We, and third parties, use cookies on our website. We use cookies to ensure that our website functions properly, to store your preferences, to gain insight into visitor behavior, but also for marketing and social media purposes (showing personalized advertisements). By clicking 'Accept', you agree to the use of all cookies. In our Cookie Statement. you can read more about the cookies we use and save or change your preferences. By clicking 'Refuse' you only agree to the use of functional cookies.

Shape the future of sustainable materials from waste!
The University of Amsterdam invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the newly funded national research programme Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL), led by Delft University of Technology and funded by the Netherlands National Research – (NWA-ORC) programme.

Shape the future of sustainable materials from waste!
The University of Amsterdam invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the newly funded national research programme Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL), led by Delft University of Technology and funded by the Netherlands National Research – (NWA-ORC) programme.
ABEL, a large interdisciplinary consortium will tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: transforming low-value waste streams into high-value, sustainable materials and closing material loops in the Dutch bioeconomy. Under the supervision of Professor Joyeeta Gupta, you will contribute to cutting-edge, societally relevant research at the interface of science, policy, and sustainability transitions. To close material loops in the Dutch bioeconomy, ABEL brings together a large multidisciplinary consortium from industry, academia, policymakers, and societal partners to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: making high-value, sustainable, and circular biomaterials from low-value waste streams that can compete and even outperform traditional alternatives. The target sectors for this project are the agriculture sector, construction sector, asphalt paving sector, aviation sector, and household sector.
In particular, you will try to understand what the theoretical and actual policy bottlenecks are at local, national and EU level that stand in the way of a sustainability transition in closing material loops and what steps (research, workshops, policy briefs, lobbying) are needed to enable such a transition. This requires also a good understanding of the technologies being developed within the project; at the same time the post doc will also contribute to the development of such technologies by promoting knowledge of the policy principles that govern such a transition. In other words, the post doc will also ensure that the transition does not create new problems.
This is a unique opportunity to work in a large national consortium, engage with industry and policy partners, and help shape pathways towards a circular and climate-neutral economy.

ABEL, a large interdisciplinary consortium will tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: transforming low-value waste streams into high-value, sustainable materials and closing material loops in the Dutch bioeconomy. Under the supervision of Professor Joyeeta Gupta, you will contribute to cutting-edge, societally relevant research at the interface of science, policy, and sustainability transitions. To close material loops in the Dutch bioeconomy, ABEL brings together a large multidisciplinary consortium from industry, academia, policymakers, and societal partners to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: making high-value, sustainable, and circular biomaterials from low-value waste streams that can compete and even outperform traditional alternatives. The target sectors for this project are the agriculture sector, construction sector, asphalt paving sector, aviation sector, and household sector.
In particular, you will try to understand what the theoretical and actual policy bottlenecks are at local, national and EU level that stand in the way of a sustainability transition in closing material loops and what steps (research, workshops, policy briefs, lobbying) are needed to enable such a transition. This requires also a good understanding of the technologies being developed within the project; at the same time the post doc will also contribute to the development of such technologies by promoting knowledge of the policy principles that govern such a transition. In other words, the post doc will also ensure that the transition does not create new problems.
This is a unique opportunity to work in a large national consortium, engage with industry and policy partners, and help shape pathways towards a circular and climate-neutral economy.
As a Postdoctoral Researcher within the ABEL consortium at the University of Amsterdam, you will:
We expect and encourage post-docs to teach 0,1 FTE (compensated by enlarging the contractual hours, and dependent on the teaching programme’s needs)
This Post-Doc position is a unique opportunity to help reshaping supply chains, material innovation, and explore how the value of biomaterials is defined and perceived across industry, society, policymakers and regulators
The successful candidate should be passionate and interested about the Department and project work and main themes within this project. They should have a clear notion of what transdisciplinary academic research entails. The candidate should be committed, efficient, dedicated, a team player and have good time management skills. The candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment and will need to be able to communicate with other disciplines as well as with policymakers.
Required skills
The starting date is set to be 1 September 2026. The position concerns temporary employment for 34,2 hours per week (0.9 fte) for 3 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 2 additional years. There would also be the opportunity to attend both national and international events.
As a Postdoctoral Researcher within the ABEL consortium at the University of Amsterdam, you will:
We expect and encourage post-docs to teach 0,1 FTE (compensated by enlarging the contractual hours, and dependent on the teaching programme’s needs)
This Post-Doc position is a unique opportunity to help reshaping supply chains, material innovation, and explore how the value of biomaterials is defined and perceived across industry, society, policymakers and regulators
The successful candidate should be passionate and interested about the Department and project work and main themes within this project. They should have a clear notion of what transdisciplinary academic research entails. The candidate should be committed, efficient, dedicated, a team player and have good time management skills. The candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment and will need to be able to communicate with other disciplines as well as with policymakers.
Required skills
The starting date is set to be 1 September 2026. The position concerns temporary employment for 34,2 hours per week (0.9 fte) for 3 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 2 additional years. There would also be the opportunity to attend both national and international events.
In this project you will work under the supervision of Prof. Joyeeta Gupta. You will be a member of the Governance and Inclusive Development Programme Group that focuses on development and environmental issues. GID researchers explore how governance—the processes of decision-making and implementation—affects justice, sustainability and inclusion in varied contexts. The group focuses on the policies, practices, and power dynamics that shape governance, asking who makes decisions, how, and in whose interest. Your project is one closely linked to policymaking as you will be trying to understand the policy conditions at the local, national and EU level under which technological innovations for enhancing the circular economy can prosper. In this way you will be learn from and share your experiences with the rest of the group. There may also be some teaching opportunities for the right candidate.
In this project you will work under the supervision of Prof. Joyeeta Gupta. You will be a member of the Governance and Inclusive Development Programme Group that focuses on development and environmental issues. GID researchers explore how governance—the processes of decision-making and implementation—affects justice, sustainability and inclusion in varied contexts. The group focuses on the policies, practices, and power dynamics that shape governance, asking who makes decisions, how, and in whose interest. Your project is one closely linked to policymaking as you will be trying to understand the policy conditions at the local, national and EU level under which technological innovations for enhancing the circular economy can prosper. In this way you will be learn from and share your experiences with the rest of the group. There may also be some teaching opportunities for the right candidate.
If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply via the red button until 24 April 2026. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.
For questions about the vacancy, you can contact:
Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, [email protected], +31205254366
Applications are to be sent in .pdf format and should include:
All applications will be reviewed and successful candidates will be contacted for an interview following the deadline.
Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze vacature wordt niet op prijs gesteld
If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply via the red button until 24 April 2026. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.
For questions about the vacancy, you can contact:
Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, [email protected], +31205254366
Applications are to be sent in .pdf format and should include:
All applications will be reviewed and successful candidates will be contacted for an interview following the deadline.
Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze vacature wordt niet op prijs gesteld




.jpg)



