Researcher Water Technology

VITO, one of Europe’s leading research centers with 1,300 employees, transforms scientific insights into groundbreaking technological innovations, AI-driven solutions, and policy advice. We do this with one clear goal: to help the world thrive for at least another 1,000 years!

As a science-to-technology partner, we support businesses, governments, and society in their transition toward sustainability. With our multidisciplinary approach and unique laboratory, scaling, and testing infrastructure, we develop practical technological innovations. We accelerate progress toward a regenerative economy within the planet's boundaries, prioritizing electrification and circularity. Additionally, we create smart climate solutions for resilient and secure ecosystems and promote a healthy living environment where people, industry, agriculture, and nature coexist in harmony.

Within VITO’s Water and Energy Transition unit, more than 200 professionals work on solutions to complex challenges in the water and energy domain due to climate change and scarce resources.

To strengthen VITO’s role in the global water innovation ecosystem, we continuously evaluate existing technologies and explore emerging innovations that contribute to a sustainable water value chain. To support the expansion of our VITO Circular Water Technology team towards new product and process development, at the campus in Ostend, we are looking for a researcher R&D Water Technology with technical and development expertise in this field (water treatment for removal of emerging pollutants, concentrate streams, water-energy transition, net zero GHG emissions, ....).

What you will do:

• Innovate with technology: Development of new products and processes in the water technology field to tackle current and future challenges (contaminants of emerging concern, concentrate streams, process intelligence, reducing GHG-emissions, resource recovery, …). Utilize and contribute to the ongoing VITO’s state-of-the-art research facilities

• Collaborate globally: Lead and participate in high-profile international research projects with top-tier industrial and academic partners, expanding your expertise and network across multiple sectors

• Translate ideas into impact: translate theoretical concepts into practical, economically viable solutions tailored for industrial applications.

• Drive scientific progress: identify and develop new, patentable ideas to support the transition toward a sustainable water value chain integrating both physical and digital technologies. Share your groundbreaking research in high-impact scientific publications

• Present globally: represent VITO and showcase your work at international conferences and forums, positioning yourself as a thought leader in the field

• Collaborate and grow: Work closely with a dynamic, multidisciplinary team of talented researchers, contribute to internal and external project reviews, and take ownership of setting up, executing and coordinating of scientific research projects

• You have a scientific master’s in engineering, Chemistry, Bioscience, … or related fields. A completed PhD degree in the water domain is a plus.

• You have a proven track of at least 5 years of work experience in the water technology field (water treatment, circular water, process intelligence, ….). You have a broad technology knowledge on different water domains (drinking water, wastewater, reuse, desalination, …)

• You have specific expertise in membrane technology and/or concentrate treatment and/or other groundbreaking water technologies.

• You have proven experience in new product and process development and in valorizing Intellectual Property

• You have research experience, preferably in (industrial) R&D. Familiarity with (inter)national funding channels is a plus. You have a strong interest in international R&D projects and a passion for innovation in sustainable technologies.

• You have a strong network in the Flemish and international water arena, complemented by a good knowledge of current challenges, trends, and opportunities in the field of water technology development

• You have excellent project management and organizational skills.

• You are a flexible team player who can also work independently.

• You have an excellent knowledge of English and knowledge of Dutch is recommended.

Offer

• You will have the opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific consultancy.

• The opportunity to help to put Flanders on the international map as an active knowledge region and to contribute to sustainable development both locally and internationally.

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

• We work 'activity-based', our activities bring us to our location. In this function, you work together with a team of (international) junior & senior researchers at our new research facilities at the VITO campus in Ostend. Hybrid arrangements and/or working in a satellite office with other Visioneers is possible in Mol, Antwerp-Berchem, Genk, Kortrijk or Leuven is possible.

• Innovation is our key asset, and we give our employees the opportunity to undertake additional training and keep up to date with developments in their specialist field. In fact, we expect this of them.

• Together with 1.300 VITO colleagues, you will be part of making the difference in the systemic change that is required to achieve a sustainable society.