Researcher separation processes for water treatment (32-40 hours)

We are looking for an innovative and results-oriented medior researcher in the field of membrane technology, ion exchange and electrodialysis. You will conduct research in the field of these processes in water treatment to better help our customers find solutions to challenges in the water chain. The research questions you work on link water quality, process operation, design, efficiency and sustainability within the water chain. You will devise and elaborate experimental plans, analyse data, interpret results, identify opportunities and bottlenecks at our customers, help draw up research projects and recruit research funds. You map complex, underlying processes coherently.

Because you also support clients during the implementation phase, you understand the impact of your research and can translate that into new opportunities. The position also offers you the opportunity to broaden your network and share knowledge through conferences and international assignments.

Your work will include:

• Analyzing and interpreting research results from laboratory and pilot studies, translating them into the next step of research and implementation in practice.
• Maintaining contact with our customers and project partners on the substantive progress of our projects. This includes presenting results to our clients and at conferences.
• Exploring water technology innovations relevant to our customers’ challenges in the water chain.

About you

You enjoy gaining scientific insights and knowledge and translating them into practical applications. You are an enthusiastic and result-driven colleague. You are innovative and communicative, can work well together, are customer-oriented, and know how to plan and organise your work well. You have experience with acquisition, maintaining contacts with clients and developing research plans for clients.

Furthermore:

• You have graduated and/or obtained a PhD from a (technical) university (e.g. towards chemical/chemical technology, environmental technology, water management, water technology, civil engineering, mechanical engineering,…);
• You have extensive relevant work experience (5-10 years) in water treatment and the aforementioned processes;
• You have experience in raising research funds;
• You speak and write Dutch and English fluently;
• You preferably have a network and experience within the Dutch water sector.

If you do not meet the full profile but are enthusiastic about this position? We are also looking forward to receiving your motivation and CV.

Our offer to you

We are strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offer various opportunities for this, such as a good onboarding and various courses and skills training. A good work-life balance is of paramount importance to us. KWR offers excellent primary and secondary terms of employment and is a member of the collective labour agreement for water companies (including a Flexible Working Conditions Budget of 22.11%). Working partly from home is also an option.

About the team Water Treatment & Resource Recovery

The team conducts challenging research in the field of water technology with the aim of optimising water quality and sustainability and harnessing the value in water in a changing society. There is increasing interest in the use of membrane filtration, as it provides a robust and selective barrier to all kinds of contaminants. Developments in membrane technology, reducing membrane pollution, reducing energy consumption, increasing pressure on the quality of water resources and finding solutions to concentrate with selective separation techniques are leading to many research questions in this area. The team has established an excellent reputation in the field of water treatment and membrane filtration and, as a result, is now in need of reinforcemen.

About KWR

Safe and clean drinking water is a great good. KWR is an internationally renowned research institute in the field of water quality, the water cycle and sustainable development. ‘Bridging science to practice’ is our mission. From our almost completely sustainable building with ‘state of the art’ laboratories, our approximately 200 employees work from two knowledge groups on innovative projects in the Netherlands and increasingly in and outside Europe. The ten Dutch drinking water companies and the Belgian ‘De Watergroep’ are our shareholders.

Our researchers work at the intersection of science, implementation practice, business and society. Their strength lies in translating scientific knowledge into applicable practical solutions. To support the research, KWR has specialised laboratories, a test hall, test pond and test installations are built in-house, which are often used in (on-site) practical research at our clients’ premises.

Are you the researcher who combines scientific ambition with a market-oriented outlook?  Then send your cover letter and CV by e-mail to  before February 16th 2025, stating vacancy number 2502002. The first interviews will be on February 24th  and a second round on March 10th.

More information

For information about the position, Erwin Beerendonk (team leader Water Treatment & Resource Recovery) at 030 6069 604 or email .

For information about the application process, please contact Eduard Post (Human Resources Advisor) by phone 030 6069 633 or email .

We do not appreciate acquisition in response to this advertisement.