PhD Candidate on "Machine learning assisted prediction of plastic recyclate quality"

Job Description

About the position: Mechanical recycling of plastics, is the most efficient way to treat the plastic waste in a sustainable way. However, the quality of recyclates is usually compromised leading to products with inferior properties. Quality of reprocessed samples (recyclates) depend on many factors but also is application dependent. An effective recycling process benefits from products with low variability in properties such as rheological and mechanical characteristics. To achieve this, several tests are required and a sorting and re-cycling line needs to be optimized to predict the quality of the output. The predictions should be carried out in a scientifically and economically viable method to assure applicability in industry. 
This project applies the state-of-the art machine learning models combined with plethora of experiments to generate data for training the model. The significance of this project is governed by the dependency of the plastic industry on the recyclates with consistent and high quality. The quality estimation is a topic which our quality model can address. How-ever, predictions require a step backward and to impute the data gaps to assure inline sorting and separation is feasible with high accuracy and high rates. 
The result of this project, can support the end users of the recyclates as well as the producers of the regrinds to position their products in the right market. 
This PhD topic is meant to go deep into the polymer science and machine learning and therefore is highly interdisciplinary. Thus, the candidates with background in polymer science and engineering and machine learning are encouraged to apply. This position provides the candidate with necessary experience to flourish in the upcoming fields of circularity with a flavor of data science, engineering and polymer science.

Requirements

• A polymer-oriented materials scientist/engineer with a background in data science. You should have distinct track record in at least one of these polymer groups: packaging polymers like polyolefins and/or PET, technical polymers like ABS, PC and (HI)PS. A background in textiles engineering or rubbers does not meet these requirements.
• Experience with polymer processing machinery such as injection moulding and extrusion.
• Experience with polymer characterization methods such as tensile, impact, rheology, IR, Raman, HDT are required.
• Fluency in python or equivalent is bare minimum. Therefore, the candidates which aspire to learn the basic language models within the PhD are not encouraged to apply.  

This position is available from January 1st 2025 for a planned duration of 48 months. You work in an international interdisciplinary team with cutting-edge equipment in melt-processing machinery, rheological characterization, and polymer analytics. You will be supervised for you interdisciplinary project and therefore, world experts in data science, polymer science and engineering are supporting you.
 

What we offer
As a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2872,00 in the first year and €3670,00 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

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.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

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.  
 

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Milad Golkaram at milad.golkaram@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than September 10th 2024, for this position.
 

Your application should contain a 2-page scientific reflection (references not incl in 2-page limit) on the proposed topic and how you would investigate it.

Do not spend too much effort describing the plastics waste problem, we are mostly interested to evaluate your firm grasp on the polymer science.

The first interviews preferably take place aroiund October 15th 2024. The second interviews will preferably be held around October 30th 2024.

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.