Postdoctoral Fellow – Reversible Polymer Networks Advanced Manufacturing

Organisation/Company Vrije Universiteit Brussel Department Materials and Chemistry (MACH) Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Final date to receive applications 31 Mar 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,6 Offer Starting Date 1 May 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

We are searching for a Postdoctoral Fellowship to lead the REVERSAM project on a manufacturing of a new generation of reversible polymer networks, a joint project between two research groups at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brubotics and SUME.

• Brubotics (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). ), is the robotics research group, and has for the last 10 years a research line on additive manufacturing, in particular in exploring multi-functional and sustainable polymers for additive manufacturing in robotics.

Together, Brubotics and SUME have been at the forefront of the research and development of self-healing reversible polymer networks ( ). With REVERSAM, we will explore deeper how the unique properties of reversible polymer networks can be exploited for advanced manufacturing, while bringing their unique advantages, such as recyclability and self-healing to a wide range of applications. Despite many dynamic covalent chemistries and well-established synthesis methods, the broader market potential of reversible polymer networks remains untapped due to poorly understood processability and underdeveloped processing techniques.

This project aims to enhance the processability of reversible polymer networks for conventional thermoplastic methods, including extrusion, injection moulding, and 3D printing, by adjusting their chemical structure and composition through structure–processing–property correlation analysis and model-based optimization of processing parameters. Leveraging these methods, we will demonstrate the potential of reversible polymers in a future circular economy by evaluating their performance across multiple self-healing and recycling cycles.

REVERSAM is a collaborative project between VUB (Brubotics and SUME) and Ghent University. It is a strategic basic research project, meaning that while the research is fundamentally driven, it is deliberately oriented toward addressing current challenges in industry and society. Therefore, the project combines academic excellence with active engagement with industrial stakeholders to ensure relevance, applicability, and impact beyond academia.

E-mail

Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• A PhD in Material Science, Material Science & Engineering, Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Additive Manufacturing or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following research domains: reversible polymer networks, self-healing polymers, Injection moulding, extrusion, extrusion-based 3D printing, direct ink writing, finite element method (FEM).

Scientific knowledge in:

• Processing and manufacturing of polymers
• Rheology and flow behavior of polymer systems
• Structure-processing-property relationships of polymer materials
• Thermal, mechanical and rheological characterisation of polymer systems

Working knowledge in:

• Data interpretation and surrogate modelling using experimental and computational data sets
• Software tools for polymer characterization (e.g., TRIOS, Rheo Compass, Origin Lab or equivalents)
• Optimization methodologies for processing parameters.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and mentoring of MSc students and PhD researchers.
• Project management:
  Planning and execution of research projects

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct research on advanced manufacturing of reversible polymer networks.
• Project management of REVERSAM:
  Planning, coordination, milestone and deliverable tracking, …
• Lead REVERSAM’s consortium and engage with the industrial stakeholders ranging a wide value chain.
• Supervise PhDs and Master students on the REVERSAM project
• Lead manuscript writing, conference presentations, and contributions to open-source repositories.
• Mentor Masters and PhD students

Additional Opportunities

• Collaborate on interdisciplinary proposals and grants.
• Attend international conferences and contribute to global research communities.
• Full access to cutting-edge polymer characterisation, robotics labs and Fablabs.
• Contribution to project conception and application.