项目介绍

2026年9月12日

Rising damp from groundwater represents a critical threat to buildings worldwide. Some building-preservation treatments (most of the times polymers) are used to reduce rising damp, that is the moisture uptake from the ground moving upward through porous brick, stone, or mortar by capillary action. These treatments are supposed to create a water-repellent zone in order to interrupt upward moisture transport.

However, the fundamental mechanisms governing the spreading and polycondensation at the microscale, and thus the effectiveness, of such treatments in porous building materials remain largely unexplored. Critical knowledge gaps exist regarding the multiscale behaviour of these treatments, from microscale pore interactions to macroscale building performance.

This project will advance beyond the state of the art by elucidating for the first time the dynamics of spreading and polycondensation of chemical damp proofing products by real-time visualization of these processes at the pore scale. You will use novel experimental methods developed in our laboratory by combining fluorescent viscosity-sensitive probes and confocal/infrared microscopy with mechanical measurements to correlate the microscale of pore interaction to the macroscale behaviour.

Together with a diverse stakeholders group, including chemical product manufacturers, governmental conservation agencies, building asset owners, and contractors,  and in collaboration with TU Delft (the Architecture Department) we will establish the knowledge and tools to improve the effectiveness of chemical damp proofing interventions and significantly reduce the estimated €19 million annual costs of chemical treatments in the Netherlands.

Your research will be part of the Soft Matter cluster at the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute for Experimental Physics (IoP-WZI) at the University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Prof. Noushine Shahidzadeh (expert on crystallization and sol-gel process in confinement) and Prof. Hannelore Derluyn (expert in micro-CT 3D imaging for porous media).

This is what you will do

You will conduct pioneering research combining advanced imaging techniques with experimental characterization to elucidate the effects of different variables on the effectiveness of chemical damp proofing products, with the final goal of increasing the success of such barrier treatments against rising damp in (historic) masonry.

You will Study

• the Rheological changes of the product during polycondensation
• Reaction and aging in quasi-2D micromodels of porous media designed in the lab. Results will bring valuable pore-scale information on gelation and polycondensation, not accessible by other advanced imaging techniques such as NMR and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT).
• The dynamics of spreading of chemical products at different conditions in different porous materials using fluorescent viscosity-sensitive probes and confocal/infrared microscopy, and also by XCT scans, to get valuable information on the final deposition, following polycondensation at the microscale, and the results on the macroscale behaviour.

Your core responsibilities include:

• Conducting independent experimental research at different scales from bulk to confinement under various climatic conditions,
• Performing systematic studies in microfluidic channels and real porous building materials (limestone and sandstone) at the laboratory scale under controlled environmental cycling.
• Using advanced imaging and characterization techniques including optical and electron microscopy, IR and Raman spectroscopy, MRI, and X-ray microtomography to track polycondensation in real time.
• Publishing your findings in peer-reviewed international journals and presenting at international conferences
• Contributing to teaching activities by assisting in undergraduate and master’s courses in physics.
• Collaborating with other members of Prof. Shahidzadeh and Prof. Hannelore Derluyn’s group and making the link with our collaborator at TUDelft.

What we ask of you

Your experience and profile:

• A completed Master’s degree in Physics, Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Strong interest in experimental research combining materials science, sol-gel process, and applications to real-world problems.
• Affinity with experimental techniques including microscopy, spectroscopy, and/or imaging methods.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken)
• Motivation to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences
• Willingness to assist in teaching undergraduate and master students

It is a preference if you additionally have:

• Experience with soft matter physics and porous media
• Familiarity with imaging techniques (optical/electron microscopy, X-ray tomography, or spectroscopy)

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years).

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week ranges between €3,204 to €4,051 (Scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate is applicable.

A favourable tax agreement, the 30% ruling, may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

The preferred starting date is as soon as possible (to be discussed).

This employment should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and international meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Additional benefits:

• Vibrant, international, and interdisciplinary research environment;
• Access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities and advanced imaging equipment;
• Opportunity to work on a project with high societal impact related to climate change and cultural heritage preservation;
• Collaboration with leading experts in crystallization field, porous media, as well as heritage conservation;
• Integration into both international research networks in Crystal growth, Porous media, and Cultural heritage science;
• Professional development through courses, workshops, and international conferences.

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.