Job details

Recruitment result
Place of work

Team 6 NANOELECTROCHEMISTRY, INSITUTE OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY PAS

Funding institution

NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE, POLAND

Project description

Project title, type and project number

SONATA BIS 12 Project No. 2022/46/E/ST4/00457 entitled “Towards electrochemistry of single molecules: Nanoscale studies of redox processes”, 20/2023

Project leader

Dr Wojciech Nogala

Description

Electrochemical processes are well understood at the macroscopic level, where many species react in a short time. However, little is known about these processes at the molecular level. This project aims to explore a new approach for the electrochemical characterization of a small number of redox-active and enzyme molecules that will be pushed toward the ultimate analysis of single molecules. We aim to detect a low number of faradaic electrons (ultimately individual). This will ultimately enable electrochemical studies of individual molecules. We will try to solve fundamental unknown areas of electrochemistry concerning activity distribution among enzyme molecules, the mechanism of deactivation of enzyme molecules, the kinetics of electron transfer to and from individual molecules, and the dynamics of electrode processes at equilibrium. We will develop a flexible and general strategy for single molecule electrochemistry. This will be done by converting Faradaic currents below the detection limit to electrogenerated fluorescence. We will focus on model electrode processes of electroactive molecules immobilized at nanoelectrodes and reactions catalyzed by individual enzyme molecules.

Job description

Number of vacancies

1

Key responsibilities include

Post doc is expected to be able to design, plan and perform experiments independently, plan the workflow and participate in the decision-making process.

Responsibilities:

  • Assembly and calibration of electrochemical scanning probe microscope;
  • Assembly and calibration of microscope for studies with electrogenerated fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence;
  • Preparation and analysis of samples with immobilized enzyme molecules;
  • Preparation and analysis of nanoelectrodes modified with redox probes and enzymes;
  • Managing project tasks toward successful completion
  • Dissemination of the research outputs in project meetings, peer-reviewed journals, and international conferences;
  • Co-mentoring PhD students;
  • Providing help and supervision to junior members of the group;
  • Contribution to the efficient functioning of the lab, including necessary organizational tasks related to the project.
Offer

Position in the project

POST DOC position

Job type

•Type of contract: temporary •Status: full-time employment •Hours Per Week: 40

Salary

Around 9650 PLN gross

Position starts on

1.12.2023

Maximum planned period of contract/stipend agreement

6 months, with a possible extension

We offer

We offer a post-doctoral position (full-time employment) in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a gross salary of around 9650  PLN per month financed from the NCN SONATA BIS Project No. 2022/46/E/ST4/00457. 100% of the work time of Postdoc will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project. The offer is for 6 months with possible extensions.

Career development prospects at IPC PAS

The successful candidate will benefit in the form of new knowledge and methods added to his/her toolbox. The project deals with electroanalysis, nanotechnology, material sciences, and physical chemistry.

The successful candidate will be able to take advantage of all programs in the IPC PAS, including Young Scientists of IPC PAS competition and Mobility of Young Scientists of IPC PAS competition.

Institute provides an opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

Link to Euraxess website

see website

More details

see website
Requirements

Scientific discipline

Physical chemistry

Scientific profile of a candidate

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Requirements

1.  PhD degree in chemical or physical sciences, obtained in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. Extension might apply according to National Science Centre, Poland, rules.

2.  Publication record and experience in research.

3.  Ability to work independently as well as in a group.

4.  Skills in fabrication of microelectrodes, scanning electrochemical microscopy and fluorescence microscopy.

5. Experience in electrogenerated fluorescence and/or electrochemiluminescence will be appreciated.

6. The candidate should demonstrate good experimental skills in handling microelectrodes and a good understanding of electrode processes.

7.  Ability to communicate fluently in English (written and spoken).

8.  Strong motivation to work and solving scientific problems, creativity, and analytical thinking.

Key assessment criteria

The Recruitment Commission will take into account the following criteria:

  • competencies for specific tasks in the research project
  • knowledge of electrochemistry and optics
  • previous scientific achievements
  • awards and distinctions resulting from the conducted research
Required documents
  • employment application;
  • professional curriculum vitae;
  • a list of scientific achievements (publications, patents, conference presentations and research projects);
  • PhD certificate or other document confirming PhD degree;
  • letter of intent;
  • at least one letter of recommendation written by academics;
Recruitment procedure

The application deadline is on the 15th of November, 2023,  23:00 CET.

• Top candidates can be invited for an online or in-person interview. We reserve the right to contact and reply to only selected candidates.

• The position will be offered to the person with the highest evaluation by the Recruitment Committee.

• The results of the recruitment are planned to be announced on the 24th of November 2023.

• Employment will take place in accordance with the provisions of the competition documentation of the National Science Center (NSC) for the SONATA 12  https://www.ncn.gov.pl/en/ogloszenia/konkursy/sonata-bis12

and Employment policy of the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS

 https://ichf.edu.pl/files/csr/ipc-procedures.pdf .

• The incomplete applications will not be considered.

• The results of the competition are made public.

• Candidates who have been issued a negative opinion by the Competition Committee or candidates not selected for employment have the right to appeal against the results of the evaluation. The appeal shall be lodged with the Director of the Institute within 7 days from the date of receipt of the appropriate information. The decision of the Director of the Institute shall be final.

• If the top candidate does not sign the contract due to the resignation, we reserve the right to choose the next candidate from the ranking list.

Additional information

Candidate needs to meet formal requirements:

  • investigators involved in project other than the principal investigator must not hold an academic title, title of professor, habilitation degree or equivalent degree or title (does not apply to investigators involved in the project who will receive their academic title, title of professor, habilitation degree or equivalent degree or title in the course of the project) and must not have cooperated in the implementation of a research project funded following a call for proposals,
  • their PhD degree has been awarded by another institution than the one planned to employ them at this post or they have completed a continuous and evidenced post-doctoral fellowship of at least 10 months in another institution than the host institution for the project and in another country than the one in which they have been conferred a PhD degree
  • when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration from the funds allocated as direct costs under research projects funded in NCN calls;
  • when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration from another employer pursuant to an employment contract, including an employer with registered office outside of Poland; and
  • when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no pension under the social insurance scheme
  • the principal investigator was not a supervisor / auxiliary supervisor in his/her doctoral thesis;

How to Apply: Send application directly to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl;

IMPORTANT! email subject: “Recruitment no. 20/2023”

(emails without this number will not be considered)

For more details about the position please visit: 

Contact person: Wojciech Nogala, wnogala@ichf.edu.pl

Name of the post and its definition in the meaning of the grant documentation:

A post-doc type post is a full-time post, scheduled by the project’s principal investigator for a person who has been conferred a PhD degree in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. This period may be extended by a time of long-term (in excess of 90 days) documented sick leaves or rehabilitation leaves granted on account of being unfit to work. In addition, the period may be extended by the number of months of a child care leave granted pursuant to the Labour Code and in the case of women, by 18 months for every child born or adopted, whichever manner of accounting for career breaks is preferable.

Deadlines

Application deadline

15.11.2023 23:59

Deadline for the settlement of the competition

24.11.2023

Archival announcement. We would like to thank all candidates for their submitted applications.

Date of announcement: 27.10.2023

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