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Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Utrecht University
- Research Field: Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 1 Oct 2026 - 17:30 (Europe/Brussels)
- Country: France
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Dec 2026
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA
Offer Description
The proposed solution and innovation, driven by the Mecat network, centers on establishing the integrated European framework where the development of mechanocatalysis is a cohesive, closed-loop process. The central innovation is the mechanocatalysis, which proactively embeds sustainability by ensuring that metrics are design parameters rather than retrospective evaluations. This is achieved through the direct integration of real-time data from operando-instrumented mechanochemical platforms (such as ball mills and extruders, delivering multimodal datasets like Raman and FTIR) into predictive kinetic and reactor models. These models subsequently inform validated Integrated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) workflows, which guide the design of catalysts and process optimisation. The crucial move toward industrial relevance, and a core strength of Mecat, is the guaranteed ability to achieve pilot-scale implementation, secured by the direct availability of necessary advanced reactors within the consortium. Mecat's unique structure is not limited to lab-bench scale; its industrial partners and research pillars provide collective access to specialized, high-throughput equipment, including twin-screw extruders, Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) systems, and industrial mills. This collective infrastructure allows the seamless translation of powder-scale discoveries to continuous processing and validation at the kilogram scale. By unifying this methodology from lab to pilot scale through five interconnected pillars- mechanistic elucidation, catalyst design, pilot-scale implementation, quantitative sustainability benchmarking, and interdisciplinary doctoral training- Mecat establishes the foundations for reproducible, industry-ready, solvent-free catalysis and polymer upcycling/recycling, directly addressing the current immaturity of the field. Together, these pillars create an integrated innovation pipeline that aligns directly with MSCA DN objectives: high-quality, interdisciplinary training; intersectoral mobility; and the development of researchers equipped to drive Europe’s green transition.
Beneficiaries & Research Institutions
Mecat brings together nine leading academic institutions and 12 non-academic partners, forming a uniquely comprehensive consortium that covers the entire mechanocatalysis value chain. This alignment is not found in any current MSCA DN or Horizon Europe project.
- Academic leaders (UP, UNICA, BAM, RUB, UoB, UU) provide expertise in mechanochemistry, catalysis, polymer chemistry and operando methods, while ENS Lyon and HUB will deliver the doctorate diploma only.
- Applied research organisations (IFPEN, FCBA, Fraunhofer) bridge fundamental discoveries with process engineering and industrial validation.
- Technology providers (Retsch, Microtrac, WAB, HTE Gmbh) supply advanced mechanochemical reactors, mill instrumentation and high-throughput platforms.
- Industrial end-users (Saint-Gobain, Syensqo, Johnson Matthey, ARD) define real-world constraints, host secondments and provide pilot-scale environments.
- Sustainability experts (UBx, WeLOOP) ensure that LCA and TEA steer decision-making throughout the project.
This consortium ensures complete coverage of all required competencies, from laboratory-scale mechanistic insight to industrial demonstration and provides DCs with a vibrant intersectoral training environment. The continuous exchange of materials, data, and models among partners embeds each DC in a real, functioning innovation chain, rather than isolated research tasks.
Project description:
Pioneer a sustainable plastic waste recycling pathway through mechano-catalytic conversion. Join us in shaping a greener future with your expertise in catalysis, spectroscopy, mechano-chemistry, and/or polymer science. Decades of polymer engineering have led to various plastic materials with a variety of tuneable properties and applications. Considerably less effort has gone into strategies on how to deal with the waste created. Only 13.5% of plastics made in the EU consist of recycling content, mainly because current recycling technology leads to a lower quality material. Chemical recycling is hailed as the solution but still has to take off, especially for resins. Contribute to developing better chemical recycling methods. Use your experience with catalysis, polymer science, and/or mechano-chemistry to develop new recycling technologies for plastics using mechano-catalytic milling. You will enter a relatively unexplored field of chemistry together with an expanding team of PhD students and Postdocs. You will also spend a few months with our collaborators at the Fraunhofer Institute WKI in Germany and the WAB company in Switzerland.
This project aims to pioneer the conversion of photo-curing resins, such as breaking crosslinks to enable solubility and recycling. By unravelling the intricate interplay between mechanical forces, catalysis, and selective polymer chain cleavage, you will gain valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms shaping the future of recycling technology. You will develop operando spectroscopic techniques to track the bond cleavage during ball milling. Embrace the array of cutting-edge spectroscopic and analytic techniques (e.g., EPR, SEC, Raman, IR and TGA) within the Institute of Sustainable and Circular Chemistry (ISCC), and become a trailblazer in mechano-catalytic polymer recycling.
Your main tasks:
- Develop a low temperature mechano-catalytic route to enable resin recycling
- Enable selective bond cleavage
- Develop new surface activated mechano-catalysts
Excel in a top chemistry group with state-of-the-art equipment
Where to apply
E-mail: MSCA@solisservices.onmicrosoft.com
Requirements
- Research Field: Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We are looking for a collaborative and enthusiastic PhD student who meets several or all of the following criteria:
- A MSc degree in chemistry;
- Motivation to develop new plastic recycling technologies and contribute to solving the plastic waste issue;
- A strong interest in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, spectroscopy, mechano-chemistry, and/or polymer chemistry;
- Is a creative team player with good English communication skills;
- Has hands-on experience in using or building chemical setups in the lab environment;
- Can work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.
Doctoral candidates will spend time two secondments during their 48 months employment contracts. Anticipated secondments for this position are:
(1). WAB
(2) Fraunhofer
Specific Requirements
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a single PDF document to MSCA@solisservices.onmicrosoft.com, named with your full name.
- A detailed CV (maximum two pages), specifying educational background (name of university/universities, year degree(s) obtained, title(s) of degree(s)), qualifications, work experience, skills, research interests, list of publications (if any) and the names and contact details of two referees.
- A motivation letter (maximum two pages), describing the candidate’s interest in the network, previous research experience, and current research interest outlining the fit to the desired PhD Project. If you are planning to apply to more than one position in the network, please limit your applications to three positions maximum (from DC1 to DC15) and please provide a separate document detailing which positions you have applied for.
- Copy of passport or National Identify Card.
- Copies of academic certificates (BSc, MSc, and any other relevant diplomas), translated into English, including expected final grade and date.
- Proof of English proficiency, demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL, or a university certification confirming that the degree or MSc thesis was conducted in English.
- Two recommendation letters (maximum 1 page each).
Only documents in English will be accepted.
Applications failing to include the requested documentation, who do not indicate the preferred projects or do not meet the eligibility criteria, will not be considered.
For more information about the project: https://ic2mp.labo.univ-poitiers.fr/
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry
Additional Information
Benefits
- First-hand experience in mechanochemistry, polymer recycling, mechano-catalysis using state-of-the-art equipment
- International, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility, with secondments across Europe.
- Participation in international conferences, workshops, and transferable skills training.
- Competitive salary, mobility allowance following MSCA-DN funding rules.
- A position for 4 years;
- A gross monthly salary ranging from €3,059 and €3,881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
- 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- A pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible terms of employment based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number schemes and facilities of its own for employees. These include agreements on facilitating professional development, leave and sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue investing in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for one of these PhD positions, the applicant must fulfil the following conditions at the day of recruitment:
- MSc degree. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering or related fields. Candidates must not have been awarded a previous PhD degree.
- English proficiency:Applicants must have excellent English proficiency, at least B2 level (written and spoken).
Selection process
The selection process will be conducted in two stages:
- An initial interview will be carried out by the supervisors to shortlist up to two candidates for each Doctoral Candidate (DC) position.
- Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a second interview with the Selection Committee, which will make the final recruitment decision.
Additional comments
The PhD title will be awarded by Utrecht University
Website for additional job details: https://ic2mp.labo.univ-poitiers.fr/
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Utrecht University
- Country: Netherlands
- City: utrecht
Contact
- State/Province: Netherlands
- City: utrecht
- Website: https://ic2mp.labo.univ-poitiers.fr
- E-Mail: MSCA@solisservices.onmicrosoft.com
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