ABOUT US

The Noël Research Group sits at the intersection of synthetic organic chemistry and engineering. Our mission: leverage cutting-edge technology to expand the boundaries of chemical space — making synthesis faster, greener, and smarter. We work on flow chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, and autonomous laboratory platforms, publishing in the highest-impact journals in the field.

RoboChem is our flagship self-driving laboratory platform, published in Science. It combines flow chemistry hardware, embedded firmware, and Bayesian optimization to autonomously discover and optimize chemical reactions — running 24/7 without human intervention. We are now expanding the platform with RoboChem-Flex, a modular, open-source successor designed to democratize autonomous chemical experimentation.

THE ROLE

This PhD position is primarily an engineering role inside a chemistry environment. You'll be the person who makes the hardware work — designing and assembling robotic platforms, writing the firmware that talks to pumps, valves, and sensors, and integrating everything into a coherent, reliable system.

You do not need to be a synthetic chemist. You need to understand enough chemistry to know what the hardware has to do — and then go build it.

Day-to-day, your work will span mechanical assembly and 3D-printed component design, microcontroller firmware (Arduino/embedded C), PCB design, software integration with Python-based control systems, and troubleshooting the unexpected things that happen when chemistry meets robotics.

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

• Design and build modular robotic hardware for autonomous flow chemistry platforms
• Develop and maintain firmware for embedded systems (microcontrollers, actuators, sensors)
• Integrate hardware with Python-based control and optimization software
• Design and iterate on custom PCBs, sensor modules, and electromechanical assemblies
• Develop CAD models and 3D-printed parts for custom reactors and liquid handlers
• Troubleshoot hardware–software interfaces
• Document designs and contribute to open-source releases
• Collaborate with chemists to translate reaction requirements into hardware specs

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for someone who is genuinely excited about building things, and who can bridge the world of engineering and chemistry. The ideal candidate has a taste for hardware — but a background in chemistry or chemical engineering is equally welcome, as long as you bring curiosity and a drive to work hands-on with systems and automation.

Background (one of the following):

• MSc in Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• Candidates with a pure chemistry MSc and strong interest in hardware/automation are explicitly encouraged to apply

What we value:

• Some hands-on experience with hardware, electronics, or physical systems (this could be from coursework, a thesis project, or personal projects)
• Comfort with programming — Python, C/C++, Arduino, or similar
• Exposure to a chemistry or chemical engineering lab environment
• Curiosity-driven problem-solving: you enjoy debugging and figuring things out
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work across disciplines

Nice to have (not required):

• Background in lab automation or process control
• Experience with CAD (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or similar) and 3D printing
• PCB design experience (KiCad, Eagle, or similar)
• Familiarity with flow chemistry or continuous processing
• Knowledge of Bayesian optimization or machine learning

WHY JOIN THE ROBOCHEM TEAM

• Work on a platforms published in Science and Nature Synthesis — and shape their next generation
• Build real, deployable systems used daily by researchers
• Interdisciplinary team spanning chemistry, engineering, and machine learning
• Access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities
• Publish open-source hardware and software with real-world impact
• Competitive Dutch PhD salary (full employment, 4 years, in accordance with the CAO-NU)
• Vibrant, international team based in Amsterdam
• Direct mentorship from Prof. Tim Noël and senior team members

HOW TO APPLY

If you've read this far and you're the right person, you'll figure this out:

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Send your CV, a brief motivation letter, and any relevant project work (GitHub, portfolio, thesis excerpts) if you find us!

We review applications on a rolling basis.