Medior Researcher Sustainable Processes

About this position

The energy sector and the (chemical) industry are in a transition toward the use of new feedstock, the use of renewable energy sources, increasing process and energy efficiency, circularity and carbon capture and utilization. The department Sustainable Process & Energy Systems works on all these transitional topics. Our core technical expertise is Separation technologies, Gas- Treatment and Conversion, Electrochemistry and Bio-based Building Block synthesis. We work for- and with (renewable) energy and chemistry companies and in a network of international knowledge partners.

What will be your role?

Some typical projects/programs we are working on:

• Electrification of the industry: VoltaChem
• Biomass valorization: second generation biomass conversion to building blocks, Biorizon

One of the growing subjects within the group is the Circular Plastics program and specifically within SPES.

Both the Biorizon and Plastics recycling program work on the reduction of the carbon footprint of chemicals such as plastics involving groups throughout TNO. Our SPES team in Rijswijk focuses on the development of sustainable processes for chemical building blocks and plastics. With an increasing work stock, we are looking for a junior lab technician. You will be involved in laboratory scale organic chemistry type experiments. You will be part of the lab team that builds setups and performs measurements in the lab and at our clients for our projects.

The position is best suited to an enthusiastic person with the following characteristics:

• You have affinity with recycling of plastics and the biobased material transition.
• You have a very hands-on mentality, and are very comfortable with working in a lab and with chemicals.
• You can work independently in a lab environment.
• You have a high safety awareness for working with chemicals.
• Based on the input from our scientists, you are able to set up a basic set of tests as well as executing those. You are used to analyzing the product and reporting the experiments performed.