Two PhD positions in Sustainable Chemistry at the Faculty of Science – Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences. The Research Priority Area Sustainable Chemistry, which is part of the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) of the Faculty of Science, is looking for talented researchers to join two challenging projects, as detailed below.
The working conditions and general demands for each position are identical. Applicants will be selected based on their suitability to the projects. The successful candidates will be appointed as PhD candidates in a fixed-term contract.
Salary indication: €2,146 to €2,744 gross per month
- Closing date: 1 February 2016
- Vacancy number: 15-434
Project description: General introduction about the project – Catalysis in Confined Spaces is a joint project of the UvA and the RuG that is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research under the TOP-PUNT programme.
The project will address theoretical and practical questions, trying to understand how catalysts work in a variety of nanometric “boxes”. We will design, synthesize and study various types of soluble and solid (supra)molecular cages, which will be large enough for accommodating and reacting several molecules simultaneously. By incorporating (molecular) catalysts in the interior of the cages and/or other reactive sites into the cage walls, we will create tailored reaction environments, controlling reactions via second-coordination sphere effects and make switchable caged catalysts for a variety of reactions.
The combination of cage design, synthesis and modelling will yield active and highly selective catalysts and materials. Our ultimate goal is to explore how assembly and positioning of catalysts in confined spaces can be used to enhance catalytic function, allow catalysis to induce other functions and enable multistep conversions.
For this project, we’re looking for two motivated PhD candidates who will focus on the following subjects:
- Elucidating chiral adsorption mechanisms in MOFs by molecular simulation (computational chemistry, molecular simulation techniques)
- Porous graphene frameworks with tunable confined spaces (organic synthesis, heterogeneous catalysis, materials science)
Requirements / Qualifications – You must have an MSc degree in chemistry or chemical engineering. Applicants for project #1 must have proven experience in molecular simulations. Applicants for project #2 must have proven experience in organic synthesis. You must have excellent communication skills in English. Knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.
Further information
For information on project #1 contact:
For information on project #2 contact:
Appointment
Positions are available starting from 1 January 2016. A later starting date (up to 1 April 2016) is also possible.
The appointment will be on a temporary base for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary ranges from €2,146 in the first year to €2,744 in the final year, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end of year bonus according to the Dutch salary scales for PhD candidates. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities applies.
How to apply: application requirements –
Due to recruitment budget limitations, applicants from outside Europe will not be considered.
To save paper, time, and the environment, applications and responses will be sent by email only. Applications must include –
- a curriculum vita,
- a list of your course marks for the MSc and BSc,
- a list of publications, and
- a motivation letter explaining why you chose to apply for this position.
- All these should be grouped in one PDF attachment.
- Please email your application to application-science@uva.nl, quoting job reference number 15-434 in the subject line.
Please send one application only, specifying which project you are interested in.
Applications will be screened continuously until the positions are filled. Candidates may be appointed before the closing date for applications.