Associate Professor in Circular Product Development

Are you passionate about circular engineering and product development? Do you want to make sure the next generation of engineering students is well-trained in these domains and join relevant research in plastics circularity? Join us at Maastricht University and shape the future of sustainable engineering.

Job description

This position is embedded within the Department of Circular Chemical Engineering (CCE) at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE). As an Associate Professor in Circular Product Development, you will play a pivotal role in the development of our new master’s program in circular engineering, focused on Sustainable Manufacturing. Your primary responsibilities will include curriculum development and documentation preparation for our new masters in circular engineering, supporting R&D projects and guiding PhD/masters students. This will be as a member of the department and with the Circular Plastics chair led by Professor Kim Ragaert. While research will not be the main focus of this role, you will have opportunity to actively join the group’s research collaborations with industry or even lead some of these R&D projects. The position is based at our campus on the Chemelot site in Geleen, with potential for flexible work arrangements: Key responsibilities include: 

• Curriculum development for a new master’s program in circular engineering, with a focus on sustainable manufacturing
• Supporting R&D projects with a focus on circular product development (in plastics)
• Supporting PhD students and their research projects
• Teaching and developing courses in circular product development
• Supervising student thesis projects
• Transferring knowledge and expertise to the research group
• Collaborating with industry partners
• Contributing to the strategic goals of the group, CCE and the wider faculty 

This position is co-funded by the European Union under the Just Transition Fund.

Requirements

We are looking for an experienced professional with strong leadership skills and a background in product development. Industrial experience would be an advantage and a broad engineering foundation essential, with knowledge of circularity and sustainability. Teaching experience and project management skills are highly desirable. Key qualifications include: 

• A PhD in a relevant field: Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science or Product Development.
• Extensive experience in Product Design, Development and Manufacturing, preferably including Industrial Experience
• A broad engineering background with notions of circularity/sustainability
• Experience in course or even curriculum development, teaching and the support of research students
• Strong project management and leadership skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills 

We are also open to hiring to the assistant professor scale if there is a candidate with the appropriate qualifications/experience. 

What we offer

As an Associate Professor at 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 13 - 14 according to UFO profile Associate Professor 2-1, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €6224,00 and €8322,00 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 18 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.
• 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.  

Department of Circular Chemical Engineering

The Department of Circular Chemical Engineering at Maastricht University focuses on developing innovative solutions for the transition to a circular economy. The main research areas include circular plastics through mechanical recycling and plasma chemistry for industrial electrification. The department offers education through the Circular Engineering bachelor’s program, preparing engineers to tackle sustainability challenges. The department also hosts the Brightsite PlasmaLab at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, promoting interdisciplinary research and collaboration with industry partners. 

Curious?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Gavin Hazell at gavin.hazell@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?

Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Associate Professor? Apply now, no later than October 1st, for this position. 

Please upload your CV, motivation letter and contact information of 2 referees. 

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.