POSTDOC Renewable Chemicals (Organic Synthesis/Homogeneous Catalysis/Green Chemistry)

The University of Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium) is an autonomous and pluralistic institution, supporting a democratic and multicultural society, and is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Antwerp is a young dynamic academic institution for internationally recognized, innovative and pioneering research. Special attention is given to the training of students, and to the innovation of teaching programs.

You will be working in the Maes group of the research division Organic Synthesis (ORSY) of the Department of Chemistry. ORSY is a partner in the Centre of Excellence CASCH and the Valorization Platform InSusChem of the University of Antwerp. Your research project will deal with the development of new synthetic methodologies to transform renewable feedstock into useful building blocks for the commodity and fine chemicals industry. This can be phenolic compounds, muconic acid or acetic acid obtained via catalytic cleavage or fermentation of second generation (2G) renewable feedstock. Your research will fit in the framework of the Interuniversity Special Research Fund (iBOF) project ‘NextBioRef’, Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) Bioeconomy projects ‘MucoForm’ and ‘LIBRA’ or the Moonshot ‘AC2GEN’ project of the Flemish government connecting research teams of different Flemish universities and knowledge centers (UAntwerpen, KULeuven, UGent, Bio Base Europe, VITO) with complementary scientific expertise in the field of renewables.

The University of Antwerp offers you a contract of 1 year (which can be extended). Relevant experience will be taken into account. The selected candidate is expected to begin in September of 2023 at latest (an earlier appointment is possible). For more information on the Maes team and recent publications in the field of biorenewables please visit our group website.

https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/orsy/prof--maes-group/

The ideal candidate for this position will have a PhD in organic synthesis. Experience with renewables and homogeneous catalysis is an advantage. Your expertise in organic synthesis is demonstrated by peer reviewed Q1 scientific publications. You have hands-on experience in analytical separation techniques, mass spectrometry, preparative purification techniques, and structural characterization of organic molecules and you have affinity with mechanistic studies. The ability to work in a team as well as good communication/writing skills and a good mastery of the English language is required. You have interest in collaborative and multidisciplinary research.