PhD student Nonlinear molecular spectroscopy of elastic water

Work Activities
Hydrogels form a special class of form-stable, elastic materials that consist of a (polymer) network and a large amount of water. In this project you will use advanced nonlinear spectroscopic techniques to study biological hydrogels and supramolecular hydrogels. Biological hydrogels have a network formed by protein-polysaccharide chains, and typically contain 90-99% water. These hydrogels are ubiquitous in nature and perform important biological functions. Supramolecular hydrogels contain relatively small molecular components that reversibly assemble via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions into fibrils or bundels. Supramolecular hydrogels can already be form-stable and elastic while containing an astonishingly large amount (>99.9%) of water. As a result of the non-covalent nature of these interactions, supramolecular hydrogels are highly responsive to external stimuli like changes in temperature, pH, and exposure to light, thus allowing an easy control of their visco-elastic properties. For some supramolecular hydrogels, a small change in temperature already suffices to switch the state of the system between a liquid aqueous solution and a form-stable elastic hydrogel.

In this project you will study the molecular-scale structure and dynamics of water and polymer networks of biological and supramolecular hydrogels, using femtosecond two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy and polarization-resolved femtosecond infrared spectroscopy. The obtained information will clarify how the macroscopic viscoelastic and responsive properties of hydrogels are determined by the structure and dynamics of the polymer network and the water molecules of the hydrogel.

Qualifications
A Masters degree in Physics or Physical Chemistry. Experience with femtosecond lasers and/or nonlinear spectroscopy is a bonus.

Work environment
The group Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Prof. dr. Huib J. Bakker studies the molecular-scale structural dynamics of complex liquids like water and aqueous solutions, and solids (e.g. ice and metal-organic-frameworks). This research is carried out with advanced (nonlinear) spectroscopic techniques including femtosecond two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy, vibrational surface sum-frequency generation, and GHz-THz dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. http://www.amolf.nl/research/ultrafast-spectroscopy/

AMOLF is one of the research institutes of NWO-I, and initiates and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, with the goal to create new functional materials. The institute works in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 160 researchers and 90 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as a full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment with the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I), for the duration of four years
• The starting salary is 2.781 Euro’s gross per month and a range of employment benefits.
• After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at the University of Amsterdam.
• Several courses are offered, specifically developed for PhD-students.
• AMOLF assists incoming foreign PhD-students with housing and visa applications, and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Huib Bakker: h.bakker@amolf.nl and .

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below. All requested documents should be included, applications without a transcript will not be considered.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

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