Summary
Wetsus is offering a PhD position focused on developing sustainable and circular composite bioplastics from wastewater and organic residual streams. This project aims to transform ‘waste’ derived polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) into high-value bioplastic products by controlling property specifications and material costs, while ensuring safety and sustainability by design. The research is part of the newly funded EU project SOWISE+ and involves interdisciplinary work in polymer science, melt processing, and chemical engineering.
Designation
PhD Researcher
Scholarship Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Number | 2026.18 |
| Research Focus | Biopolymers from Water, Circular Composite Bioplastics |
| EU Project | SOWISE+ |
| Supervisory Team | Dr. Alan Werker (Wetsus), Dr. Carlos Contreras Davila (Wetsus), Prof. Katja Loos (University of Groningen) |
| Project Partners | Biopolymers from Water (Wetsus theme) |
Research Area
Flagship Sustainable by Design Circular Composite Bioplastics
The project is situated within Wetsus’s Biopolymers from Water research theme, which focuses on producing and recovering biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs are renewable and biodegradable bioplastics derived from wastewater and organic residual streams. The core research challenge is to establish tools for predicting and controlling the property specifications of cellulose composites with co-polymer blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). This involves addressing batch-to-batch variability in recovered PHA thermophysical properties, monitoring trace contaminants, and formulating high-performance composite bioplastics efficiently within the PHA recovery process.
Your Assignment
The research is interdisciplinary, emphasizing polymer science, melt processing, property testing, and chemical engineering. Your work will involve:
- Formulation of co-polymer blends and cellulose composites to define masterbatch bioplastic property specifications.
- Utilizing established in-house expertise and protocols including solution formulation, extrusion, mechanical testing, rheology, TGA, DSC, pyrolysis GC–MS, FTIR, HPLC, LC-MS, and GC-MS.
- Hands-on research of PHA recovery at both laboratory and pilot scales.
- Contributing to key research activities and collaborating with local Dutch and international partners within the EU project SOWISE+.
Location
Leeuwarden, Netherlands (Wetsus, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden)
Eligibility and Qualification
Your Profile
- A master’s degree in chemical engineering, polymer science, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experience with practical testing in materials science, polymer melt processing, data analysis, modeling, and polymer quality characterization techniques.
- Affinity and interest in analytical method development.
- Enjoy hands-on experimental work.
- Strong self-drive with initiative to explore topics beyond current expertise.
- Comfortable in multidisciplinary, international, collaborative settings.
- Well-versed and curious about concepts of structure-property relationships in polymer science, separation techniques in chemical engineering processes, and the use of ‘green’ organic solvents.
- Proficiency in written and oral English communication.
How to Apply
Only complete applications submitted in English via the application webpage before the deadline will be considered eligible. The application process requires the submission of several documents:
- CV: Upload in one single PDF file, named as (type of file) (your first name) (your surname). Max. file size: 20 MB.
- Motivation Letter: Upload in one single PDF file (max 1 page), named as (type of file) (your first name) (your surname). Max. file size: 20 MB.
- Copy of Degree and Grades: Upload in one single PDF file, named as (type of file) (your first name) (your surname). Max. file size: 20 MB.
- Reference Letter(s): Upload one or two signed recommendation letter(s) in one PDF file, dated no longer than 1 year before the application deadline, with contact information of the referee(s). If referees can only provide a letter upon request by Wetsus, submit a PDF with their names, affiliation, and email addresses. If a referee request is needed, inform Wetsus at phdpositions@wetsus.eu at least one week before the deadline, mentioning the project applied for. Max. file size: 20 MB.
Please refer to the Guide for Applicants for more detailed instructions.
Last Date for Apply
UNTIL POSITION FILLED
Apply Link
