Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor In Process Systems Engineering

Join Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and help develop the next generation of sustainable process technologies. By combining process systems engineering with advances in process intensification, electrification, circular feedstocks, and low-carbon energy systems, you will contribute to innovative solutions for some of society's most pressing challenges.

Introduction

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry invites applications for faculty positions at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level in Process Systems Engineering (PSE). We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher and educator with a clear scientific vision and the ambition to advance sustainable chemical and energy processes through innovative systems-level research. Appointment level will be based on the candidate's experience, academic achievements, and demonstrated leadership.

You will join a vibrant and collaborative research environment with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, strong industrial partnerships, and internationally recognized expertise in sustainable process technology. The position offers a unique opportunity to develop or expand a research program that bridges process innovation, systems analysis, optimization, and industrial implementation.

Job Description

The successful candidate will join the Sustainable Energy and Process Technology cluster, which brings together nine principal investigators with complementary expertise in multiscale modelling, intensified reactors, membrane separation, biobased and circular technologies, plasma and electrified devices, and rotating devices. Combining fundamental research, technological innovation, and education, the cluster develops sustainable solutions for the energy, materials, and feedstock transition. The candidate will strengthen the systems-level connection between these technologies and their integration into sustainable industrial processes, supported by the Department’s state-of-the-art infrastructure in process technology and separations.

The candidate’s research will advance systems-level methods for designing, optimizing, and operating innovative, intensified, and sustainable chemical processes. The central ambition is to enable fundamentally new process concepts for low-carbon energy systems, circular feedstocks, and climate-neutral industrial production. We welcome a coherent research vision addressing areas such as process synthesis and conceptual design, process intensification and integration, and flexible operation under variable energy supply and feedstock availability. Relevant methodological directions include mathematical optimization, decision-making under uncertainty, and computationally efficient physics-based and hybrid models. The research should connect process design with control and operability, while evaluating economic viability and environmental performance. Artificial intelligence and machine learning may support generating and evaluating process alternatives, while digital twins may link design decisions to dynamic operation and process performance. Applications may encompass process electrification, circular carbon, sustainable fuels and chemicals, and renewable feedstock utilization.

The successful candidate will develop an internationally visible research group and secure external funding appropriate to their career stage, drawing on national, European, and international opportunities to support research and doctoral training. Collaboration across engineering disciplines, chemical sciences, and applied mathematics will strengthen the program’s scientific foundations, while partnerships with industry and applied research organizations will help translate its findings into practical and societal impact. The candidate will also contribute to and help shape interdisciplinary research programs aligned with their expertise and the cluster’s ambitions.

Education and mentoring are integral to the role. The candidate will contribute to Bachelor’s and Master’s teaching in chemical engineering and related programs, including the development of education in process systems engineering, and supervise BSc and MSc theses. They will build and mentor a research team, supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and working closely with technical and support staff. We seek a colleague who inspires students and researchers, initiates new activities, and cultivates an inclusive and collaborative environment.

Leadership and service responsibilities will be aligned with the appointment level. All candidates are expected to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to the Department’s development and international visibility. At Full Professor level, the role additionally involves strategic leadership in setting research directions, initiating and coordinating large collaborative programs, mentoring junior colleagues, and advancing PSE within the Department and the wider University.

Job Requirements

We are seeking candidates with scientific excellence, creativity, and a collaborative mindset.

Essential Qualifications

• A PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• An excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• A demonstrated commitment to high-quality research and education.

Assistant Professor

Candidates at the Assistant Professor level should demonstrate:

• An experience-appropriate record of original scientific contributions, with evidence of research excellence through first-author publications and other scholarly achievements.
• A clear and compelling research vision for establishing an independent research program and building an internationally recognized research group.
• The potential to attract competitive research funding and develop scientific leadership.
• A strong interest in teaching and mentoring students.
• The ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary environments.

Associate Professor

Candidates at the Associate Professor level should demonstrate:

• A strong record of original scholarship and clear research independence.
• A successful track record in acquiring competitive external research funding.
• Experience in supervising and mentoring PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and junior staff, contributing to the development of a vibrant and supportive research environment.
• Evidence of scientific leadership through research coordination, collaboration building, curriculum development, or service contributions.
• A growing international reputation within their field.
• Strong teaching and mentoring capabilities.

Full Professor

Candidates at the Full Professor level should demonstrate

• An internationally recognized reputation and a sustained record of high-impact scientific achievements.
• Demonstrated success in leading academic teams, large research programs, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• A strong portfolio of competitive external funding and the ability to shape research agendas at national and international levels.
• Strategic leadership experience in research, education, and academic service.
• A proven commitment to mentoring junior faculty and fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic culture.
• The ability to strengthen the international visibility and impact of Process Systems Engineering at TU/e.

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

In addition, we offer you

• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities , scale 11 to H1, ranging from €4925 to €13024 gross base salary per month ( full-time , based on relevant experience and/or seniority).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• A Development Track with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor. If you have a more senior profile, a tailor-made career proposal will be considered.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates , as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme ) and partner career support .

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment . Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video .

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here .

We believe that diversity broadens our research scope and enhances the quality of our education. Our Irène Curie Fellowship aims to advance talented female researchers, in order to thrive and be successful in top positions in science, contributing to the societal goal of promoting equal opportunities. The program addresses the aspirations and needs of women in industry, academia, and research institutes in order to support their ambition to become a professor at our university.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Martin van Sint Annaland, Professor, M.v.SintAnnaland[at]tue.nl or +31 40 247 2241.

Visit our website for more information about the application process . You can also contact Thomas Slegers, Senior Recruiter, t.slegers[at]tue.nl or +316 1483 5214.

Curious to hear more about what it's like as a professor at TU/e? Please watch the video .

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page .

This vacancy is part of the Irène Curie Program and is currently only open to female candidates. Male applicants will not be considered for the position.

We invite you to submit a complete application. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• Description of your scientific interests and plans (1-2 pages).
• Statement of your teaching goals and experience (1-2 pages).

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines .
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

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