Postdoctoral Fellowship in NMR Methods to Study Molecules of Environmental and Biological Interest
(Project Ref. PTDC/QUI-QUI/100998/2008)
Job Description:
A 1-year postdoctoral position is available starting from May 2011, (extendable for additional 7 months) to study the “solid structure” of ionic liquids (ILs) with relevance to the pharmaceutical industry. For this purpose solid-state NMR will be used to study selected ionic solids (ISs). The research will be centered in the use of NMR techniques in tandem with molecular modelling to study the physical chemistry of molecular interactions in ILs and ISs.
This project will be performed at the NMR centers at the Universities of Aveiro (solids NMR) and Nova de Lisboa (liquids NMR).
Multinuclear liquid-state NMR experiments (including diffusion NMR experiments) will be employed to study ILs. This project will have a strong emphasis in the study of ISs, with low melting points, using advanced high-resolution multinuclear solid-state NMR methods. These studies will be complemented with first principles calculation of NMR parameters and molecular dynamics simulations. In a later stage the solvation of different molecules of pharmaceutical interest in biocompatible ILs will be addressed.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a challenging environment with access to state-of-the-art NMR equipment. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a competitive and multidisciplinary environment and participate in a project of relevance to the pharmaceutical industry and with impact in environmental issues. Aveiro is a very pleasant city near the seacoast, located between Porto and Lisbon with everything within walking distance.
Equipment: The candidate will have access to all equipments within the Portuguese NMR network (http://ptnmr.dq.ua.pt) ranging from 400 MHz to 800 MHz solid-state and solution NMR spectrometers with a variety of probes and other accessories for solids and liquids and will have access also to a shared computer cluster (http:// http://wikis.ua.pt/flamingo/). Both institutes are well equipped with 6 BRUKER AVANCE III NMR (400 to 600 MHz) spectrometers equipped with more than 20 probes. Details may be found in the aforementioned link.
Duration: 12 months extendable to 19 months, preferably from May 2011.
Candidate Profile:
- The candidate should hold a PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Physical Chemistry, Materials Sciences or related disciplines.
- Previous experience in solid-state NMR spectroscopy (instrumentation and theory) is required.
- Good informatics skills and experience with molecular modelling calculations is highly appreciated.
- Candidates with previous experience in NMR studies, considering this project research topic, are also of our interest.
Selection criteria:
1- Evaluation of the CV:
- Past experience in NMR spectroscopy, with preference for those candidates with experience in solids NMR is required.
- Analysis of relevant publications of interest for this project.
2- Interview if necessary, where proof of knowledge is tested.
3- Analysis of the reference contacts given by the candidates
Salary: 1495 EUR/month (Free of taxes)
Documents for the application:
Applicants should send: Cover letter, Detailed Curriculum Vitae and at least two reference contacts, preferably, by email to Dr. Luís Mafra (lmafra@ua.pt)
Alternatively, the documents should be sent to:
Dr. Luís Mafra
Departamento de Química
CICECO
Universidade de Aveiro,
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal
Tel. (+351) 234 370620
(Reception of the documents by email is preferable)
Deadlines:
Applications will be accepted from March 1 to March 31, 2011.
The candidates will be informed by email about the result of the selection process.
