PhD position Functional Membranes advanced foaming

Organisation/Company University of Twente (UT) Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Environmental science » Water science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 31 Mar 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 40.0 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

Within Membrane Surface Science (MSuS), part of the Department of Membrane Science & Technology (MST,(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).), and Advanced Organ Bio-engineering and Therapeutics (AOT), both of the University of Twente, the Netherlands, we have a vacancy for a PhD student.

The project will focus on the production and characterization of functional membranes, e.g. membranes that hold an additional functionality beyond separation such as absorbative or catalytic properties. The functionality will come from the addition of (nano) particles during the production process, including a foaming step to increase access to these functional particles. Such membranes will be relevant to several important applications, ranging from the removal of micropollutants from waste water and drinking water, but also the removal of protein bound toxins in kidney dialysis.

The project is part of a larger NWO-VICI project, and as such the recruited PhD student will be expected to closely collaborate with at least 2 other PhD students and one postdoc within the project. While this PhD project will focus on sustainable membrane production, others will focus on advanced functionalities and on upscaling of these most promising membranes. This team-oriented research project is intended to be a highly collaborative environment.

Moreover, the project will be well integrated in the MSuS and AOT groups, allowing extensive collaboration and knowledge exchange.

As part of the PhD program, you would have the opportunity to receive further education within the Twente Graduate School and within various graduate education programmes in the Netherlands. Furthermore, you will be expected to actively contribute to the teaching program, e.g. by supervising BSc and MSc assignments or by acting as teaching assistants in courses taught by department staff members.

• You have a Master’s degree, preferably with distinction (or international equivalent), in Membrane Science, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry, Physics or a closely related discipline.
• You are motivated and enthusiastic about working on a more fundamental project within a more applied field of research.
• You have a high affinity towards physical chemistry, materials science, water treatment or related topics.
• Preferably you have experience and affinity with polyelectrolytes, responsive polymers, phase separation processes etc.
• You have the ability to work independently and as a member of an international research team, while demonstrating a collaborative attitude.
• You are able to review and engage with interdisciplinary studies and are driven by curiosity. You have excellent analytical skills and an analytical mind-set, excellent communication skills, written as well as spoken and will be part of a dynamic, interactive research community where you are expected to contribute to the overall academic level.
• English language proficiency is a must and a written test, as well as a scientific presentation, can be part of the interview procedure.

• A full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, and the flexibility to work (partially) from home.
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.059,- (first year) to € 3.881,- (fourth year).
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time…