Researcher Plastics Recycling

Researcher chemical recycling of plastics

Are you passionate about making plastics recycling a reality?

Do you get energized by working at the crossroads of sustainability and innovation? Do you want to develop real solutions for industry while collaborating closely with companies? Do you thrive in environments where entrepreneurship, initiative, and solution thinking are not just words, but essential values?

Then we have the perfect challenge for you at VITO!

At VITO, our Sustainable Polymer Technologies (SPOT; https://spot.vito.be/en) team accelerates the transition to a circular plastics economy. We develop, test, and demonstrate innovative chemical recycling processes, mainly focusing on solvent-based dissolution and depolymerization methods, to turn End-of-Life (EOL) plastics into new raw materials. The ultimate goal is to de-risk industrial investments by moving innovative solutions from the lab to pilot-scale demonstrations.

This research (engineer) position focuses on characterizing, developing and optimizing reliable recycling routes for End-of-Life (EOL) plastic materials. The role is embedded within VITO’s SPOT team, which works on advancing sustainable polymer technologies, particularly solvent-based chemical recycling processes. The mission is to:

• Improve high-throughput analyses of EOL materials

• Understand and characterize real-world EOL waste streams and develop recycling routes with real impact

• Collaborate closely with industrial partners to translate lab innovations into industry applications

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Source, and characterize EOL plastic waste streams, exploring underused opportunities in the market.

• Identify, develop and validate analytical methods including fast, high-throughput for material characterization and data management (in preparation for machine learning). You are hands-on and like to work in the lab. You validate the design by running lab experiments.

• Design innovative (pre)processing technologies and chemical processes to improve fast characterization.

• Act as a connector between research and industry:

  • Engage directly with companies to understand their challenges

  • Co-develop tailored solutions,

  • Drive adoption of new technologies.

  • Spot opportunities for product and process innovation, contributing to project ideas, proposals, and partnerships.

  • Contribute actively to scaling up technologies from lab to pilot scale, demonstrating their value and impact.

• You proactively initiate & write proposals, and develop relevant consortia

• You keep track of the developments in the field, both from scientific literature as well as intellectual property.

• You maintain effective communication within the project team (internal colleagues, subcontractors, partners) and stakeholders/customers.

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a Master’s degree or PhD in chemical engineering, or waste processing.

• Has strong analytical and problem-solving skills, preferably with experience in data driven (high-throughput) analysis or waste characterization

• Enjoys working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Listens carefully and likes interacting with industrial stakeholders.

• Have experience with writing proposals

• Has good verbal and written communication skills, where English is a must and Dutch is a pro.

• Is a hands-on team player and you know how to share your enthusiasm with your colleagues.

• Has an analytical attitude and are critical of your results; but driven by entrepreneurship.

Offer

• A competitive salary with a range of benefits, including allowances, insurance and a modular package of vacation days;

• Innovation is our core asset, therefore it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to undertake additional training and keep up to date in their field of expertise;

• The chance to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its advanced technological research and scientific consultancy;

• The possibility to actively contribute towards sustainable developments at local, national and global level.

Contact person for more information:

Karolien Vanbroekhoven (karolien.vanbroekhoven@vito.be)