Chemist / Chemical Technologist – Catalysis

ROM Utrecht Region; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Repolyze, based in Utrecht, seeks a Chemist / Chemical Technologist – Catalysis to advance its CBM technology from research to pilot scale. You will work in a small, multidisciplinary team collaborating with universities, research institutes and industrial partners across Europe to make critical process decisions.

The role emphasizes catalyst synthesis, characterization and regeneration, robustness on real waste streams, and contribution to the circular economy from day one in a deep-tech

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Chemistry or related field required.
• Strong background in catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis or mechanochemistry.
• Experience in catalyst synthesis, characterization and regeneration.
• Knowledge of plastics recycling and process chemistry is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop CBM technology and translate research into pilot-scale insights.
• Ensure robustness of processes for real waste streams.
• Regenerate catalytic spheres and manage catalyst life cycle.
• Advance product and process chemistry for recycling polymers.
• Gain experience with catalyst deactivation and regeneration in practice.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners across Europe.
• Contribute to circular economy goals and build the company from the ground up.
• Grow with the company from research through pilot to first-of-a-kind plant.

Skills

Catalyst synthesis

Plastics recycling

Mechanochemistry

Surface treatment

Heterogeneous catalysis

Inorganic catalysis

Entrepreneurial mindset

Strong communication skills

Regeneration of catalytic spheres

Product and process chemistry

Catalyst deactivation & regeneration

Experience with plastics recycling

Education

MSc or PhD in Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Technology

Inorganic catalysis

Job description

Chemist / Chemical Technologist – Catalysis

Repolyze · Utrecht, Netherlands

Higher Vocational, University

About us

Repolyze is active in developing innovative recycling technologies for polyolefins. Founded as a spin-off from Utrecht University, the company focuses on Catalytic Ball Milling (CBM) to convert waste into valuable feedstock. Their mission is to reduce plastic waste through energy-efficient processes, contributing to a sustainable circular economy.

As a chemist / chemical technologist – catalysis, you will join at the stage where research is being translated into an industrial technology. You will work in a small multidisciplinary team, mainly on research in preparation for a ton-scale pilot, collaborating closely with universities, research institutes, industrial partners, and suppliers to make key technical decisions.

• CBM technology development
• Robustness for real waste streams
• Regeneration of catalytic spheres
• Product and process chemistry
• Experience with catalyst synthesis and characterisation
• Experience with catalyst deactivation and regeneration
• Experience with plastics recycling
• A key role from day one in a deep-tech start-up with a distinctive technology
• Close collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners across Europe
• The opportunity to contribute to the circular economy and to help build a company from the ground up
• Room to grow with the company, from research through pilot to first-of-a-kind plant

Skills required for the job

MSc or PhD in Chemistry Chemical Engineering Chemical Technology Inorganic catalysis Heterogeneous catalysis Mechanochemistry Surface treatment Techno-economic analysis Entrepreneurial mindset Strong communication skills Catalyst synthesis Plastics recycling