Postdoctoral researcher Life Cycle Assessment methodology for novel circular biobased products

Your colleagues

You will join the Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials group at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. This group is known for its cutting-edge research in life cycle sustainability assessment of emerging materials and technologies. You will work under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Yvonne van der Meer, alongside researchers from diverse backgrounds including environmental science, sustainable chemistry, and materials engineering.

You will also collaborate closely with LCA experts from Utrecht University, Wageningen University, and TNO, as well as industrial partners engaged in sustainable materials innovation. It’s a collaborative and impact-driven environment where scientific knowledge meets real-world application.

About the project
This postdoctoral position is part of the ULTRA-BIO project, embedded within the Dutch National Growth Fund programme BioBased Circular (BBC). Your mission? To help develop a unified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for circular biobased products.

Your work will focus on:

• Defining consistent methods for assessing environmental impact;
• Addressing key methodological challenges, such as microplastics, end-of-life modelling, and prospective LCA;
• Bridging science and industry to ensure that the tools developed are not only robust, but also practically applicable.

The ULTRA-BIO project brings together leading Dutch research institutes—including Maastricht University, Utrecht University, TNO, and Wageningen University & Research—and industry partners. As part of this network, you will contribute to shaping a national standard for LCA of circular biobased value chains.

What you will do
As postdoctoral researcher, you will take a central role in the coordination and delivery of the ULTRA-BIO project. Your responsibilities include:

• Coordinating project meetings, tasks, and communication with the supervisory board;
• Developing LCA methodology tailored to circular biobased systems;
• Leading thematic work on issues such as microplastics integration and end-of-life modelling;
• Organising collaborative research efforts across institutional partners;
• Engaging directly with industry stakeholders through interviews and workshops;
• Contributing to academic publications, technical reports, and policy-relevant insights.

This is a unique opportunity to drive real-world impact in a strategic national innovation programme.

What you bring
We are looking for a proactive and well-organised researcher who combines academic rigour with an applied mindset. You are comfortable working in dynamic, interdisciplinary environments and able to connect with diverse stakeholders.

You also have

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g. environmental sciences, chemical engineering, sustainability science);
• Strong expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), particularly in circular and/or biobased systems;
• Familiarity with emerging LCA topics such as microplastics and prospective modelling;
• Excellent communication skills—able to collaborate across scientific and industrial contexts;
• A proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals;
• Fluency in English (Dutch is a plus but not required);
• The ability to work independently and efficiently while contributing to a larger team effort.

PhD candidate: chemical modification of starch

This PhD position gives you the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of polymer chemistry, green synthesis, and sustainable materials development. You’ll be part of a growing interdisciplinary research community working across sectors and borders to realise the ambitions of the European Green Deal—starting from something as humble as the waste from potato industry.

About the project
This PhD position is part of the Interreg Flanders–Netherlands project bioZet, a cross-border collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners that aims to create biodegradable, bio-based materials from sidestream potato starch—a residual by-product from the food industry that often goes unused.

Our collective ambition is to convert this local, renewable resource into valuable alternatives for traditional plastics, resulting in materials suited for:

• Seed coatings for agriculture
• Paper enhancement and bio-based packaging
• Rheological modifiers in industrial formulations
• Biomaterials for 3D printing in healthcare

The project goes beyond scientific innovation: it helps build regional value chains, boosts circular use of biomass, and strengthens cross-border cooperation between the Netherlands and Flanders. In doing so, bioZet contributes to European climate targets—while anchoring the impact locally.

Your role in the project
As PhD candidate at Maastricht University, your task is to develop starch-based polymers through green chemical modifications tailored to specific applications. You’ll synthesise and characterise starch derivatives using advanced analytical methods, and collaborate closely with industrial partners who will test your materials in real-world settings. Based on their feedback, you’ll further optimise the molecular structure and processing conditions.

Your research will be supervised by Associate Professor Katrien Bernaerts within the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)—a multidisciplinary institute dedicated to sustainable materials research. Her group focuses on designing polymer materials with tunable properties and recyclability, using functional, biobased building blocks. Your workplace will be the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, where academia and industry connect in a vibrant innovation ecosystem.

What you’ll do
As PhD candidate, you will:

• Design and perform green chemical modifications of starch to create application-specific polymers;
• Characterise the resulting materials using techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, rheology, and spectroscopy;
• Establish structure–property relationships that explain how molecular design impacts material function;
• Interact closely with industrial partners to exchange materials, evaluate test results, and adapt formulations;
• Scale up promising starch derivatives for prototype applications;
• Write and publish scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and present your findings at conferences;
• Contribute to the applied goals of the project by helping translate academic insight into commercially viable solutions.

What you bring
We are looking for a researcher who is excited to work at the interface of fundamental chemistry and real-world application. You don’t need to tick every box—we’re more interested in your motivation, your potential, and your drive to make a difference. Ideally, you:

• Hold a Master’s degree (MSc) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field;
• Have hands-on experience in organic synthesis, polymer synthesis, and material characterisation;
• Are familiar with or interested in thermal/mechanical techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, rheology;
• Enjoy working with structure–property relationships and understanding how molecular design translates to material behaviour;
• Are open to collaborating with industry partners and adapting your research to practical feedback;
• Are creative, result-oriented, and value both scientific rigour and societal impact;
• Communicate fluently in scientific English (spoken and written); Dutch is not required;
• Want to grow as an independent, accountable researcher in a collaborative team setting.

Communicatieadviseur - tijdelijke functie

Ons doel: Als allround tekstschrijver en content creator werk je aan toegankelijke, aantrekkelijke en doelgerichte teksten en digitale content. Je richt je vooral op communicatie voor onze interne community, maar ook externe doelgroepen komen aan bod.

Het team: We zijn een team van 11 medewerkers en 2 studentassistenten en houden ons bezig met studentenwerving, onderzoekscommunicatie, interne communicatie, events en redactie. We organiseren alle marketing- en communicatieactiviteiten voor de hele faculteit en fungeren als expertisecentrum en ondersteunende dienst voor de verschillende afdelingen binnen FHML.

Wat jij gaat doen
Als tekstschrijver én content creator draag je zorg voor consistente, heldere en aantrekkelijke teksten en content, afgestemd op doelgroep en kanaal. Verder:

• schrijf je uiteenlopende teksten: van interviews tot nieuwsberichten, van webteksten tot nieuwsbrieven;
• zorg je voor –en denk je mee over contentstrategieën en communicatievormen;
• creëer je multichannel content zoals social media posts, video’s en nieuwsbrieven;
• publiceer je via ons CMS (Drupal), op intranet en social kanalen (Instagram, LinkedIn);
• en werk je samen met collega’s van Marketing & Communicatie en andere teams aan diverse projecten en evenementen.

Wat jij meebrengt
Jij bent een flexibele, creatieve en resultaatgerichte contentmaker met een vlotte pen. Je zet complexe informatie om in heldere, visueel ondersteunde communicatie. Verder heb je:

• een relevante opleiding: een hbo- of wo-diploma in communicatie, journalistiek, digital media design of vergelijkbaar;
• al enige ervaring bijvoorbeeld als (eind)redacteur, tekstschrijver en content creator;
• ervaring met interne communicatie en affiniteit met zowel online als offline media;
• kennis van SEO, AIO en EEAT (pré);
• ervaring met tools als Canva, InDesign en Photoshop;
• en je spreekt en schrijft zowel Nederlands (op C2 niveau) en Engels (op C1 niveau).

Project Manager ERCE

Our goal: Build a well-functioning, growing centre with real-world impact.
Your team: A committed group of researchers, policy partners, and stakeholders within and beyond UM.

As project manager, you are the operational backbone of ERCE. You connect people, monitor timelines, and organise inspiring events. You bring together academia, policy, and practice to help ERCE grow.

You will coordinate day-to-day activities, organise internal and international events, and foster connections across departments and partners. You play a central role in ERCE’s visibility and effectiveness.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

• Proven experience in project management within an academic or research environment.
• Strong organisational skills from concept to execution.
• Excellent communication skills – with internal and external stakeholders.
• Affinity with knowledge valorisation and societal collaboration.
• Flexible, proactive, and team-oriented mindset.
• Willingness to learn Dutch (if not already fluent).

Bonus: familiarity with the Limburg/Euregion area, entrepreneurial spirit.

Postdoctoral Researcher: Socio-economic Dynamics of the Circular Transition

Our goal: Build understanding of the socio-economic dynamics underpinning regional circular transitions.
Your team: An interdisciplinary group of researchers and societal partners within ERCE.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will investigate how circular transitions relate to ongoing regional socio-economic processes and material flows. You will work transdisciplinarily, bridging domains and co-developing strategies with public and private stakeholders. You will be based at the School of Business and Economics and report to Prof. Dr. Frank Boons.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

• PhD in regional economic geography or a related field – with a clear regional focus.
• Substantive knowledge of the circular economy and at least one domain (e.g. housing, mobility, food).
• Experience with mixed-methods research – both qualitative and quantitative.
• Transdisciplinary and impact-driven – you connect science and society.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills – the ability to actively engage with scholars from different disciplines, as well as with societal stakeholders in various domains
• Ambitious and entrepreneurial – you want to build a centre with impact.
• If not a native Dutch speaker, willingness to learn Dutch.

Bonus: knowledge of the Limburg/Euregion area, entrepreneurial mindset.