Master Thesis within Organic Synthesis at Nouryon

Perform your MSc thesis work (~20 weeks) within the area of Organic synthesis

Our goal is to create solutions that not only meet today's needs but are also sustainable for the future. By doing your thesis 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.

About the Thesis work

As a part of the transition to more renewable raw materials in the chemical industry, there is an increased demand of surfactants produced from bio-based feedstock.

Today, large amounts of surfactants are produced using ethylene oxide derived from fossil raw materials. To reduce our reliance on fossil raw materials, and at the same time develop new classes of surface-active chemicals we are looking into alternative abundant bio-based raw materials. One such raw material is glycerol. Glycerol is available in large amounts as a side product from production of fatty acids and esters from fats. It is highly polar and water soluble and could therefore make up a good substitute for polyethylene glycol as the polar head group of various surfactants. 

This project is a part of a larger effort aiming to develop new surfactants based on readily available bio-based materials such as glycerol and fatty acid-derived raw materials. The project will focus on organic synthesis on lab scale, developing and optimizing the synthesis of surfactants from attaching polar head groups based on glycerol-derivable building blocks to hydrophobic moieties, aiming to find favorable conditions to produce (poly)glycerol-based surfactants.

The project will include:

• Identify surfactant classes which can be produced using this method.
• Screening of catalytic systems.
• Optimization of reaction conditions.
• Analysis of products (mainly by NMR).

Supervisors: 
Petter Dunås and Anna Said Stålsmeden, R&D Product Chemistry
Location: Stenungsund, Product Chemistry, Nouryon Surface Chemistry

Contact: petter.dunas@nouryon.com

Great if you have

Interest in organic chemistry.
experience working in a 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 their projects:

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 early spring 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.

Preferred time period: Spring 2025  (~20 weeks)

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:
Dr. Petter Dunås, Senior Researcher Nouryon R&D Product Chemistry petter.dunas@nouryon.com

#WeAreNouryon #Changemakers