Master's Student for Thesis Project in Material Science & Chemistry

Master’s Thesis Project: Development of Next-Generation Fire-Retardant Wood Coatings

About AkzoNobel 
Since 1792, we’ve been supplying innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together. For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com.

Project Overview
AkzoNobel Industrial Wood Coatings invites motivated master’s students to apply for a thesis project focused on developing fire-retardant solutions for sustainable wood coating products. The project aims to build practical knowledge on how to formulate high-performance fire-retardant coatings. 

Project Goals
•    Gain understanding of tentative mechanisms for fire retardant coatings (literature study).
•    Evaluate performance of coatings in practical tests (design of experiments, formulation and application of coatings, performance testing).
•    Document the work and recommend directions for future developments (report writing).

Why Choose This Project?
This project will give you a solid foundation for future job opportunities in the chemical industry, more specifically:
•    Gain experience in the development of high-performance materials at one of the global leaders in coating solutions.
•    Gain experience in formulating chemical products and using modern small-scale performance tests, including how they relate to standard methods used for official classification of product performance.
•    Work with a great team of motivated and supportive colleagues, dedicated to bring the best coating solutions to tomorrow’s market.

Skills & Competencies
•    Strong background in materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineering.
•    Interest in fire safety and sustainable technology.
•    Proficiency with lab work, performance testing and documentation of performed work.

Duration & Requirements
Duration: Negotiable, earliest start autumn 2025.
Location: On-site at AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings in Malmö.
Thesis must meet academic requirements.

How to Apply
Submit the following documents to Simon.fridolf@Akzonobel.com, which will be evaluated continuously:
•    CV, and a short one-paragraph cover letter.
•    Academic transcript.
•    For more details, contact Simon Fridolf, Development engineer at: Simon.fridolf@Akzonobel.com.