Postdoctoral researcher Life Cycle Assessment methodology for novel circular biobased products

Welcome to Maastricht University

At Maastricht University, we are driven by curiosity, collaboration, and societal impact. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will join an academic community that seeks smart, sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s world. In this role, your work contributes directly to the transition toward climate-neutral materials by shaping how we assess the sustainability of circular biobased products — at the crossroads of scientific research and industrial practice.

Your colleagues

You will join the Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials group at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. This group is known for its cutting-edge research in life cycle sustainability assessment of emerging materials and technologies. You will work under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Yvonne van der Meer, alongside researchers from diverse backgrounds including environmental science, sustainable chemistry, and materials engineering.

You will also collaborate closely with LCA experts from Utrecht University, Wageningen University, and TNO, as well as industrial partners engaged in sustainable materials innovation. It’s a collaborative and impact-driven environment where scientific knowledge meets real-world application.

About the project

This postdoctoral position is part of the ULTRA-BIO project, embedded within the Dutch National Growth Fund programme BioBased Circular (BBC). Your mission? To help develop a unified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for circular biobased products.

Your work will focus on:

• Defining consistent methods for assessing environmental impact;
• Addressing key methodological challenges, such as microplastics, end-of-life modelling, and prospective LCA;
• Bridging science and industry to ensure that the tools developed are not only robust, but also practically applicable.

The ULTRA-BIO project brings together leading Dutch research institutes—including Maastricht University, Utrecht University, TNO, and Wageningen University & Research—and industry partners. As part of this network, you will contribute to shaping a national standard for LCA of circular biobased value chains.

What you will do

As postdoctoral researcher, you will take a central role in the coordination and delivery of the ULTRA-BIO project. Your responsibilities include:

• Coordinating project meetings, tasks, and communication with the supervisory board;
• Developing LCA methodology tailored to circular biobased systems;
• Leading thematic work on issues such as microplastics integration and end-of-life modelling;
• Organising collaborative research efforts across institutional partners;
• Engaging directly with industry stakeholders through interviews and workshops;
• Contributing to academic publications, technical reports, and policy-relevant insights.

This is a unique opportunity to drive real-world impact in a strategic national innovation programme.

What you bring

We are looking for a proactive and well-organised researcher who combines academic rigour with an applied mindset. You are comfortable working in dynamic, interdisciplinary environments and able to connect with diverse stakeholders.

You also have

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g. environmental sciences, chemical engineering, sustainability science);
• Strong expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), particularly in circular and/or biobased systems;
• Familiarity with emerging LCA topics such as microplastics and prospective modelling;
• Excellent communication skills—able to collaborate across scientific and industrial contexts;
• A proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals;
• Fluency in English (Dutch is a plus but not required);
• The ability to work independently and efficiently while contributing to a larger team effort. 

What we offer
As a postdoctoral researcher 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 in scale 11 according to UFO profile Researcher, function level 3 with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4537,00 and €6209,00 gross per month (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.
• 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.  

Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)
AMIBM is an institute of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University, located on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. AMIBM is a European cross-border research institute established by Maastricht University and RWTH Aachen University (Germany), focusing on developing advanced biobased materials.

The mission of AMIBM is “ground-breaking conversion of biomass to biobased materials and into product applications”. AMIBM promotes excellent multidisciplinary research in the field of biobased materials for advanced materials applications. The multidisciplinary team draws together scientists with expertise in molecular and applied biotechnology, organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, polymer engineering, biomedical materials, and sustainability assessment.

Click here for more information about AMIBM.

Department Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials
The mission of the research team is to provide suitable instruments and sustainability impact assessments to guide the transition from a fossil-based and linear economy to a biobased and circular economy.

We are a dynamic and growing international team of sustainability experts focusing on environmental impact assessment of chemicals in materials in connection with economic and social impacts.

Click here for more information about the research group Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials.

AMIBM at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus
AMIBM is embedded in a lively, entrepreneurial, and creative working environment at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen (the Netherlands). The neighbouring industrial site Chemelot Industrial Park is the second largest chemical industrial site in Europe.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Felicitas Pellengahr via f.pellengahr@maastrichtuniversity.nl, ULTRA-BIO researcher in the Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials group, or Prof. Yvonne van der Meer via yvonne.vandermeer@maastrichtuniversity.nl, Chair of the group, for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new postdoctoral researcher? Apply now, no later than 10 August 2025, for this position.

Please upload the following documents:

• Cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the position. For the suitability section, please refer to the listed requirements and include a table explaining how you meet each one;
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including your list of publications and key contributions to research projects;
• Contact information for two references.

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.