Reageren voor 06 maart 2026
Researcher Electrochemical Modelling and Digital twinning
- 0,8 - 1 fte
- € 3.826 - € 5.699
- Breda, Den Bosch
With the energy transition in full swing, you will help Avans discover ways to rapidly reduce carbon emissions through new sustainable technologies, while exploring how we can implement those technologies in society.
Ik wil solliciterenGreat job
How do we create a sustainable, carbon-free energy system? At Avans, we contribute to this challenge with practice-based research on renewable energy carriers such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels, and iron powder. By working together with students, teachers, researchers, and our partners, we help set the energy and materials transition in motion.
In this research role, you will play an important part in the Renewable Energy Carriers group. Your focus is electrochemical process modelling for hydrogen electrolysers and related systems. You will develop digital twins and simulation models that connect physics, data, and practical use cases so that our projects can design, optimise, and operate electrochemical technologies with higher efficiency and longer lifetime.
In this position you contribute to the development and application of advanced electrochemical and data‑driven models within the energy transition. Your responsibilities include:
- Advancing the integration of electrochemical technologies (electrolysis, fuel cells, and storage) in energy‑transition projects, with a focus on hydrogen electrolysers (PEM, alkaline, and/or SOEC) and balance‑of‑plant.
- Developing dynamic models and digital twins by translating electrochemical and process fundamentals into mass and energy balances, constraints, and differential‑equation models, including parameter estimation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty analysis.
- Building robust time‑series data workflows (cleaning, quality checks, feature extraction) and calibrating and validating models using lab and field data.
- Applying data‑driven and hybrid modelling approaches (e.g., ML plus physics) where they add value, and assessing when added complexity is justified.
- Supporting proposal writing and project delivery by translating research questions into clear modelling tasks and deliverables, collaborating with research groups inside and outside MNEXT, and supervising Bachelor students on modelling sub‑studies linked to ongoing projects.
Your role as researcher within Avans
The Centre of Expertise MNEXT focuses on the energy and materials transition. MNEXT is a partnership between Avans University of Applied Sciences and HZ University of Applied Sciences, working with SMEs, industry, and public partners to bring innovations into practice. We are an international team of around 80 colleagues, and we mainly communicate in English. MNEXT currently consists of seven research groups: Biobased Construction, Biobased Resources & Energy, Biobased Building Blocks & Products, Smart Energy, Renewable Energy Carriers, Biobased Transitions, and Marine Biobased Chemistry.
In this role, you will be part of the Renewable Energy Carriers research group, established in 2024 and currently comprising about 15 researchers. Our mission is to convert surplus renewable power into flexible, low-carbon energy carriers. We combine modelling and experimentation in our laboratories in Breda (JRCB Electrochemistry Lab) and Den Bosch (Iron Power Lab). We work on technologies including SOE & PEM electrolysis, iron-fuel conversion, and e-fuel synthesis. These efforts drive our three flagship research lines: Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage, Metal-Fuel Cycles, and E-Fuels & Power-to-X. As a new research group, there is ample scope to show initiative and explore new ideas. At MNEXT, we have an entrepreneurial mindset and big ambitions, and you can count on considerable freedom and variety in your work.
You fit right in
First and foremost, you are passionate about the energy transition and want your modelling work to have real-world impact. You enjoy building models that are both scientifically sound and useful for engineering decisions, and you communicate assumptions and limitations clearly. Working in a team environment that requires a proactive attitude and collaborating with experimental colleagues and external partners suits you well. Contributing to the continued professionalisation of our education by guiding Bachelor and Master students working on modelling or data-analysis sub-studies linked to ongoing projects, is what drives you.
You bring a strong engineering mindset with a focus on efficiency, system understanding, and impact, ideally with experience in electrochemical processes and technologies. Next to that, you have the ability to translate system mechanics into models (mass and energy balances with constraints), using physics-based modelling (for example differential equations) and or data-driven techniques
Additionally, you have:
- MSc (or PhD) in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, MATLAB, C, C++, or C#), ideally with good software practices (for example Git, testing, documentation).
- Strong skills in statistics and data analysis, including time-series modelling, uncertainty and data-quality assessment, and model validation.
- Experience with data-driven methods (including ML) and ideally hybrid physics plus data approaches.
- Familiarity with modelling and simulation tools for electrochemical or process systems (for example Simulink, Modelica, COMSOL, Aspen, gPROMS, or similar).
- Clear communication skills in English (Dutch is a plus), able to present assumptions and results in a structured way and collaborate effectively in a team.
Innovative Avans
Big ambitions, human scale. Committed. Personal. That is Avans University of Applied Sciences. A place where you can be yourself. With your unique ideas and insights, we give you room to experiment and improve. We offer flexible education and research in co-creation with the professional field, and we keep adapting to the world around us.