PhD Positions in Pickering Emulsion Rheology and Stability

 


Would you like to start your career in a European training network of leading research universities and professionals from the industry? Then you might be interested in this PhD position, which will enable you to join the PICKFOOD project.

 

PICKFOOD is a top level interdisciplinary training and research programme involving 15 PhD positions across physics, physical chemistry and food science. PICKFOOD aims to create at European level a network of next generation young scientists trained in novel methodologies within Pickering emulsions research enabling the development of safe, healthy and functional foods and at the same time minimizing food waste due to lipid oxidation.

 

This vacancy ad concerns two positions. One will be based at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the second at the Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen.

 

The UvA PhD position concerns the study of the formation, rheology and stability of Pickering emulsions in simple model systems- the aim is to find general rules rather than system-specific details. You will be associated with the thriving Soft Matter group of the Institute of Physics (IoP) at the UvA. The UvA is a leading university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom Secondments with the partners of this European project will be possible.

 

The second PhD position focuses on the role of plant-based particles in emulsion stabilization and is available in collaboration with the Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen, which conducts research and development on a broad range of food product formats.

 

What are you going to do?

 

During your PhD project you will study the physics and physical chemistry of emulsification, including catastrophic phase inversion. The latter is an important example of emulsion stability; we will ask the question under what conditions water in oil and oil in water emulsions will form, and be stable or unstable. In addition, we will study the rheology and come up with generically applicable models for the rheology of simple model emulsion systems. One question of particular interest will be the slow evolution by small rearrangements of emulsions systems; these in principle should not happen in athermal systems in which the energy barriers for rearrangements are high, but are observed in practice.

 

During the PhD work you will:

  • be responsible for your own research, supervised by experienced and engaged supervisors in a collaborative environment with excellent research infrastructure;
  • perform interdisciplinary research within the fields physics and physical chemistry;
  • engage in collaboration with the other PhD students in the training network as well as with co-hosts;
  • contribute with new knowledge in the field of Pickering emulsions stability and rheology.

 

What do we require?

 

  • a two-year Master's degree (120 ECTS points) in Physics, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year Master's degree.

 

Furthermore, the ideal candidate should have:

  • working knowledge of (fluid) mechanics;
  • knowledge on colloid chemistry or willingness to learn;
  • good laboratory skills;
  • good collaboration and communication skills (written and oral English);
  • structured and analytical working approach;
  • skills within statistical analyses of data.

 

Because this project is part of an EU training network the following eligibility rules apply:

 

The applicant shall, at the time of recruitment by the University of Amsterdam, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited.

 

The applicant is required to undertake transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up his/her appointment. At the time of recruitment by the host beneficiary, the applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host beneficiary for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to the reference date.

 

Our offer

 

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of four years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of four years). This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and Master students. 

 

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,443 to €3,122 (scale P) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the 30% ruling, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable. For questions regarding the associated PhD position with Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen, and the specific employment conditions, please contact Prof. Krassimir Velikov.

 

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

 

Questions?

 

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Or do you want to know more about our organisation? Please contact:

 

 

Do you have questions regarding the associated PhD position with Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen?  Please contact:

 

 

About us

 

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

 

The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam is located in the center of the Amsterdam Science Park. The IoP  as part of the Faculty of Science is housed in a modern building with excellent labs and technical facilities. Surrounded by several national research institutes and with our partners at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the institute is part of a strong physics center of international standing.

 

The Van der Waals - Zeeman Institute for Experimental Physics (IoP-WZI) is part of the IoP and home to three research clusters: Quantum Gases & Quantum Information (QG&QI), Quantum Materials (QMat), and Soft Matter (SM).

 

The Soft matter group is a lively group comprising over 30 researchers that has excellent facilities and is active in areas located at the overlap between soft matter physics and engineering. The research is powered both by fundamental, knowledge-based drive and an ambition to maximize the transfer and exploitation of our results in industry and society in general. The main research areas include hydrodynamics and rheology, complex fluids (surfactants, colloids, and polymers), the glass transition and nucleation. There are many publications in top journals and several major national and International events in our field are organised by the group.

 

For information about the Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen please click here.

 

Job application

 

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 10 February 2022. You can apply online by using the link below. 

 

Applications in a single .pdf (please upload in the field marked CV) should include:

  • a curriculum vitae (including details for two referees)
  • a list of university courses taken with grades;
  • a single page maximum statement of motivation and research interests.

 

Please mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience.

 

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.




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