catalysis or chemical process engineering. In this project, fundamental research and applied research will be combined.
Tasks and responsibilities:

• conducting independent research in Industrial Sustainable Chemistry, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books;
• actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation;
• teaching (practical) courses in English, in the bachelor and master programmes;
• supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students.

Specifications

• max. 38 hours per week
• €2541—€3247 per month
• Amsterdam View on Google Maps

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Requirements
Your experience and profile:

• MSc/PhD in organic chemistry or polymer chemistry (PhD1) or organic chemistry/catalysis and/or chemical engineering (PhD2);
• a motivated and committed researcher;
• flexible, readiness to participate in interdisciplinary cooperation and multidisciplinary development;
• professional command of English.

Experience in chemical synthesis, catalysis, analysis (NMR, GC/LC-MS, DSC/GPC (PhD1), process modelling (PhD2) is preferred.
Conditions of employment
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is October 1st, 2022. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. Both PhD students will be working a significant period of the 4 years on secondment in the Laboratories of Avantium at Avantium's head office (Zekeringstraat) or at the Science Park (both Amsterdam).
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,541 to € 3,247 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Promovendus is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the '30% ruling', may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universitiees is applicable.
Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here .
Employer
Faculty of Science
The Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science . HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular 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 organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry , Computational Chemistry , Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics .
The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.
The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry Group focuses on the transition to a circular economy and more specifically the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy, connecting sustainable development and production of energy and chemicals. The group's focus is on future polymers with bulk volume potential. We are active in projects involving biorefinery technology (industrial sugars), and monomers from biomass and from CO2 (the only two alternatives for fossil feedstock when making polymers).
To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.
Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam .
Additional information
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Prof dr Gert-Jan Gruter

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Application procedure
If you feel one of the 2 profiles fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including September 11, 2022.
Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation, indicating the interest in PhD1 or PhD2;
• a list of publications;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.
The interviews will be held in the course of 12-16 September 2022.