Sd-25013 Postdoc in Reactive Extrusion for Vitrimers Derived From Post-consumer Polyolefins

Description
**Temporary contract | up to 24 months | Belval**:
***:
**Are you passionate about research? So are we Come and join us**:
The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

You will join the Functional Polymeric and Particulate Materials (FPPM) RDI unit. The FPPM unit addresses the synthesis, formulation and processing of polymers and (nano)particles to achieve specific properties enhancements and multi-functionality through both experimental and numerical approaches. Materials classes of interest include components (monomers, polymers, additives, (nano)particles, etc.) utilized in high-performance polymeric materials with relevance in the mobility, housing, energy and health sectors. The unit pursues funding and carries out research through industrial contracts and competitive projects sponsored at the Luxembourgish and European levels and is organised into two research groups focused on 1) the realisation of sustainable polymeric and particulate materials (SPPM) and 2) the chemistry and physics of smart / responsive polymeric and particulate materials (RPPM).

The present postdoctoral researcher position is integrated into the RPPM research group and is connected to a recently approved funded project entitled “Evolved materials for multifunctional additive manufacturing printers” (EMMA).

**How will you contribute?**:
You will be mainly in charge of:

- Conducting wet chemistry tests to optimize processing conditions, including the use of various catalysts
- Characterizing the novel vitrimers obtained using techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
- Melt processing: incorporating the dynamic crosslinks into the post-consumer elastomer formulations and vulcanizing the compounds
- Testing the resulting rubber compounds using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Rheology, Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), Dilatometry, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

**Education**
- PhD in polymer/rubber chemistry and/or polymer process engineering

**Experience and skills**
- Strong background and extensive hands-on experience in organic synthetic chemistry;
- Experience with standard wet
- and air-sensitive chemistry techniques;
- Experience in use of modern characterization techniques such as FT-IR, GPC, DSC, TGA;
- Ability to analyze NMR spectra;
- Knowledge of Chemdraw or similar software for drawing and analysing of chemical structures;
- Ability to work creatively and independently, including experience in writing research reports, giving oral talks and performing scientific literature search
- Demonstrated competencies in vitrimer synthesis and rheology will be highly valued;
- Knowledge and experience in polymer processing will be an asset;
- Previous experience in melt modifications will be appreciated;
- Experience in using NMR, GPC, FTIR, DMA, dilatometry, DSC, TGA, or mechanical testing will be considered as an asset;
- Notions in life cycle assessment (LCA) and the safe and sustainable by design framework (SSbD) will be counted as a plus;
- Knowledge of Origin and Excel will be counted as a plus;
- Finally, the selected person should show collaborative skills, initiative, result oriented, organization, and capacity to work as part of an international team, in an interdisciplinary environment.

**Language skills**
- Good level in both written and spoken English

**Your LIST benefits**:

- An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects
- Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society
- Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do
- An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas
- Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills
- Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce
- Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions
- Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science
- 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance
- Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers
- A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience
- A scientific CV wit