What you will do
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a chemical process to make sustainable fuels from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. When using renewable energy to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide and to drive the reaction, we have to deal with intermittent conditions, both in gas feed and temperature. These intermittent conditions will have an influence on the activity, selectivity, and stability of the catalysts. In this project, you will unravel the atomic-scale structure of the catalyst and its influence on performance during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis under intermittent conditions using operando scanning probe microscopy, developed in our group. Other characterization methods such as low-energy electron diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy will also be employed. This project is part of a large Dutch research consortium, including academia and industry. Your work will be embedded in our group’s collaborative framework, allowing you to collaborate within the institute, within this consortium, with companies, and with the (inter)national research community.
This project is a good match for you if you like:
- To obtain an understanding of heterogeneous catalysis at the atomic and molecular level
- To work with home-built, advanced equipment and measurement techniques
- To work in a team, both within the group and within the consortium
For more information about the project, please contact Prof. Dr. Irene Groot: i.m.n.groot@lic.leidenuniv.nl
What you bring
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who has:
- A Master’s degree in Chemistry or Physics, or a related discipline
- A strong interest in surface science and heterogeneous catalysis
- Excellent proficiency in English
- Good technical experimental skills
You should feel comfortable working in a collaborative environment with complex instrumentation and experiments. Analytical thinking, good communication skills, and an independent working attitude are highly valued. Experience with surface science, vacuum equipment, and/or scanning probe microscopy are considered an advantage.
Want to apply or find out more?
If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof. I.M.N. Groot at i.m.n.groot@lic.leidenuniv.nl . You can apply until 15-05-2026. Your application should include a motivation letter clearly indicating WHY you apply for this position and project and WHAT makes you a suitable candidate, an extensive CV, the courses you took and grades you obtained in your Master’s studies, and the names and contact details of at least two references.
You will receive a response to your application no later than two weeks after the vacancy closing date.
If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact our management- & office assistent Amber Vermunt (a.d.vermunt@lic.leidenuniv.nl).
To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions
What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.
We also offer:
- An employment contract for 12 months initially, to be extended for 3 more years upon satisfactory performance. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
- A salary between €3059 - €3881 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (PhD student);
- A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
- Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
- Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
- Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
- If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
- A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces.
For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions
Where you will work
Leiden University is one of Europe’s leading international research universities. Thanks to its committed and inspired employees, the university enjoys a leading role in academic research and education. Every year, Leiden University scores very well in prominent rankings. This means that, to maintain our position, the bar is set very high. Regardless of the work you do at our university, you are always encouraged to broaden your horizons, develop your talents and reach your full potential.
About the faculty and institute:
The Faculty of Science at Leiden University is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to contribute to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.
The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelors’ and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and over 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.
The research is embedded within the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, with its long-standing traditions of excellence in research. Apart from a state-of-the-art electrochemistry laboratory, and excellent synthesis facilities, preparation and measurement facilities, unconventional nanofabrication equipment and experimental setups to measure ion transport will be designed supported by outstanding mechanical and electronic workshops. We foster an international and collaborative atmosphere and have close ties to other institutes housed within our Faculty of Science and with many research groups within the Netherlands, and many prominent labs abroad.
What we value
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.