The project aims to develop new approaches for investigation of reaction mechanisms in photocatalytic reactions. As a PhD Candidate you will learn and then improve our strategies to trap reaction intermediates in photocatalytic reactions by mass spectrometry. The initial studies will concern C-H activation and oxidation reactions mediated by metal complexes as photocatalysts. Understanding of key reaction steps and identification of reaction intermediates will be a guide towards developing of improved photocatalysts. The project will run within the frame NWO START-UP Grant of Prof. Roithova. For relevant literature see: Acc. Chem. Res. 2016, 49, 223; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 2757; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2018, 20, 6868.

• Master’s degree in chemistry (good knowledge of organic and physical chemistry);
• curiosity to explore new reactions and new approaches in chemistry;
• ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment;
• good communication skills in English.

• employment: 0.8 - 1.0 FTE
• a maximum gross monthly salary of € 2,972 based on a 38-hour working week
• the gross starting salary amounts to €2,325 per month, and will increase to €2,972 in the fourth year
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: 4 years
• your performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years
• you will be classified as a PhD Candidate (promovendus) in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO)
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

 
Radboud University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Faculty of Science
The research project will be carried out by Prof. Roithova’s group at the Institute for Molecules and Materials of Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). Prof. Roithova’s group is housed in the Huygens building with access to chemical laboratories, all standard analytical equipment, and a computer cluster for theoretical calculations. In addition, the group is equipped with a cryotrapping ion spectroscopy experiment, IR and UV-vis OPOs and several mass spectrometers dedicated to mechanistic research.
 
Further information on Roithová Group
Further information on Spectroscopy & Catalysis
Further information on M-O Bonding Beyond the Oxo Wall: Spectroscopy and Reactivity of Cobalt(III)-Oxyl and Cobalt(III)-Oxo Complexes (open access)