Postdoc SSNMR

The Solid-state NMR group at the University of Groningen is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with experience in solid-state NMR spectroscopy and/or dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). 

What are you going to do?

The postdoc will be involved in the establishment of a new DNP/ssNMR facility at the University of Groningen, funded by the Dutch national funding organization NWO. The postdoc will join the Solid-state NMR group supervised by Prof. Patrick van der Wel, and work on the dedicated solid-state NMR equipment of the group and the newly established facility. The latter will include instrumentation for DNP-enhanced magic-angle-spinning NMR, alongside MAS NMR probes for studies of soft materials and in-situ illuminated samples. The postdoc is expected to be involved in the development and implementation of methodology and instrumentation, in particular also for the in-situ illumination. The facility will focus on diverse applications, with special focus on self-assembled (nano)materials, alongside biological preparations (e.g., polysaccharides and protein assemblies).

The successful candidate for this position will have the following qualifications/qualities:

• A PhD degree in Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science, Spectroscopy, or a related discipline – with an expected focus on solid-state NMR and/or DNP.
• Advanced knowledge of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and/or dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), in terms of experimentation and/or instrumentation.
• Knowledge of method- and/or instrumentation development is an advantage. Suitable prior expertise with these techniques may be in diverse application areas, including biological and/or materials related topics.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English; knowledge of Dutch an asset
• Very good communication skills, to function as an excellent team player in this collaborative effort
• Enthusiasm and initiative to perform creative research in an interdisciplinary setting.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse. 

The Solid-state NMR group is embedded in the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, which has an interdisciplinary profile bridging chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science. The Solid-state NMR group (chaired by Prof. Patrick van der Wel) has dedicated solid-state NMR instrumentation, which will include also on-site DNP instrumentation. The group studies both biological and materials-related samples, and develops methodology and hardware for advanced NMR characterization including in particular also in-situ illumination during magic-angle-spinning NMR.

For more information about this research group and its research, see https://www.vanderwellab.org. The postdoc will be expected to collaborate closely with diverse consortium partners, in particular with the nanomaterials group of Prof. L. Protesescu from the Zernike Institute. This group has strong expertise in nanomaterials synthesis and characterization, in particular also using advanced solid-state NMR and DNP. 

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Patrick van der Wel (Associate Professor): P.C.A.van.der.Wel@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Patrick van der Wel (Associate Professor): P.C.A.van.der.Wel@rug.nl