Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary research team, working on the development of a platform that enables autonomous experimentation, data acquisition, and optimization of chemical processes.
Join us
The project aims advance how chemical research is performed by integrating robotic experimentation, advanced analytical analysis, kinetic monitoring, machine learning, and intelligent experiment planning into a unified autonomous platform, capable of optimizing and predicting reaction outcomes. The successful candidate will play a central role in designing and implementing this research infrastructure while applying it to challenging problems in chemistry.
This is what you are going to do
Key responsibilities
- Design, build and update a modular self-driving laboratory platform for automated chemical experimentation.
- Integrate laboratory hardware including robotic liquid handling, pumps, reactors, analytical instruments, and environmental sensors.
- Implement optimization workflows combining automated experimentation with machine learning.
- Collaborate closely with chemists, computer scientists, and engineers to develop new autonomous workflows.
- Apply the platform to research questions in synthetic chemistry, catalysis, or related application domains.
- Publish results in leading journals and present work at international conferences.
- Mentor students contributing to the project.
What you bring
- PhD degree in chemistry or a related discipline.
- Written and oral proficiency in English, strong scientific writing skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Fluent interdisciplinary communication skills with scientists in engineering and data science.
- Keen interest in automation, HTE and machine learning.
- Enthusiasm for scientific programming in Python.
- Someone with a problem-solving mindset who focuses on finding solutions rather than dwelling on obstacles.
This is what we offer you
We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 8 months. The preferred starting date is ultimately January 1st, 2027.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,706 - € 5,760 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.
Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:
- 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
- multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
- multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
- multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
- 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
- partly paid parental leave;
- a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution.
Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits? Explore all the benefits.
This is where you will work
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, flavor & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics.
Research in the Noël Research Group encompasses the development of new catalytic strategies and technologies for chemical synthesis. We strive to develop new technological tools which are of interest to the organic chemistry community and can overcome challenges in a variety of specialty applications, e.g. organic synthesis, chemical biology, material science, etc.
The aim of the Noël group is to build bridges between chemical engineering and organic synthetic chemistry. Consequently, long-standing problems in synthetic chemistry can be overcome, which includes scalability, gas-liquid reactions, photochemistry, electrochemistry and the generation and use of hazardous reagents. This allows us to effectively expand the available chemical space by bringing overlooked or avoided reagents into play.
Application
If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV. You can respond via the red button up to and including November 1st.
Please include the following documents in your application (as PDF files):
- A motivation letter (max. 2 pages A4)
- Your CV, including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience, including a list of publications.
- Contact details of at least one academic reference,
We will review applications on a rolling basis and continue recruiting until the position is filled. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the internal candidate.
A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure. (for details: national knowledge security guidelines)
For questions about the position, please contact:
Prof. dr. ing. T. (Timothy) Noël
Email: t.noel@uva.nl
Working at UvA
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