Postdoctoral researcher in photocatalysis for water-based paint and coating photocuring

Teaser Text

The Faculty of Science Leiden and the Leiden Institute of Chemistry are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Photocatalysis for water-based paint and coating photocuring with low carbon footprint.

Why Apply?

• You have a PhD in photochemistry with experience in coordination chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and/or catalysis
• You want to join an internationally renowned university and research group working in cutting-edge photochemistry
• You want to take part to a multidisciplinary project involving most Dutch universities and many companies, to contribute to a more sustainable society

What you will do

Existing paint or coating curing technologies typically rely on heat or high-energy UV light. To lower the carbon footprint of coating and paint curing, it would be preferable to develop photocatalysts and reagents that react with red or NIR light. Low-energy photocuring inherently provides latency, a critical point for paint storage stability. Both solvent-borne (University of Amsterdam) and waterborne (Leiden University, this vacature) coatings will be studied in this project, including upscaling tests. A robotic platform developed within the consortium will support rapid optimisation of curing conditions. Waterborne coatings pose additional challenges due to the necessity to work with surfactants and colloidal mixtures. In this project, you will develop photocatalytic active surfactants that insert into waterborne paint formulations and allow efficient visible-light curing. This project is part of a large Dutch research consortium that includes 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 develop your understanding of supramolecular photocatalysis
• To work with home-built, advanced photochemical 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. Sylvestre Bonnet: [email protected].

Where you will work

About the University

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 photochemistry laboratory, excellent synthesis facilities, preparation and measurement facilities, our research activities are supported by outstanding glass-blowing, 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.

You can find more information about the Faculty of Science at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/about-faculty-of-science. For more information about working at Leiden university please visit https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

Where you will work

The Bonnet group is located in the core of the brand new Gorlaeus Building at the Einsteinweg 55 in Leiden, The Netherlands.

What you bring

Candidate’s Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who has:

• a PhD degree in Chemistry
• A strong interest in coordination chemistry, photochemistry and supramolecular chemistry
• 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 photocatalysis and/or surfactant chemistry are considered an advantage.

Candidate’s Skills

• Proven publication skills in internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals
• Skills in the synthesis of organic ligands and their transition metal complexes
• Skills in photochemistry and/or spectroscopy
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience with supramolecular chemistry is a plus

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 organization 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 center. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organize through Healthy University.

We also offer:

• An employment contract for 12 months initially, to be extended for 1 more year upon satisfactory performance. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary between €3.546-€5.538 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (postdoctoral researcher); salary will be adjusted according to new CAO per July 1, 2026;
• 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

What we value

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued, respected, and have the freedom to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research mean inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?

If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof.dr. S.A. Bonnet at [email protected]. You can apply until [14-09-2026]. 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 updated CV, a publication list with only accepted papers, 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 assistant Yvonne Snellenberg ([email protected]).

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a few steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions