PhD and PostDoc positions SSNMR

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PhD and PostDoc positions SSNMR

PhD and PostDoc positions in solid-state NMR


Development and applications of high-resolution solid-state NMR methods to study molecular systems of pharmaceutical, energy and environmental interest

Job summary:

Two research grants (1 PhD and 1 PostDoc) are available for highly motivated candidates with an outstanding academic record in the Science or Engineering disciplines, at the Group for Synthesis, Structure and Technological Application of Materials – SYSTAM – at the University of Oviedo (Spain) and the Center for Research in Ceramics and Composite Materials – CICECO – at the University of Aveiro (Portugal) within the framework of project MAT2010-15094. This project aims at employing state-of-the art solid-state NMR (SSNMR) methodology and computational methods to understand the underlying intermolecular interactions, which play a crucial role in the molecular arrangement of pharmaceutical systems and elucidate the chemical structure of inorganic-organic hybrid materials of environmental and catalytic interest. The successful candidates will have access to fully equipped SSNMR spectrometers ranging from 400 to 800 MHz located at both universities and at the installations of the Portuguese NMR network. The candidates will also have access to several diffraction equipments including sophisticated high-resolution single-crystal/powder X-ray and electron diffraction equipments.

See below the job description and application details for each position (Note: the PostDoc position description is just after the PhD position details written below)

L. Mafra

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Luís Mafra, PhD
CICECO research laboratory
Chemistry Department
University of Aveiro
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal
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e-mail: lmafra@ua.pt
Office: +351 234 247135 (ext. 24754)
Fax: +351 234 370 084



####### PhD position ##############################################


Job description:


Duration: The PhD grant will have an initial duration of 12 months, with a predicted starting date of 01 March 2012, and a possible extension up to a period of 60 months. The further extension will be possible depending upon the success on application to different Spanish (as FPI, FPU, Severo Ochoa or PPI-Uniovi) or European programs.


Application deadline: 31 January, 2012


Activity Outline: The objectives of the project will be to perform experimental and computational studies of tridimensional structure of compounds with pharmaceutical interest based on solid-state NMR spectroscopy combined with X-ray diffraction methods and computer simulations. The systems to be studied may include two research lines:
i) Pharmaceutical systems: polymorphism and the study of intermolecular forces implied in the transformation between pharmaceutical hydrates and anhydrates; study of polymeric scaffolds hosting drugs to investigate the structure and intermolecular drug-drug and drug-host interactions involved in the mechanism of swelling, drug impregnation, and drug release.
ii) Systems of environmental, energy and catalytic interest: Study of hybrid materials to capture CO2 and to convert catalytically the CO2 to various commodity chemicals. The hybrid materials to be studied include ionic liquids and Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs).


Academic Requirements: Prospective applicants should possess a degree in Science or Engineering disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry or related fields). Previous experience in computational methods or NMR spectroscopy is an advantage but not mandatory. The candidate should have a final course classification equal or above 16/20. The candidates should, preferably, have less than two years after graduation.


Evaluation Criteria and Process: The evaluation criteria are: i) Final classification of Undergraduate (value: 8/20) and Masters (value: 5/20) degrees; ii) Previous experience in related areas (value: 2/20); iii) Scientific publication record (value 2/20); Interview (value 3/20). All eligible candidates will first be classified in terms of absolute merit. Those approved will then be ordered consecutively in terms of relative merit. The candidate rated highest in the relative merit list will be invited to occupy the position. The selected person will be informed by email.


Documents Required: i) Application letter mentioning the contacts of two or three reference contacts; ii) Curriculum Vitae, dated and signed; iii) Photocopy (or scanned copy) of identity card or passport; iv) Academic degree certificate(s). Applications should be sent by email to Dr. Luís Mafra (lmafra@ua.pt) and Prof. Santiago García-Granda (sgg@uniovi.es) within the time frame of the call.


#######PostDoc position ##############################################


Job description:


Duration: The PostDoc grant will have an initial duration of 10 months, with a predicted starting date of 01 March 2012, and a possible extension period of 12 additional months till the end of 2013. Further contracts are possible depending upon the success on application to different Spanish programs (as Juan de la Cierva, Ramón y Cajal, Clarín) or European programs.


Application deadline: 31 January, 2012


Activity Outline: The objectives of the project will be to perform experimental and computational studies of tridimensional structure of compounds with pharmaceutical interest based on solid-state NMR spectroscopy combined with X-ray diffraction methods and computer simulations. The systems to be studied may include two research lines:
i) Pharmaceutical systems: polymorphism and the study of intermolecular forces implied in the transformation between pharmaceutical hydrates and anhydrates; study of polymeric scaffolds hosting drugs to investigate the structure and intermolecular drug-drug and drug-host interactions involved in the mechanism of swelling, drug impregnation, and drug release.
ii) Systems of environmental, energy and catalytic interest: Study of hybrid materials to capture CO2 and to convert catalytically the CO2 to various commodity chemicals. The hybrid materials to be studied include ionic liquids and Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs).


Academic Requirements: Prospective applicants should possess a PhD in Science or Engineering disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry or related fields). Previous experience in computational methods and/or solid-state NMR spectroscopy is an advantage. The candidate should have a top research profile with international experience. The candidates should be preferably under 35 and less than four years after the obtaining their PhD.


Evaluation Criteria and Process: The evaluation criteria are: i) Final classification of Undergraduate (value: 2/20) and Masters (value: 3/20) degrees; ii) Previous international experience in related areas (value: 5/20); iii) Scientific publication record (value 7/20); Interview in English (value 3/20). All eligible candidates will first be classified in terms of absolute merit. Those approved will then be ordered consecutively in terms of relative merit. The candidate rated highest in the relative merit list will be invited to occupy the position. The selected person will be informed by email.


Documents Required: i) Application letter mentioning the contacts of two or three international reference contacts; ii) Curriculum Vitae, dated and signed; iii) Photocopy (or scanned copy) of identity card or passport; iv) Academic degree certificate(s). Applications should be sent by email to Dr. Luís Mafra (lmafra@ua.pt) and Prof. Santiago García-Granda (sgg@uniovi.es) within the time frame of the call.


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