PhD Candidate in Chemical Recycling

Welcome to Maastricht University!
The world is changing fast, and we’re changing with it. At Maastricht University, your work makes a real difference – whether you’re exploring the future through research, inspiring students in the classroom, or helping to shape everything that makes our education and research possible.

PhD Candidate in Chemical Recycling: Understanding the Effect of Contaminants in Plastic Depolymerization

• Our goal: Advance the circular plastics economy by uncovering how contaminants affect the chemical recycling of plastics.
• Your colleagues: A collaborative team of researchers within the Department of Circular Chemical Engineering (CCE), working towards sustainable solutions for a circular chemical industry.

About the position

As a PhD candidate, you will explore how contaminants influence the pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste streams. Through carefully designed laboratory experiments, you’ll study how impurities affect depolymerization mechanisms and the composition of pyrolysis products. Your work will provide fundamental insights that help optimize chemical recycling processes, bringing Europe one step closer to a truly circular plastics economy. 

This PhD project is part of a national research initiative and embedded in the Chemical Recycling group within the Department of Circular Chemical Engineering (CCE) at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE). You’ll be supervised by Prof. dr. M. Pilar Ruiz and collaborate closely with academic and industrial partners across disciplines and sectors.

In this role, you will:

• Design and perform lab-scale pyrolysis experiments with industrial and model plastic waste mixtures.
• Analyse pyrolysis products using chromatographic, spectroscopic, and elemental techniques.
• Investigate how contaminants influence depolymerization pathways and product formation.
• Collaborate with project partners to connect your experimental findings to pre-treatment strategies and techno-economic studies.
• Share your results through scientific publications and international conferences.
• Contribute to teaching and mentoring activities within the CCE programme.

Are you ready to make an impact on the future of sustainable plastics? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about your curiosity, motivation, and drive to create change. Do you recognise yourself in this?

• Curious and analytical. You enjoy investigating complex chemical systems and translating your findings into understanding and solutions.
• Hands-on researcher. You have experience with laboratory-scale experiments, ideally involving pyrolysis, catalysis, or polymer processing.
• Scientifically grounded. You hold a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Technically skilled. You’re familiar with analytical techniques such as GC-MS, GPC, FTIR, XRF, or elemental analysis.
• Collaborative by nature. You work well in multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral teams.
• Communicative and precise. You can express your ideas clearly in English, both in writing and speaking.

What we offer

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 12-month contract with the prospect of a three-year extension upon positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between €3,059.00 and €3,881.00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week).
• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), plus four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day).
• The option to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours and the option to work partly from home, with commuting and internet allowances.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness options, and access to extensive UM sports facilities.
• A supportive, international research community where your ideas and development matter.
• An inspiring work environment at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen – at the heart of Europe’s innovation network.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Faculty of Science and Engineering  
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development.  FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention.  The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).  At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!  
 

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses  
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.  

About the Department of Circular Chemical Engineering (CCE)

The Department of Circular Chemical Engineering focuses on sustainable processes for circular plastics – including mechanical and chemical recycling – and plasma chemistry for industrial electrification. Our team, based at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds to create practical, science-based solutions for a sustainable future. Collaboration with industry and society is central to our work.

About Maastricht University

At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,000 students and 5,000 employees across five regional locations, six faculties, and more than seventy research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities – for yourself and for the world around you. Because real answers are found together.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Prof. dr. M. Pilar Ruiz at pilar.ruizramiro@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD Candidate? Apply now, no later than November 23st for this position. 

Please upload your CV, motivation letter and contact information of 2 referees. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.