Perform your MSc thesis work (~20 weeks) within the area of Agriculture and Food at Nouryon

Our goal is to create solutions that not only meet today's needs but are also sustainable for the future. By collaborating with us, you contribute to solutions that benefit society and make a difference. With us, you are not just part of a global team but part of a group of changemakers. Your thesis project will give you the chance to influence and leave an impact on our operations and society.

About the Thesis work

Nowadays, when precision farming becomes a necessity, the importance of safe and sustainable seed coating materials is in focus. Timely and precise delivery of the active ingredient (AI) not only increases the harvest but also prevents harming environment by overuse of pesticides and herbicides. During seed coating the seed is covered by a thin film of binder with incorporated AI. This is a rapidly growing agriculture practice and new regulations are demanding new solutions. Early developments also resulted in formation of fine dust of AI that can easily be carried by wind or by pollinating insects and cause damage. It is additionally considered a working hazard for farmers. 

With this Master thesis project we would like to study how humidity affects the mechanical properties of the coating formulation and to understand further dust formation mechanisms. Dynamic mechanical properties will be assessed for several different formulations with various humectant concentration.

Flowable concentrates for seed coating will be formulated in the laboratory in the Nouryon R&D facility in Stenungsund (Nouryon). Samples casted from these suspension concentrates represent highly-filled composite films. They will be subjected to mechanical testing (DMA, Chalmers) at relevant for application frequency, temperature and humidity conditions. Obtained viscoelastic parameters, such as storage, loss moduli and tan delta coefficient will be correlated with dusting results from Heubach test (Nouryon). Upon need the additional tests to tackle integrity of the film, film and bonding of filler particles with the binder and seed surface will be employed.

Location: Stenungsund, Crop protection, Agriculture and Food, Nouryon Surface Chemistry and Gothenburg, Rheology and Processing of Soft Matter group, Chalmers IMS, Sweden

Preferred time period: Spring 2025 (~20 weeks)
 

Great if you have
 

•    background in chemical engineering or equivalent,
•    knowledge of polymer-based composite behavior and characterization,
•    familiarity with colloidal chemistry principles,
•    experience working in the chemical laboratory,
•    communication and reporting skills in English.

We offer you
 

At Nouryon, we value the contributions of students undertaking their Master’s Thesis with us and offer the following compensation based on the scope of the project:

30 Points Master’s Thesis: For a thesis worth 30 ECTS points, you will receive a payment equivalent to 60% of the current price base amount (prisbasbelopp). This reflects our appreciation for your dedication and effort. Please note that the full compensation is disbursed when the thesis is finished and approved by the institution.

Good to know

Please apply via our online recruitment system with a specific uploaded CV. We take care of your personal data (GDPR), so we do not accept applications via email as these will be ignored. Also, please respond carefully to the selection questions so that we can assist you in the best possible way.

The ad will be posted during the fall and will be removed as soon as we have found the final candidate

We look forward to your application! When it is with us, we will review to see if there is a match between your skills and the opportunities that will arise! We strive to get back to you as soon as possible with an update on the process.

About Nouryon 

We’re looking for tomorrow’s Changemakers, today. 
 
If you’re looking for your next career move, apply today and join Nouryon’s worldwide team of Changemakers in providing essential solutions that our customers use to manufacture everyday products such as personal care, cleaning, paints and coatings, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals, and building products. Our employees are driven by the wish to make an impact and actively drive positive change. If that describes you, we will gladly make way for your ambitions. 
 
Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.  

Contact 

If you have any questions about the process or your application, or need assistance, please contact Recruiting.SE@Nouryon.com.

For questions related to the content of the Master thesis work please contact:
Alexandra Aulova or Mikael Widell, Scientists at Crop Protection, Agriculture and Food R&D group: 
alexandra.aulova@nouryon.com or Mikael.widell@nouryon.com 

#WeAreNouryon #Changemakers