Marie Curie-PhD position Novel photochemical switches based on C=N and C=P bonds

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 270 employees and has a turnover of 300 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website.

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Subject description/research project
We are seeking talented, motivated PhD candidates to work on the synthesis and photophysical exploration of chalcone-like scaffolds with C=N and C=P bonds. Your work will contribute to pioneering developments of fast and efficient switching systems in the framework of the LUMIERE MSCA Doctoral Network, which aims at designing, synthesizing, and study theoretically photoresponsive systems operating as rotary molecular-level devices with the novel tool of time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TRPES) to unravel basic principles of their rotary function.

Opportunities for international training include secondments at top institutions across Europe, including University of Siena, CNRS Strasbourg, University College London, KIT Germany, and UCT Prague, for specialized training in spectroscopy, synthetic methods, and computational modelling.

Work duties
The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The successful candidate will develop and characterize new synthetic routes for chalcone-based C=N molecular motors and visible-light-switchable scaffolds, synthesize and study chalcone-like C=P scaffolds to explore metal interactions for orthogonal catalytic reactivity, and predict ground and excited state pathways through quantum and semiempirical methods.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• has acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
  

Requirements:

• Degree or equivalent as above in Chemistry.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

The eligibility criteria for this specific project are as follows:

• At the time of recruitment, the applicant must not have been awarded any previous doctorate.
  
  
• The applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

Additional requirements:

• Any proven experience in photochemistry, computational chemistry, data analysis, and programming will be positively evaluated.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment:
The rules about PhD students are found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 §§1-7 and the university's rules and guidelines.

Application procedure: The application should include a statement of research interest, CV, certificates of exams, degrees and grades, a copy of Master thesis, published article or relevant materials, if available. Also, contact information of at least two reference persons should be included.
Pay: According to local agreement (Local collective agreement for doctoral students and students).
Starting: 2025-01-01 or as agreed.
Type of employment: Temporary position for four years
Contract type: Full-time employment (100 %)

For further information about the position, please contact
Stefano Crespi stefano.crespi@kemi.uu.se

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 2024-11-29, UFV-PA 2024/3785. 

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