The Role

This two-year post, fixed-term for 24 months, is part of the project entitled ‘Interlocked fullerene and endohedral metallofullerene hosts for molecular machine-like sensing’, and is funded as part of a collaborative EPSRC project with Professor Paul Beer and Professor Jason Davis (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford).

The Project

The project involves developing functionalisation methods for the synthesis of endohedral fullerene derivatives with specific functionality for use in molecular machine-like sensing. You will work under the supervision of Professor Kyriakos Porfyrakis FRSC (Associate Professor of Materials, EPSRC Fellow and Head of Laboratory for Carbon Nanomaterials).

In this role you will support the development of synthetic protocols for production and functionalization of endohedral fullerenes, including but not limited to, tethered addition of functional groups to the fullerene cage. You will be responsible for the synthesis and purification of materials and for their spectroscopic characterization via UV-Vis absorption, mass spectrometry and other characterisation techniques.

The Person

You will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil (or be close to completion)  in the field of chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science or a closely related subject area. You should have proven skills in in the synthesis and functionalisation of endohedral fullerenes, together with expertise in handling sensitive materials via Schlenk line techniques and soxhlet processing. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively within a group and someone with a willingness to work with collaborators on other Departments, as well as to travel abroad for conferences.

Benefits

38 days holidays including Bank Holidays, subsidised travel scheme, excellent pension scheme, comprehensive childcare service, flexible working.

How to Apply

All applications must be made online using the Oxford University E-Recruitment system, no later than 12 noon on 31 August 2018. You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application.

Next Steps

Interviews are scheduled to take place at the Department of Materials on 24 September 2018 and you must be available on this date, either by Skype or in person. Please note in normal circumstances only interview travel expenses within the UK will be reimbursed.