Early Stage Researcher (PhD Student candidate) – Marie Skłodowska Curie ITN – PhotoReAct
The Department of Chemistry offers one full-time position (100%) for an Early Stage Researcher (PhD Student candidate) as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN-ETN) PhotoReAct (towards the applicability and scalability of photochemical transformations). Be part of the European International Training Network PhotoReAct PhotoReAct provides high level training to educate the next generation of researchers who will provide essential progress towards more efficient photocatalysis. The interdisciplinary and intersectoral research programme unites 4 industrial and 10 academic nodes with world-leading expertise in photochemistry, catalysis, organic synthesis, computational modelling, flow chemistry, process plant development, and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and chemical additives.
Objectives of the research network
The use of visible light energy to induce chemical transformations constitutes a chemoselective and green activation mode of organic molecules. However, implementation of this energy source in organic synthetic methodologies and in the industrial production of fine chemicals has been challenging. The PhotoReAct Innovative Training Network tackles the challenges associated with photocatalysis in a coherent and comprehensive fashion. In total 15 Early Stage Researchers will be trained within the PhotoReAct network. The network will provide them with opportunities to undertake research with the aim to overcome the current limitations towards the applicability and scalability of photochemical transformations. This will be achieved through rational design of novel photocatalysts, the development of new photocatalytic methodologies, improved reactor technology and direct industrial implementation of photocatalytic transformations. Furthermore, the ESRs will be trained in the PhotoReAct graduate school, acquiring scientific, personal, and soft skills. All ESRs will perform three secondments, of which at least one is intersectoral and carried out with an industrial partner and a second is international. Consequently, the ESRs will have improved career prospects and a higher employability. Due to the high degree of industrial participation, the PhotoReAct network will provide an innovation-friendly environment where scientific results can grow and become products or services that will benefit European economies.
Your responsibilities
The position involves the rational design and implementation of novel protocols in the area of homogeneous catalysis supported by computationally as well as experimentally driven mechanistic studies.
Requirements
Are you an excellent, open-minded, and team-spirited PhD candidate with a background in organic/organometallic chemistry and/or catalysis? Do you have good knowledge and practical experience in organic chemistry and are familiar with techniques such as inert atmosphere, NMR, UV-Vis, IR, MS, etc.?
Are you interested or have previous experience in the area of computational or physical organic chemistry? Are you fluent in English, both in spoken and written form? If this is the case, we are waiting for your application! Please also keep in mind that you will be required to meet the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early-Stage Researcher eligibility criteria (http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/). In particular, at the time of appointment, you must have had less than four years full-time equivalent research experience and must not have already obtained a PhD. Additionally, you must not have resided in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the appointment.
We offer
The University of Zurich is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. You will be part of an excellent international research team and benefit from the scientific and complementary training programme of the EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN) PhotoReAct.
Start of employment and application
The employment start date will be mutually agreed upon. Your application should contain: - letter of motivation - curriculum vitae - research summary of past accomplishments - transcripts of records from University/University College and copy of your degree. - one written recommendation letter (e.g. by your Master thesis supervisor) and the contact details of at least one more referee. Please send your application electronically, as a single pdf file, to sinergia.brd@chem.uzh.ch until latest 15th July 2021 (incomplete applications will not be considered). After reception of the applications, selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. The position will be filled as soon as a perfect candidate has been found.
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Cristina Nevado University of Zurich Department of Chemistry Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich
