Internship | Catalyst Deactivation in COHydrogenation Processes

About this position
Are you passionate about catalysis and eager to contribute to a more sustainable chemical industry? At TNO, you will help develop the next generation of flexible, electricity-driven chemical processes. As renewable electricity becomes increasingly important in industry, chemical processes must cope with fluctuating operating conditions. To enable this flexibility, catalysts must remain active, selective, and stable under dynamic conditions rather than conventional steady-state operation.

During this six-month MSc research internship, you will investigate catalyst behaviour in CO₂ hydrogenation processes and explore strategies to improve catalyst robustness under dynamic operating conditions. You will work within a multidisciplinary team of catalysis, process engineering, and digitalization experts located in Eindhoven and Petten. This internship offers a unique opportunity to combine fundamental catalysis research with a clear industrial application, contributing to technologies that reduce CO₂ emissions and improve the sustainability of chemical production.

• Design and perform catalytic experiments under steady-state and dynamic conditions.
• Investigate catalyst deactivation mechanisms and their impact on activity, selectivity, and stability.
• Operate fixed-bed reactor systems and analyse reactor performance.
• Characterise catalysts using techniques such as operando FTIR/DRIFTS, XRD, and SEM.
• Correlate catalyst properties with catalytic performance and deactivation behaviour.
• Develop recommendations for more robust catalysts suitable for fluctuating operating conditions.
• Collaborate with researchers from Eindhoven and Petten working on catalysis, process modelling, and process flexibility.
• Present and discuss results within the project team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic MSc student who enjoys experimental research and wants to apply catalysis to real-world sustainability challenges.

• An ongoing MSc degree in Chemistry, preferably with a specialization in Inorganic Chemistry or Catalysis.
• A strong interest in heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable chemical processes.
• Affinity with laboratory work and data analysis.
• A proactive mindset and the ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills in English.

Additional qualifications (considered a plus)

• Knowledge of catalyst deactivation and stability.
• Experience with FTIR/DRIFTS, XRD, or related characterization techniques.
• Experience with laboratory-scale catalytic reactor systems.
• Interest in industrial chemistry and the energy transition.

Benefit from a professional and innovative internship environment where you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field. You’ll receive personal and dedicated supervision, focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment, and room to develop both subject‑specific and professional skills.

• Use of laptop and facilities required for effective work.
• Monthly internship allowance of €615 for a full‑time internship (MSc, BSc, and MBO students).
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full‑time internship.
• Contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
• Free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, offering professional and personal development activities and social events.