PhD in Machine Learning for Materials Discovery in Self-Driving labs

Accelerating the discovery of clean energy materials requires integrating experimental research with machine learning. Self-Driving Laboratories (SDLs) are emerging research environments where experiments are planned, executed, and analyzed in closed-loop workflows that combine automated experimentation with AI-driven decision-making. At DIFFER, in close collaboration with our external partners, we are developing an SDL dedicated to accelerated discovery of functional energy materials.

In this PhD project, you will develop machine learning models that learn from high-throughput experimental datasets to uncover structure–property relationships and guide the selection of new experiments. The datasets will include measurements obtained from automated synthesis and optical/electrical characterization workflows. You will be embedded in the AMD research group, and work closely with experimental collaborators to ensure that model development aligns with data quality, measurement conditions, and evolving research priorities.

The SDL operates as a closed-loop system in which each experiment informs the next. Your models will first be used to analyze completed experiments and identify trends, and later integrated into active learning and Bayesian optimization frameworks to suggest which experiments should be performed next. Through this integration, your work will directly shape the experimental strategy of the SDL and accelerate the discovery of new materials.

This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct research at the interface of machine learning, materials science, and autonomous experimentation, contributing to the development of next-generation approaches for data-driven clean energy research.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement machine learning models to analyze and predict materials properties and performance trends from high-throughput experimental data.
• Design and evaluate feature engineering and data representation strategies for heterogeneous datasets obtained from material synthesis, characterization, and functional testing.
• Apply uncertainty-aware modeling, active learning, and Bayesian optimization approaches to guide experiment selection and support closed-loop decision-making in the SDL.
• Work closely with collaborators to align model development with measurement workflows, data availability, and evolving experimental priorities.
• Ensure reproducible and well-documented analysis practices and contribute to FAIR-aligned data interpretation.
• Explore advanced model families (e.g., generative models or graph/equivariant neural networks) to accelerate candidate discovery and hypothesis generation.
• Disseminate research findings through publications, conference presentations, and consortium meetings.
• Supervise junior student projects where appropriate.
• Complete and defend a PhD thesis within four years.

Manager Finance & Control

Als Manager Finance & Control bij DIFFER combineer je financiële eindverantwoordelijkheid met een stevige control functie. Je geeft leiding aan de financiële afdeling, neemt als adviseur deel aan het MT en ondersteunt projectleiders vanuit het onderzoek. Je bent de vraagbaak voor de hele organisatie voor wat betreft het financiële beleid en draagt rechstreeks bij aan het (financiële) succes van het onderzoek dat DIFFER uitvoert.

Concreet houd je je onder meer bezig met:

• Leidinggeven aan de financiële afdeling en zorgdragen voor een positief werkklimaat met aandacht voor de persoonlijk ontwikkeling van het team;
• Regie en coördinatie op de Planning & Control (P&C) cyclus waarbij je analyseert, adviseert en rapporteert over de verschillende P&C producten (begroting, tertiaalrapportages en jaarrekening);
• Toezien op een juiste en volledige gegevensverantwoording voor de bedrijfsvoering door het DIFFER management;
• Opstellen van de financiële rapportages, onder meer in overleg met de overkoepelende onderzoeksinstelling NWO-i;
• Adviseren van het MT en projectleiders vanuit het onderzoek over de financiële voortgang van de onderzoeksprojecten en ervoor zorgen dat deze voldoen aan de subsidievoorwaarden, procedures en wet- en regelgeving;
• Ontwikkelen, inrichten, beheren en bewaken van de structuur en werking van projectcontrol en de bijbehorende (financiële) processen.

Affiniteit met onderzoek en techniek helpt om de financiële uitvoering van projecten te begrijpen. Daarbij volg je nieuwe ontwikkelingen in jouw vakgebied. Als hoofd van de afdeling ben je verantwoordelijk voor de dagelijkse aansturing van 7 collega’s, bestaande uit project control, senior medewerker financiën, crediteuren administratie en inkoop.

PhD in Carbon Capture and Conversion in Electrochemical Membrane Reactors

The development of integrated CO₂ capture and conversion as a cornerstone of the net-zero transition is driven by ambitious goals and targets set by the European Commission, among others, under the European Green Deal. Achieving these targets is expected to create strong business cases, where carbon is no longer a costly liability but a valuable feedstock for sustainable fuels and chemicals. Based on these ambitions, the market for CO₂ capture and conversion technologies in Europe alone will grow into major opportunity, making it highly attractive for the European manufacturing and chemical industries to invest. However, the technology is not yet fully mature, which creates technical, economic, and scale-up risks during implementation. These uncertainties result in higher-than-expected costs and limit widespread adoption. Breakthrough innovations are therefore needed across the entire value chain—from efficient capture technologies to advanced catalytic processes—to reduce risks and accelerate cost reductions.

HyCARB is a national project in which multiple academic and industrial partners join forces to develop innovative and competitive processes for CO₂ utilization, with a strong focus on producing fuels and materials directly from industrial waste gases and CO₂ using renewable energy and green hydrogen. The aim is to significantly reduce emissions while strengthening the competitive position of the EU chemical sectors in a net-zero world https://www.tno.nl/en/newsroom/2025/07/significant-impulse-sustainable-industry/. This PhD position is part of HyCARB project and it will focus on the development and evaluation of advanced catalytic materials and reactor concepts for integrated CO₂ capture and conversion.

About the group: The work will be carried out in the Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Electrochemical Interfaces group at DIFFER, led by Michail (Mihalis) Tsampas. The research work in the group is devoted to electrochemical membrane reactors for solar fuel production and the electrification of the chemical industry. Our work spans the full spectrum from material and component development to the design and operation of laboratory-scale systems, with the overarching goal of developing scalable solutions. We utilize a variety of polymeric and ceramic ion-conducting materials to couple renewable energy-driven processes with applications such as water electrolysis, nitrogen and carbon dioxide fixation.

PhD: Carbon Conversion in Elevated Temperature Electrochemical Membrane Reactors

The development of integrated CO₂ capture and conversion as a cornerstone of the net-zero transition is driven by ambitious goals and targets set by the European Commission, among others, under the European Green Deal. Achieving these targets is expected to create strong business cases, where carbon is no longer a costly liability but a valuable feedstock for sustainable fuels and chemicals. Based on these ambitions, the market for CO₂ capture and conversion technologies in Europe alone will grow into major opportunity, making it highly attractive for the European manufacturing and chemical industries to invest. However, the technology is not yet fully mature, which creates technical, economic, and scale-up risks during implementation. These uncertainties result in higher-than-expected costs and limit widespread adoption. Breakthrough innovations are therefore needed across the entire value chain—from efficient capture technologies to advanced catalytic processes—to reduce risks and accelerate cost reductions.

HyCARB is a national project in which multiple academic and industrial partners join forces to develop innovative and competitive processes for CO₂ utilization, with a strong focus on producing fuels and materials directly from industrial waste gases and CO₂ using renewable energy and green hydrogen. The aim is to significantly reduce emissions while strengthening the competitive position of the EU chemical sectors in a net-zero world https://www.tno.nl/en/newsroom/2025/07/significant-impulse-sustainable-industry/. This PhD position is part of HyCARB project and it will focus on the development and evaluation of advanced materials, cell architectures and reactor concepts for CO2 conversion to syngas and high added value products.

About the group: The work will be carried out in the Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Electrochemical Interfaces group at DIFFER, led by Michail (Mihalis) Tsampas. The research work in the group is devoted to electrochemical membrane reactors for solar fuel production and the electrification of the chemical industry. Our work spans the full spectrum from material and component development to the design and operation of laboratory-scale systems, with the overarching goal of developing scalable solutions. We utilize a variety of polymeric and ceramic ion-conducting materials to couple renewable energy-driven processes with applications such as water electrolysis, nitrogen and carbon dioxide fixation.

Software Engineer

Functie

DIFFER is ter uitbreiding van het huidige team Engineering Support, op zoek naar een software engineer, fulltime voor 40 uur per week.
De Engineering Support afdeling bestaat uit ca. 16 personen waarin een groep van 4 personen als Software programmeurs opereert. Als software engineer ben je primair verantwoordelijk voor het ontwikkelen van of bijdragen aan de ontwikkeling van software systemen. Het team engineering support ondersteunt de wetenschappers bij het realiseren van technische vraagstukken.

Verantwoordelijkheden

• Overleg met opdrachtgever over het ontwerp van software (deel) producten. De software engineer brengt kennis en vaardigheden in en werkt samen met de opdrachtgever naar een ontwerp;
• Ontwikkelt test programma’s om de functionaliteit, prestaties en kwaliteits-aspecten van de gemaakte software componenten te testen. Verifieert of de software component voldoet aan de gestelde eisen. Documenteert de resultaten van de verificatie;
• Op basis van de resultaten van de verificatie wordt in overleg met de opdrachtgever de software component gevalideerd. Desgewenst worden de technische specificaties aangepast;
• Onderhoudt en ondersteunt het software pakket: lost problemen op en verzorgt wijzigingen/toevoegingen op verzoek.