PhD in Sustainable Photocatalysis for Plastic Recycling

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Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

Are you intrigued by the challenge of transforming plastic waste into valuable chemical building blocks? Are you passionate about developing sustainable recycling technologies that contribute to a more circular use of carbon resources? In this PhD project, you will explore innovative light-driven strategies for the chemical recycling of polymers. By harnessing the unique reactivity and precise control offered by light, you will develop new pathways to convert persistent plastic materials under mild conditions. Are you our next PhD candidate in sustainable polymer chemistry and photocatalysis? Your research challenge In this PhD project, you will develop innovative light-driven methods to break down plastics selectively and under controlled conditions. You will explore both photocatalytic and photothermal approaches and design novel organic photocatalysts tailored to these processes. The development of these photocatalysts will be supported by theoretical modelling and AI-based tools in close collaboration with a project partner. Your research will contribute to new chemical recycling technologies that reduce dependence on fossil resources and support a more circular use of carbon. By combining fundamental chemistry with practical applications, you will help create more sustainable end-of-life options for widely used plastics. An interdisciplinary and international environment You will conduct your research under the supervision of Prof. Fabian Eisenreich in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology. You will join the Polymer Performance Materials research group, which focuses on sustainable polymer chemistry. You will also become part of the interdisciplinary Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, which connects TU/e researchers working across polymer science and related fields. The position is part of SPECTRA , a Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder project involving academic and industrial partners from the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy. You will collaborate with researchers specialising in materials science, photocatalysis, modelling, optical engineering, reactor development, sustainability assessment and industrial innovation. This international network will give you opportunities to exchange ideas, develop new skills, and explore how your research can contribute to real-world technologies. Working at TU/e At TU/e, you will work in an environment that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on mentality. You will receive personal guidance while having room to develop your own ideas, ambitions, and talents. Together with supportive colleagues from different disciplines and backgrounds, you will push the boundaries of sustainable polymer chemistry and contribute to research with clear societal relevance. Ideal start date: October 01, 2026