Do you want to use your knowledge of chemistry and physics to help reduce climate change? As a PhD Candidate, you will develop and apply operando NMR methods for studying electrocatalysis. You will work towards the goal of reducing CO2 emission via green electrochemical synthesis of commodity chemicals such as ammonia.

The Magnetic Resonance Research Center at the Institute for Molecules and Materials of Radboud University Nijmegen is looking for a PhD candidate to develop and apply operando NMR methods for studying electrocatalysis under the supervision of Dr Evan Wenbo Zhao (tenure-track assistant professor). The system of particular interest is electrochemical reduction of nitrogen. The PhD project has two major components - one is operando NMR method development and the other is electrocatalysis. You will therefore be expected to develop a skill set in NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry and catalysis. This combined skill set will be much in demand in academia and industry upon your successful graduation. The overarching goal of this PhD project is to help reduce CO2 emission through green electrochemical synthesis of commodity chemicals such as ammonia. We contribute to this goal by pushing the fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms through the new NMR approach.

You should be keen to work in a collaborative environment, and are interested in spin physics, electrochemistry, catalysis or building/modifying scientific instruments, including NMR probes and flow reactors.

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics or Chemical Engineering.
• A good team player mentality.
• Experience in NMR or electrocatalysis is desirable but not required.

Fixed-term contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).

• Employment: 0,8 (5 year contract) - 1,0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,434 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,111 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P). 
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• Your education task may be up to 10% of your appointment.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

The Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC) at Radboud University is part of the Dutch NMR facility and houses a range of state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers ranging from 300 - 950 MHz with two Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation systems and unique in-house capabilities for NMR probe development.

You will be appointed as a PhD Candidate at the Institute for Molecules and Materials. This institute is one of the major research institutes of the Faculty of Science at Radboud University. IMM is a research institute in chemistry and physics fostering interdisciplinary research. Its mission is to design and create functional molecules and materials with the intention of fundamentally understanding their behaviour.

IMM comprises 19 research groups in areas ranging from condensed matter science to organic chemistry and biochemistry. The institute focuses on fundamental research with an eye to applications within society, and educates the next generation of leaders in science and innovation. IMM distinguishes itself from peer institutes through close collaborations and rich interactions between chemists and physicists and/or experimentalists and theorists, as well as through its excellent infrastructure, including the Scanning Probe Laboratories, Laser Labs, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, High Field Magnet Laboratory and Free Electron Laser Laboratory (HFML-FELIX).

The Faculty of Science is a complete, student-oriented science faculty where research and education are closely intertwined. The faculty aims to form an academic community with an international character, where staff members from different backgrounds can combine their talents with the common goal of being among the leading science faculties in Europe.