PhD Position: Autonomous Discovery and Control of Chemical Reaction Systems

Be part of the Robinson Group as you explore how complex reaction networks emerge from simple molecules and help develop autonomous platforms that discover and steer chemical reactivity.

This PhD position offers you the opportunity to work at the interface of systems chemistry, analytical science and machine-learning-guided experimentation. You will contribute to a research initiative aimed at mapping, understanding and controlling the behaviour in multicomponent chemical systems, contributing both to advancing new synthetic processes and understanding prebiotic chemical complexity.

Your primary goal is to map the reactivity landscape of a diverse set of molecular building blocks. You will perform high-throughput mixture experiments and characterise complex reaction outcomes using analytical methods such as NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS, chromatography and automated data processing. These experiments will generate foundational datasets describing how molecular diversity and functional group variety shape emergent reactivity.

You will then design and construct minimal multicomponent reaction systems to study behaviours such as kinetic competition, autocatalytic or selective amplification processes and other emergent network-level behaviours. You will investigate how these features arise from interacting subsystems and how they can be modulated or combined.

A central part of the PhD involves developing closed-loop, machine-learning-guided workflows. In collaboration with computational partners, you will implement algorithms that design new experiments, optimise product distributions and autonomously steer chemical systems towards predetermined objectives. Teaching duties (approx. 10% of your working time) may include assisting in chemistry laboratory courses or supervising undergraduate research projects.

“After completing my Master’s degree in Norway, I looked at several European universities for a PhD position, including the university where I studied. Then I saw a job opportunity at Radboud University, which aligned perfectly with my interests. After a great first impression of my supervisors during the job interview and positive feedback about Radboud University from my network, I decided to take the leap and move to Nijmegen. It was a risk to leave my Norwegian comfort zone, but I am extremely satisfied with my choice.

From the start, I immediately felt welcomed by the whole department. I have many social interactions with other PhD candidates, and the senior researchers are very approachable and interested in my research. The working conditions for PhD candidates here are also excellent: a good salary, plenty of days off, and flexible working hours. The latter is an added bonus because I already had two children when I started my PhD. Thanks to these factors, I can fully focus on expanding my expertise while learning from my peers and mentors.”

Noemí Segura-Solé, PhD candidate in Microbial Ecology

Does this sound like you?

• You hold a Master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, molecular sciences or a closely related field.
• You have strong laboratory experience and are motivated to work with complex chemical mixtures and multicomponent reaction systems.
• You are familiar with, or willing to learn, analytical techniques such as NMR, LC-MS, and chromatographic methods.
• You are enthusiastic about systems chemistry, emergent behaviour or origins-of-life-related chemistry.
• You are interested in automation, high-throughput experimentation or machine-learning-guided optimisation.
• You enjoy analysing complex data and connecting molecular transformations to system-level behaviour.
• You are creative, self-motivated and able to work both independently and in an interdisciplinary team.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.

What we offer you

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

You will join the Robinson Group (Department of Physical Organic Chemistry) at the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The Robinson Group specialises in systems chemistry, data science and autonomous experimentation, combining expertise in experimental reaction exploration, analytical methodologies, and data driven exploration and optimisation. The position is funded by the Big Chemistry National Growth Fund, a consortium consisting of research groups from Radboud University, Eindhoven University of Technology, the University of Groningen, AMOLF and Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven. We work closely with other researchers in the Big Chemistry Consortium and the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, a team of chemists, computer scientists and engineers working on everything from the origins of life to developing self-driving laboratories.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. We push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.