Postdoc Circular and Multi-material Systems for Sustainable Manufacturing

A full-time postdoctoral position is open in the Advanced Production Engineering (APE) research group at the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), Faculty of Science and Engineering. The appointment will focus on advancing sustainable manufacturing through circular and hybrid material solutions.

In materials engineering, plastics and metals present complementary strengths and challenges. Metals offer strength, conductivity, and wear resistance while polymers enable complex geometries and lightweight designs. Combining these classes raises issues around recyclability, interfacial adhesion, and mismatched thermal expansion that can induce stresses and affect lifetime performance.

We invite a motivated researcher to develop new methods for integrating circular and multi-material concepts into contemporary production. The project emphasizes analysis and design of multi-material systems including plastics and metals. It will establish an integrated digital framework where materials research and testing provide the validated basis for Digital Twins and AI-driven decision support. The successful candidate will have access to advanced laboratories, simulation platforms, and a multidisciplinary research environment. Faculty of Science and Engineering Solliciteer uiterlijk: 25 August 2026 23:59 Dutch local time 1 fte €4.241 - €4.728

Postdoc Circular and Multi-material Systems for Sustainable Manufacturing https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/postdoc-circular-and-multi-material-systems-for-sustainable-manufacturing-2192, * Plan and/or perform experiments to characterize material behavior and processing effects across plastics and selected metals.

• Address variability by identifying and mitigating batch-to-batch differences and ensuring reproducibility.
• Curate high-quality datasets that are structured and annotated for simulation and machine learning.
• Develop Digital Twins and simulation pipelines for virtual validation and predictive performance assessment.
• Implement AI and data-driven methods to connect material properties, processing windows, performance targets, and circularity indicators.
• Collaborate across disciplines with experimentalists, computational engineers, and data scientists to translate lab results into validated digital tools.
• Document and disseminate results through technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations.

• A PhD degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Production Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong expertise in materials, computational simulation, AI/ML, or manufacturing process engineering.
• Practical experience with plastics and metals.
• An independent and creative mindset combined with the ability to work collaboratively.
• Excellent English communication skills both written and oral.
• English language proof: IELTS academic = 6.5 or TOEFL computer based = 237 or TOEFL internet based = 92.

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 4.241 (schaal 10.4) up to a maximum of € 4.728 (schaal 10.7) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
• One year plus extension of two years.

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value. The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse., After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!