Publication date: 16 March 2021

Closing date: 31 May 2021 at 12:00

Offering start date: 01 July 2021

Level of education: Master degree

Researcher profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

 

 

Photocatalysis represents a green chemistry alternative as it reduces the environmental impact of hazardous substances in the design and manufacture of chemical products. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PhotoReAct project will offer 1 early-stage researcher position (ESR, i.e. who has not yet obtained a PhD degree) based at the University of Bologna (Italy), providing the opportunity to carry out research in the field and analyse current limitations that prevent the applicability and scalability of photochemical processes. The young researcher will focus on the rational design of photocatalysts, new photocatalytic methodologies, improved reactor technologies and the industrial implementation of photocatalytic transformations. Thus, the main tasks assigned to the ESR will be i) to analyse the photophysical behaviour of organic and inorganic chromophores with steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods (e.g., UV-vis spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy) and ii) to investigate the role of reactive species involved in chemical transformations through the analysis of their redox properties at the excited state (e.g, cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, transient absorption spectroscopy). The ESR will complete secondments in one industrial partner and one European academic partner and one extra-European research institute to expand their knowledge and expertise in preparation for entering the job market.

The PhotoReAct Innovative Training Network establishes a training network with 10 beneficiaries from academia and 4 beneficiaries from industry to tackle the challenges associated with photocatalysis in a coherent and comprehensive fashion. In total 15 Early Stage Researchers will be trained within the PhotoReAct network. All the ESRs will profit of a training in the PhotoReAct graduate school, acquiring scientific, personal and soft skills.

More information about the PhotoReAct project and related activities can be found in the project website.

 

Eligibility criteria
Eligible Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) must have less than 4 years research experience at the signature of the contract (measured from the time the Master’s degree has been obtained), and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (Italy) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

Selection process
Eligible candidates are invited to send an application (including: CV, a motivation letter and a reference letter) to paola.ceroni@unibo.it (subject: PHOTOREACT PHD). Applications will be considered on the basis of the experience, skills and attributes required to undertake the PhD programme. The shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the interview within 2 weeks from the application deadline.

Offer Requirements

REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL
Chemistry: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications
- background in photochemistry is a plus
- skills in scientific writing (reports, papers, etc.)
- team-oriented spirit and collaborative attitude