Chemisch analist biopolymeren

Werk jij graag met moderne analysetechnieken zoals chromatografie, massaspectrometrie en NMR? Vind je het leuk om met geavanceerde apparatuur te werken en deze zelf te bedienen en te onderhouden? Heb je interesse in biopolymeren, zoals polysachariden en lignine? En wil je met jouw werk bijdragen aan een duurzame toekomst en een circulaire bio-economie? Dan zijn wij op zoek naar jou!

Wij zoeken een gemotiveerde en enthousiaste chemisch analist biopolymeren die onze onderzoeksprojecten op het gebied van biogrondstoffen komt versterken.

Wat ga je doen?
In deze functie werk je mee aan vernieuwend en praktisch onderzoek. Je taken zijn onder andere:

• Je onderzoekt en bewerkt biopolymeren om beter te begrijpen hoe ze werken en hoe hun eigenschappen kunnen worden verbeterd om fossiele verbindingen te vervangen in producten en materialen.
• Je gebruikt, onderhoudt en beheert verschillende analyseapparaten, zoals HPAEC, HPLC, SEC, LC-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, FT-IR en NMR en de bij behorende data verwerking. Je zorgt dat alles goed blijft werken en lost kleine storingen op.
• Je voert experimenten uit samen met collega’s en onder begeleiding van een projectleider.
• Je verwerkt en presenteert je onderzoeksresultaten in duidelijke verslagen en presentaties.

Hoe werk je bij ons?
Je werkt in wisselende projectteams met een projectleider en één of meer onderzoekers. Je werkt aan verschillende projecten tegelijk, waardoor geen dag hetzelfde is. Je krijgt ruimte om je ideeën te delen, jezelf te ontwikkelen en nieuwe vaardigheden te leren.

Bij ons staat innovatie centraal. Je werkt in een omgeving waar jouw kennis en inzet echt worden gewaardeerd.

Wat doen wij?
Binnen onze onderzoeksgroep Biorefinery and Sustainable Value Chains doen wij toegepast wetenschappelijk onderzoek. Wij werken aan een circulaire bio-economie en een toekomst zonder fossiele grondstoffen en met minder CO₂-uitstoot.

Wij onderzoeken biogrondstoffen en biopolymeren. We kijken hoe deze stoffen zijn opgebouwd en hoe ze werken. Met deze kennis ontwikkelen we duurzame oplossingen, zoals milieuvriendelijke materialen, waterzuivering en ingrediënten voor persoonlijke verzorging.

Met jouw werk help je mee aan producten die bijdragen aan een betere wereld.

Chemical Analyst Biopolymers

Do you enjoy working with modern analytical techniques such as chromatography, mass spectrometry and NMR? Do you like working with advanced equipment and operating and maintaining it yourself? Are you interested in biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and lignin? And would you like your work to contribute to a sustainable future and a circular bio-economy? Then we are looking for you!

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Chemical Analyst – Biopolymers to strengthen our research projects in the field of bio-based raw materials.

What will you do?
In this role, you will contribute to innovative and practice-oriented research. Your tasks include:

• Investigating and modifying biopolymers to better understand how they function and how their properties can be improved to replace fossil-based compounds in products and materials.
• Using, maintaining and managing various analytical instruments, such as HPAEC, HPLC, SEC, LC-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, FT-IR and NMR, including associated data processing. You ensure that equipment operates properly and resolve minor technical issues.
• Performing experiments in collaboration with colleagues and under the supervision of a project leader.
• Processing and presenting research results in clear reports and presentations.

How will you work with us?
You will work in dynamic project teams consisting of a project leader and one or more researchers. You will be involved in multiple projects at the same time, which means no two days are the same. You will have the opportunity to share your ideas, develop yourself and learn new skills.

Innovation is central to our work. You will work in an environment where your knowledge and commitment are truly valued.

What do we do?
Within our research group Biorefinery and Sustainable Value Chains, we conduct applied scientific research. We focus on building a circular bio-economy and a future without fossil resources and with reduced CO₂ emissions.

We study bio-based raw materials and biopolymers, examining their structure and functionality. Based on this knowledge, we develop sustainable solutions such as environmentally friendly materials, water purification technologies and ingredients for personal care products.

With your work, you will contribute to products that help create a better world.

Elektrotechnicus

Als Elektrotechnicus voor Glastuinbouw van Wageningen University & Research, locatie Bleiswijk, ben je verantwoordelijk voor het draaiend houden van alle elektrotechnische aspecten van ons proefbedrijf. Je werkt met name in de kassen en de vertical farm en neemt hier verantwoordelijkheid voor de technische aspecten. Je voert zelfstandig werkzaamheden uit op het gebied van installatietechniek en meet- en regeltechniek voor zowel onderzoekers als collega’s in het proefbedrijf. Op termijn ben je bereid tot het lopen van week- en consignatiediensten.

Jouw taken en verantwoordelijkheden als elektrotechnicus zijn:

• beheren van de technische aspecten van de kasklimaatsturing;
• begeleiden van externe monteurs bij de installatie van nieuwe apparatuur;
• zelfstandig kleine technische aanpassingen uitvoeren;
• controleren en onderhouden van opgeleverde installaties;
• verhelpen van storingen.

Jouw team
In deze rol maak je onderdeel uit van de technische dienst (5 collega’s) en rapporteer je aan het hoofd technische dienst. Samen werken we aan het topfit houden van de proeflocatie in Bleiswijk.

Electrical Technician

As an Electrical Technician for Greenhouse Horticulture at Wageningen University & Research, based in Bleiswijk, you are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of all electrical aspects of our research facility. You will mainly work in the greenhouses and the vertical farm, where you take responsibility for the technical systems. You independently carry out work related to installation technology as well as measurement and control technology, supporting both researchers and colleagues within the research facility. In time, you will also be willing to participate in weekly on-call and standby duties.

Your tasks and responsibilities as an electrical technician include:

• managing the technical aspects of greenhouse climate control systems;
• supervising external engineers during the installation of new equipment;
• carrying out small technical modifications independently;
• inspecting and maintaining newly delivered installations;
• troubleshooting and resolving technical faults.

Your team
In this role, you will be part of the technical service team (5 colleagues) and report to the Head of Technical Services. Together, we ensure that the Bleiswijk research location remains in excellent operational condition.

PhD position ReefWatchers: Advancing Marine Ecosystem Assessment

PhD postion ReefWatchers: Advancing Marine Ecosystem Assessment through Integrated multi-Source Biodiversity Data.

Are you passionate about marine ecology and eager to develop innovative approaches for monitoring biodiversity and translating it into robust ecosystem indicators?

We offer a PhD position within the Reefwatchers project, which aims to deliver science-based knowledge and tools to advance the monitoring of marine ecosystem biodiversity and quality. As a PhD candidate, you will work with biodiversity data collected by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with multiple sensors, including imaging systems, acoustic devices, and eDNA sampling technologies, as well as various physical sampling tools.

You will integrate diverse data streams to reconstruct trophic and food web interactions in reef food web using techniques such as stable isotope analysis, food web reconstruction, and eDNA metabarcoding. These data will be incorporated into modelling frameworks designed to develop innovative indicators for assessing the ecological status of marine ecosystems.

If you are motivated to pioneer new methodologies in marine ecosystem research and contribute meaningfully to addressing biodiversity loss, we encourage you to apply.

Key responsibilities:

• Investigate how multi-sensor biodiversity data (imaging, acoustics, eDNA, and stable isotopes) can be integrated to reconstruct marine food webs and ecosystem functioning; this includes ecological fieldwork in the North Sea.
• Conduct field monitoring using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and associated sampling tools from research vessels at the (coastal) North Sea and Lake Veere; perform laboratory analyses (e.g., stable isotope analysis and eDNA metabarcoding), advanced biodiversity data processing, and quantitative modelling. Integrate empirical data into conceptual and quantitative ecosystem models to develop ecological status indicators.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to a vibrant and inclusive research culture within the research group and the broader Reefwatchers consortium.
• Mentor and supervise BSc and MSc students in thesis projects and field/laboratory activities.

You will work here
This research is part of the multidisciplinary ReefWatchers Project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and involves a collaboration between Wageningen University with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Delft university, as well as project partners Boskalis, Guardline, Waardenburg Ecology, Oyster Heaven and Ark Nature.

You will be part of the Marine Animal Ecology group, as member of the Molecular Marine Ecology team led by Associate Professor and project PI Reindert Nijland https://www.linkedin.com/in/reindertnijland. You will be co-supervised by promotor Marjolijn Christianen https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijn-j-a-christianen-3a9a41b/ of the Coastal Experimental Ecology group at WUR, and Dick van Oevelen https://www.linkedin.com/in/dick-van-oevelen/ at the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems at the NIOZ in Yerseke.

Link to site Chairgroup: Marine Animal Ecology Group | WUR.

About the ReefWatchers project
Biodiversity loss is a global problem that threatens our ecosystem. Nature restoration initiatives abundant. However, in practice it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of restoration measures, making such activities hard to assess. Therefore, we investigate the information needs to better support decision-making regarding nature restoration activities. We do this by collecting biodiversity data from various types of measurements (eDNA, acoustic, visual, physical) and translating such data into practical information about biodiversity of a project or site.