Group Leader in Automated Materials Synthesis and Characterization

The new group will capitalize on DIFFER’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, including high-end materials synthesis facilities such as the VSParticle Nanoparticle Printer (VSP) and Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), as well as comprehensive material characterization tools (XRD, SEM, TEM, XRF, XPS, etc.), to accelerate the discovery and optimization of materials for sustainable energy applications, essentially including electro-, thermo-, or plasma-driven energy carrier conversion.

The successful candidate will establish an internationally recognized research group dedicated to automated materials synthesis and characterization for sustainable energy. You will develop and lead a high-impact experimental program that exploits and expands DIFFER’s research facilities for rapid material fabrication and analysis. The Group Leader is expected to collaborate with colleagues to ensure that insights from data-driven techniques and lab automation are successfully implemented in optimization of experimental workflows for materials synthesis and characterization. These collaborative efforts will increase DIFFER’s capability to discover advanced materials for energy, aligning with our institute’s strategy.

We seek an exceptional experimental scientist with deep expertise in the synthesis, processing, and characterization of energy materials. The ideal candidate has a strong background in areas such as heterogeneous catalysis, nanomaterials, thin films, or other advanced materials, with extensive experience in high-throughput or combinatorial experimentation and advanced materials characterization techniques.

Responsibilities:

• Lead an innovative research program in automated materials synthesis and characterization, developing new methodologies to rapidly create and evaluate materials for energy applications.
• Exploit and further develop DIFFER's materials synthesis platforms (VSP and PLD) to enable high-throughput screening and optimization of catalysts, electrodes, and other energy materials.
• Use advanced characterization methodologies (XRD, SEM, TEM, XRF, XPS, etc.) and contribute to the design of new characterization workflows to achieve a comprehensive understanding of material structure–performance relationships.
• Apply insights from AI-driven discovery strategies developed by colleagues to design experiments and enhance the efficiency of the materials discovery process.
• Collaborate closely with lab automation scientists and engineers to integrate experimental results from synthesis and characterization techniques with real-time data analysis and adaptive planning, all within the self-driving lab framework.
• Secure external research funding through competitive grants and industrial partnerships to expand the capabilities and impact of the group’s research.
• Supervise PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and engineers, promoting scientific excellence and career development.
• Disseminate research findings through publications, presentations, and stakeholder engagement activities.

We seek an exceptional experimental scientist with deep expertise in the synthesis, processing, and characterization of energy materials. The ideal candidate has a strong background in areas such as heterogeneous catalysis, nanomaterials, thin films, or other advanced materials, with extensive experience in high-throughput or combinatorial experimentation and advanced materials characterization techniques.

Group Leader in AI-Assisted Autonomous Experimentation

The new group will broadly leverage DIFFER's state-of-the-art infrastructure, including material synthesis platforms (VSParticle Nanoparticle Printer, Pulsed Laser Deposition), advanced analytical instrumentation (XRD, SEM, TEM, XRF, XPS), and automated chemical characterization tools (electrochemical workstations, ICP-MS, GC-MS), to enable transformative advancements in autonomous materials discovery.

The successful candidate will lead the development of integrated frameworks for automating a variety of experimental workflows. You will focus on connecting relevant laboratory setups and experimental design with advanced AI-driven methods to enable automation in electro-, thermo-, or plasma-driven energy carrier conversion experiments.

The Group Leader is expected to create pioneering solutions to seamlessly integrate diverse laboratory equipment and robotics, establishing fully automated experimental workflows, and implementing AI-assisted adaptive experiment planning supported by real-time data analytics. This role involves collaboration with researchers and engineers for the design of robust, FAIR-compliant data infrastructures capable of handling large-scale, real-time experimental data. The Group Leader will also play a central role in translating insights from digital twin simulations, currently under development at DIFFER, into the design and optimization of real-world experimental workflows.

We seek an outstanding scientist or engineer experienced in building automated laboratories with integrated lab equipment and handling complex experimental workflows. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience integrating laboratory automation, machine learning-driven optimization, and high-throughput experimentation in materials science, chemistry, physics, or related fields, and has contributed to collaborative projects at the forefront of AI-assisted experimentation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the establishment and management of an integrated autonomous experimentation platform, combining advanced synthesis, material and chemical characterization equipment into a unified, automated system.
• Develop and implement AI-driven methodologies for autonomous, adaptive experimentation – including active learning algorithms and self-optimizing experimental workflows – ensuring effective integration across heterogeneous instruments.
• Contribute to the development of a robust data infrastructure adhering to FAIR data principles, enabling real-time data acquisition, analysis, and decision-making to accelerate discovery.
• Apply insights from digital twin simulations developed by colleagues to improve the design of physical laboratory setups and experimental workflows.
• Collaborate closely with materials scientists, chemists, and engineers to ensure effective integration of synthesis and characterization techniques, and AI tools into the self-driving lab framework.
• Secure external research funding through competitive grants and industrial partnerships to expand the capabilities and impact of the group’s research.
• Supervise PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and engineers, promoting scientific excellence and career development.
• Disseminate research findings through publications, presentations, and stakeholder engagement activities.

Allround Technician for its research facilities for fundamental energy research

As a technician, you will work alongside fellow technicians on DIFFER’s research facilities, particularly on Magnum-PSI, the institute's largest facility for fundamental research on materials that could be used in future fusion reactors. (For more information, see: https://www.differ.nl/facilities/magnum-psi). You will support the preparation and execution of physics experiments, working at the intersection of physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and control & data acquisition. This role will allow you to gain experience with a broad range of technical disciplines.
Your main tasks will include:

• Learning to independently and safely operate Magnum-PSI, including its diagnostic systems;
• Consulting with scientists and (guest) researchers and translating their research requirements into technical solutions and equipment configurations of Magnum-PSI;
• Preparing and conducting the scientific program on Magnum-PSI in cooperation with scientists and (guest) researchers;
• Collaborating with and supervising specialized technical colleagues (constructors, workshop technicians, electrical engineers, and software engineers) to develop high-quality technical designs and products for the research facilities;
• Configuring Magnum-PSI’s (optical) measurement systems, partially ensuring the quality of the collected data, and instructing students, PhD candidates, and guests on how to use these systems;
• Initiating, implementing, and testing improvements and (small) modifications to Magnum-PSI;
• Performing maintenance, repair, and assembly tasks on Magnum-PSI;
• Depending on your interests and expertise, contributing to other DIFFER research facilities.

allround Technicus onderzoeksfaciliteiten voor Fundamenteel Energie onderzoek

Als technicus werk je samen met collega technici aan de DIFFER onderzoeksfaciliteiten, en met name aan Magnum-PSI, de grootste faciliteit bij DIFFER voor fundamentele onderzoek aan materialen die toegepast kunnen worden in een toekomstige kernfusie-reactor. (Voor meer informatie zie: https://www.differ.nl/facilities/magnum-psi) Je verricht ondersteunende werkzaamheden voor de voorbereiding en uitvoering van natuurkundige experimenten. Een functie waarin natuurkunde, werktuigbouwkunde, elektrotechniek en control- en data acquisitie samenkomen en je een breed scala aan technieken leert kennen.
Je houdt je onder meer bezig met het volgende:

• Leren zelfstandig op een veilige wijze Magnum-PSI te bedienen, inclusief meetsystemen;
• Overleggen met de wetenschappers en (gast)onderzoekers, en hun onderzoekswensen vertalen in technische oplossingen en instellingen van de apparatuur van Magnum-PSI;
• Voorbereiden en uitvoeren van het wetenschappelijke programma op Magnum-PSI in opdracht van de wetenschappers en (gast)onderzoekers;
• Samenwerken met en aansturen van collega technische specialisten (constructeurs, werkplaatstechnici, elektrotechnici en software engineers) voor het maken van hoogwaardige technische ontwerpen en producten t.b.v. de onderzoeksfaciliteiten;
• Instellen van de Magnum-PSI (optische) meetsystemen, waarbij je gedeeltelijk verantwoordelijk bent voor de kwaliteit van de meetgegevens, en instrueren van studenten, PhD’s en gasten in het gebruik van deze systemen;
• Initiëren, implementeren en testen van verbeteringen en (kleine) aanpassingen aan Magnum-PSI;
• Uitvoeren van onderhouds-, reparatie- en assemblage-werkzaamheden op Magnum-PSI;
• Afhankelijk van je interesses en expertise krijg je de kans om technische bijdragen te leveren aan de andere onderzoeksfaciliteiten van DIFFER.

Ion Beam Analysis specialist

DIFFER’s ion beam facility (IBF) features a 3.5 MV Singletron and four beamlines that support four world-unique experiments. Our MAGNUM PSI is a linear plasma device with the world's highest plasma flux. The Upgraded Pilot PSI (UPP) is the only device allowing simultaneous plasma exposure and ion beam analysis (IBA). DICE enables simultaneous ion-irradiation and salt-corrosion experiments and IBA-REACTOR allows for dynamic observation of electrolysis processes. The IBF usage is rapidly growing, with operational hours increasing from 500 in 2019 to 3500 in 2025. Our diverse user base spans fusion, electrochemistry, aerospace, optics, fission, and more.

We are seeking a highly skilled Ion Beam Analysis Specialist to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in the characterization and analysis of materials using advanced ion beam techniques.