R&D Modeling & Data Specialist Circular Economy

As a top European research centre, VITO and its 1,300 employees turn scientific insights into ground-breaking technological innovations, AI solutions and policy advice. We do so with a single objective: to help our world thrive for at least 1,000 more years.

Within the MatCh (Materials & Chemistry) unit at VITO, we focus on utilizing non-fossil, mineral, and circular resources to make industry more sustainable and enable new value chains. Additionally, existing industrial processes are re-evaluated with a focus on energy and material efficiency.

At the ADVANCE team, we aim to unlock the potential of the circular economy by providing targeted advice based on methodologies, models, and tools. We work on assignments for both governments and companies, with our research projects operating in Flemish, European, and international contexts (e.g., Horizon Europe). For each project, we map the underlying mechanisms of the circular economy, analyze the economic, ecological, and social impacts of circular strategies, and assess the role of technology within the relevant ecosystem. The insights and conclusions we generate support policymakers and businesses in evaluating current strategies and estimating the impact of future policies.

To strengthen our team, we are looking for an R&D Modeling & Data Specialist:

• Together with the team, you will map out the mechanisms of the circular economy.

• You will translate acquired knowledge and insights into models. You will program and document these models to ensure further development and use within the team.

• You will adopt a user-driven approach when (further) developing and implementing models and tools, ensuring that both internal users (experts) and external users (clients) can work smoothly with them.

• You will critically assess existing methods and tools and remain up to date with scientific developments in the field.

• Alongside the team, you will formulate proposals for improving existing or developing new methods to evaluate the impact of the circular economy. You will drive innovation in our field, focusing on the advancement of lifecycle analysis and circularity methodologies, scenario analysis, digitization, and/or data processing.

• You will further develop your international network to identify new opportunities for VITO in the circular economy domain. You will also contribute to preparing proposals for governments and industrial clients.

• You will translate results into practical advice for governments and industrial clients. You will present and publish project results at (inter)national forums and ensure knowledge-building on this theme within your team.

Some examples of projects we have been working on:

• In projects for the European Space Agency (ESA), we analyze the environmental impact of space missions, identify hotspots, and formulate ecodesign measures to reduce this impact. This is done for entire missions as well as specific components (e.g., electronics).

• As part of our work for the European Environment Agency (EEA), we assist in automating circular economy indicator calculations (CML) and explore the use of generative language models to extract insights on CE policies from unstructured textual data (policy documents) across member states.

• We recently developed a computational model and web tool to calculate the societal cost of clothing over its entire life cycle (www.truecostcalculator.eu). Both the expert model and the web tool for designers are being further developed.

• The TERRAVISION project (https://terravision-project.eu/) is an EU initiative aimed at enhancing the life cycle of critical raw materials through the use of Earth Observation (EO) technologies. The project focuses on several innovation pillars, including creating a comprehensive data ecosystem, standardizing EO data for integration with in-situ data, developing essential services for the mining industry, and promoting sustainability and resilience in the supply chain.

• You hold a Master’s or PhD degree in Engineering Sciences or Computer Science, or equivalent through experience.

• Experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, R) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) is required.

• Experience with software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum) and tools (Git, Docker) is a plus.

• You are a strong communicator, able to express yourself clearly in English, both verbally and in writing. Knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.

You are motivated to contribute in a context of sustainability and circular economy. You have a client-oriented mindset and a keen eye for opportunities. Enthusiasm and entrepreneurship define your approach. Additionally, you are a creative, flexible thinker and doer, guided by a scientifically critical attitude.

Offer

• You will have real impact by seeking innovative solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

• You will be supported by excellent, helpful, and fun colleagues eager to share their expertise in the field.

• You will be part of an organization where we demonstrate integrity and always strive for mutual benefit in close cooperation with all stakeholders.

• VITO is an international organization: people from 40 different nationalities work with us.

• We work ‘activity-based’: our activities determine our workplace. On average, we meet 2 days per week in our office in Mol. For the other days, you can work remotely from home or at one of our satellite offices in Antwerp-Berchem, Genk, Gent, Ostend or Leuven, depending on the activity's needs.

• We offer an attractive salary package supplemented with extra-legal benefits such as allowances, insurances and a modular holiday package.

• You will engage in lifelong learning and further develop your skills by working with cutting-edge technologies, which you can test in the market yourself.