About the Project
Location: ICIQ, Spain
Supervisor: Prof. Pablo Ballester
NOAH Research Programme
NOAH (network of functional molecular containers with controlled switchable abilities) is a European training network that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie action (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). The general scientific aims of the NOAH research program are the development, characterisation and transfer to applications of different types of molecular containers.
NOAH aims to bring in a great variety of scientific attributes to the selected Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs), ranging from the experimental organic and inorganic synthesis to computational chemistry. Photo- and electro-chemistry, MS/gas-phase chemistry, X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy techniques will be also included in the scientific formation and development of the recruited ESRs.
The trainees will also receive education in complementary and transferable skills through attendance at local and network-wide dedicated training activities (e.g. dissemination, communication, organization, governance, ethics…). The training program includes the exposure of the ESRs to chemical research carried out in the non-academic sector by means of full recruitment or short stage secondments (6 months) in one of the four chemical European companies acting as industrial partners.
This is one of 10 Early-Stage Researcher (ESRs) positions offered by NOAH. Each ESR will benefit from a 36-month contract and will have the possibility to defend a PhD thesis at the end of their individual projects. Each PhD student will be hosted in a beneficiary institution and will receive additional training by undergoing relevant secondments at the industrial and other academic partners’ facilities.
Objectives of the individual project
1) Acquisition of expertise in synthetic and characterization procedures of water soluble calix[4]pyrrole and calix[4]pyrrole with azo and hemithioindigo moieties in their walls.
2) Evaluate and study the self-assembly and encapsulation processes of electron-active or photo-active guests by different techniques (i.e. NMR, UV-Vis, Fluorescence, electrochemistry, ITC…).
3) Gain experience in electrochemical and photophysical processes for the characterization of his/her already prepared molecular capsules (during secondment at ISOF-CNR).
4) Discover the power of computational methods in supramolecular chemistry.
5) Find out the importance of the industrial sector in research development (Industrial Secondment).
Expected Results:
The ESR is expected to end her/his recruitment with a library of different calix[4]pyrrole based structures able to form capsular assemblies in water or in organic solvents. In addition, she/he will demonstrate the responsive ability of some of the molecular capsules to an external stimulus (i.e. light incidence). Moreover, a complete characterization of the assemblies is expected: solid-state structures, thermodynamic, kinetic and photophysical characterization in solution, and gas-phase characterization.
Planned secondment(s)
Academic Secondment: During his/her 3 months of secondment at ISOF-CNR ESR1 will be immersed into the world of electrochemistry and photophysical chemistry and end up with a full characterization of his/her system prepared during the first year and with a wide knowledge of the time-resolved spectroscopic techniques.
Industrial Secondment: Six-months secondment at Covestro facilities in ChemPark Leverkusen in order to gain experience in industrial applications of capsules in coating materials (stability studies of the capsules in polyurethane matrices, determination of the new coating properties such as transparency, scratch resistance, adhesion tests, curing…).
Eligibility requirements
EU eligibility criteria for candidates
Candidates of any nationality, but in order to be eligible for the positions the following criteria applies to all applicants:
- The applicant shall at the time of recruitment be in the first four years of his/her research career and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
- The applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment.
Candidates profile: candidates must hold a Master’s degree in Chemistry with excellent academic
transcripts. We are looking for highly motivated students with good communication skills
All candidates must prove full proficiency in spoken and written English (B2 certificate, TOEFL, or
equivalent).
Job conditions
- Appointment under full-time employment contract for a period of 36 months
- Competitive remuneration (Living Allowance = €3110/month (correction factor to be applied per country) + mobility allowance = €600/month + family allowance if applicable = €500/month). Monthly salary for the fellow before any deductions.
- Additional funding for participation at courses, workshops, conferences, etc.
- Enrollment in a Doctorate program with the possibility to lead to a PhD dissertation.
- Starting date: ESRs are expected to start from October 2018 (estimated time).
Questions regarding the recruitment can be sent to: [Email Address Removed].
Questions regarding the project can be sent to: [Email Address Removed] or [Email Address Removed]
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