Postdoc / Research Scientist for developing a TriboIndentation Lab (max. 3 years)
Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences
Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With a population of 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Sustainable Development, and Human Geography & Spatial Planning.
The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Our research programme spans four intertwined themes: Climate & Life, Earth interior, Earth materials, and Environmental Earth Sciences. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories.
Homepage: https://www.uu.nl/geo/aw/
Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems (GI)
Tectonics and Structural Geology (TS)
The Department of Earth Sciences is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Scientist to develop our new TriboIndentation Lab. This opportunity is part of the NWO-funded EPOS-eNLarge infrastructure consortium, where Utrecht University will integrate a state-of-the-art Hysitron TI990 TriboIndenter into the Multi-Scale Imaging and Tomography (MINT) Facility.
The state-of-the-art Hysitron TI990 offers unmatched precision, rate of throughput, and testing parameterization that will situate the lab the forefront of material testing applied to earth materials. Research themes may include sustainable subsurface use, geothermal energy, and subsurface storage integrity. We encourage the successful applicant to engage in personal research and development, supported by a leading institution and consortium. The MINT team is a dynamic group that fosters innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Your key responsibilities will be:
- Installation and Development: Oversee installation and development of the Hysitron TI990 TriboIndenter, ensuring it meets the highest operational standards.
- Application and Research: Apply the TI990 in diverse research areas, including compaction and induced seismicity in gas and geothermal reservoirs, and the deformation behaviour and transport properties of salt rock. Capabilities include compression, friction, and wear tests at elevated temperatures (room temperature up to 800 °C) and dynamic mode testing.
- User Support: Liaise with external users as part of the transnational access program, assisting in data collection, processing, and interpretation of TI990 and related microscopy data.
- Personal Research: Utilize the TI990 and the associated electron microscopy facilities in MINT for personal research and professional development, with opportunities for publication and collaboration.
Following initial phases of installation and development, we envision that the candidate will spend ~75% of their time on applied research and user support to facilitate transnational access, and ~25% on personal research.
Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate who has proven experience with mechanical testing and nano-indentation techniques, as well as proven experience with electron microscopy for post-measurement imaging and sample characterization. You must have successfully completed a PhD programme in Earth Sciences, Materials Science, Engineering or a related discipline by the time the position starts.
Moreover, you are able to demonstrate that you have:
- strong written and verbal English language skills.
- a strong background in data analysis and interpretation.
- excellent communication and organizational skills.
- the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Terms of employment
You will be offered a full-time Postdoctoral position, initially for one year with extension to three years in total upon a successful assessment in the first year. The gross monthly salary starts between € 3,858 and € 4,492 with a full-time appointment, depending on relevant experience since the PhD (scale 10.3 – 10.7 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities). Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year. A pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions are also based on the collective labour agreement.
In addition to the collective employment conditions, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural schemes, and you get discounts on software and other IT products. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow. For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.
For informal questions (not applications), please contact Dr Alissa Kotowski at a.j.kotowski@uu.nl.
To apply, please follow this link to the corresponding advertisement on UU’s own website and follow the guidelines mentioned there.
Incoming applications will be continuously reviewed and the vacancy will be closed as soon as we have found the successful candidate! The position should start October 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility and, unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.
Online screening may be part of the selection. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.