Reageren voor 30 juni 2026
Researcher Polymer Science and Applications
- 0,4 - 1 fte
- € 3.826 - € 5.699
- Breda
Use your expertise in polymer chemistry to develop safer additives for plastics. At Avans, you work on applied research that supports sustainable materials innovation.
Ik wil solliciterenGreat work
As a researcher polymer chemistry, you work on the SAFE Add project: a research project focused on developing safer additives for plastics. Think of additives such as flame retardants, colourants, plasticizers and antioxidants. These substances help make plastics safer, more durable, easier to process or more attractive to use. At the same time, some additives can raise concerns because of their chemical composition. In this project, you help develop safer alternatives and show that they work in practice.
You conduct applied laboratory research within the Biobased Building Blocks & Products research group, part of the Centre of Expertise Material and Energy Transition (MNEXT). Your work focuses on polymer chemistry, biobased materials, composites and coatings. The emphasis can shift depending on the application, because additives are used in different types of materials, such as coatings, composites and plastic products.
Most of your work takes place in the laboratory in Breda. You synthesize and characterize polymer materials and use analytical techniques to understand their properties and performance. Experience with techniques such as DSC and other polymer analysis methods helps you to assess whether materials are suitable for further development or application.
You work closely with colleagues at Avans, VITO and other academic and industrial partners. You are not the project leader, but you do contribute actively to the project team. You plan and carry out your research, share results with partners and help translate findings into useful knowledge for further development.
You also contribute to the connection between research and education. You do not teach classes, but you do work with lecturers and are involved in supervising interns and graduation students, usually together with a colleague. Over time, you may also contribute to funding applications and grant proposals. That is not your main responsibility from day one, but it is part of the research environment you will grow into.
Your place as a researcher polymer chemistry within Avans
You work for the Centre of Expertise Material and Energy Transition (MNEXT) in Breda. MNEXT connects innovation, education, research and society in the field of materials and energy transition. Together with students, lecturers, researchers, companies and societal partners, we work on applied research that contributes to a more sustainable future.
Your home base is the Biobased Building Blocks & Products research group. You work in a small and involved research team, with colleagues who also conduct laboratory research and supervise students. Because the team is compact, collaboration, flexibility and willingness to support each other are important.
The SAFE Add project is carried out in close cooperation with VITO. Avans is project leader and research partner. You will be employed by Avans and work mainly from Breda, while collaborating with VITO and other partners in the project.
At Avans, you get a good degree of autonomy. You plan your own work, organise your research activities and take responsibility for your results. At the same time, you are part of a team and regularly align with colleagues and partners.
You bring
You are accurate and curious, and you enjoy solving complex questions in polymer chemistry and materials development. Laboratory research suits you: you work carefully, analyse results critically and keep going when an experiment does not immediately deliver the expected outcome.
You also communicate easily with different people. You share results clearly with colleagues, students, lecturers and external partners. Because you work in a project with several organisations, you can plan your work independently while staying connected to the wider team. You are flexible when priorities shift and willing to support colleagues when needed.
Furthermore, you bring:
- A master’s degree in polymer chemistry or materials science, with a strong foundation in polymer science and sustainable or biobased materials.
- At least 1 to 2 years of relevant experience with laboratory research in polymer chemistry, materials science or a closely related field.
- Experience with polymer synthesis and characterization, preferably including analytical techniques such as DSC or comparable polymer analysis methods.
- Knowledge of or experience with composite materials, coatings or additives used in plastic materials.
- Affinity with applied research in collaboration with industrial or academic partners. Experience with supervising interns or graduation students is a plus.
Working at Avans
Big, but small-scale. Committed. Personal. That is Avans. Here, you can be yourself. With your unique ideas and insights, you contribute to our learning and entrepreneurial character.
Avans is developing from a university of applied sciences into a knowledge institution. We are building a relevant and robust Avans that is future-proof and firmly rooted in society. We combine high-quality applied research with future-oriented and flexible education, in which students partly shape their own learning route.
Together with our lecturers, researchers, professors and partners from the professional field, we work on solutions for societal challenges and on the development of talent in our region. Students, professionals and researchers learn together in practice. This is how we make education more flexible and relevant and contribute to lifelong development.
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