Job details

Place of work

INSITUTE OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY PAS Team 21. Spectroscopic and microscopic (STM/AFM) studies of intermolecylar interactions

Funding institution

NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE

Project description

Project title, type and project number

OPUS 25 nr UMO-2023/49/B/ST8/00872 entitled „Single-atom catalysts on functional carbon materials for the continuous-flow selective hydrogenation processes”, 58/2024

Project leader

dr hab.Anna Śrębowata, prof.IChF

Description

The diamond in the crown of catalytic hydrogenation transformations is the chemoselective hydrogenation of C=C or C=O double bond in the substrate, which contains two or more functional groups like unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, or esters. Therefore, the main goal of the proposed project is to create a fundamental basis for the synthesis of novel and economical single-atom catalysts, active in continuous-flow hydrogenation of the precursors of relevance to the fine and pharmaceutical industries. This project is pioneer in two aspects: the synthetic part and the development of selective continuous-flow hydrogenation reactions catalysed by proposed materials. The implementation of the project includes successively the synthesis of the new class of catalysts to obtain nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials containing single-atom (Cu, Co, and Ni), investigation their activity and selectivity in continuous-flow chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Our research will be focused on chemoselective hydrogenation of prenal to prenol (unsaturated alcohol, an intermediate to pharmaceuticals and fragrances synthesis), chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol (an important intermediate in cosmetics production) and chemoselective hydrogenation of citral towards citronellol (widely used fragrance used in cosmetics, and as a fragrance additive to washing powders and other cleaning agents) or to isomers: geraniol (chemical with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, suggested also to represent a new class of chemoprevention agents for cancer) and nerol (widely used in perfume synthesis). The planned research will allow to create a relationship between the structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of new catalysts to optimize their performance for applications in continuous-flow hydrogenation. We are convinced that the proposed goals have a high potential for success, and the outcomes will be pioneering and of great significance for practical applications and fundamental science. This project is a part of the current global trend in green chemistry research, which is concentrated on affording simplified workup and large-scale synthesis (scalability), handling of various substrates in sequence with the same catalyst, and reduction of catalyst amount

Job description

Number of vacancies

1

Key responsibilities include

Postdoc will be recruited to participate in all parts of the project, especially including:
• the thorough characterization of the catalysts by physicochemical methods,
• catalytic tests in a modern high-pressure reactor,
• scientific initiative and contribution through regular data analysis, reporting and publishing, as well as presenting at group meetings, national and international conferences;
• providing help and supervision to junior members of the group;
• contribution to the efficient functioning of the lab, including necessary administrative tasks.

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

1.03.2025

Maximum planned period of contract/stipend agreement

24 months

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 gross
per month financed from the NCN OPUS 25 nr UMO-2023/49/B/ST8/00872 entitled „Single-atom catalysts on functional carbon materials for the continuous-flow selective hydrogenation processes” (SUCCESS)
. 100% of the work time of Postdoc will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project. The offer is for 24 months

Career development prospects at IPC PAS

We offer work in a young, dynamically developing team with modern research infrastructure. Funds are allocated to cover participation in international conferences and for short visits in collaborating laboratory. We plan to publish the results of the work in high impact factor journals.
The successful candidate will be eligible for all programs at the IPC PAS, including the IPC PAS Young Scientists competition and the IPC PAS Young Scientists Mobility competition.
Institute provides an opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

Requirements

Scientific profile of a candidate

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Requirements

1. PhD degree in chemical 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, and no later than the start date 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 (this period might be longer due to family reasons according to NCN rules);
2. Additionally, the candidate for the postdoctoral position must meet the following conditions: she/he did not have PI Anna Śrębowata as her/his research supervisor or auxiliary supervisor of her/his PhD dissertation.

3. Publication record and rich (mobility) scientific experience;
4. Ability to work independently as well as in a group;
5. Experience in heterogeneous catalysis;
6. Experience in the catalytic reactions in the liquid phase;
7. Experience in the field of standard physicochemical characterization methods (XPS, XRD, SEM);
8. Experience in X-ray absorption spectroscopy is welcome
9. Experience in the synthesis of single-atom catalysts is welcome;
10. Knowledge of using Origin software will be an asset
11. Ability to communicate fluently in English (written and spoken);
12. Strong motivation to work and pursue scientific questions, creativity, and analytical thinking;

Key assessment criteria

The Recriutment Commission will take into account the following criteria:
a) competencies of candidates for specific tasks in a research project;
b) knowledge of heterogeneous catalysis;
c) knowledge of the liquid phase processes;
d) previous scientific achievements and distinctions resulting from the conducted, project related research. Awards and distinctions of the candidate resulting from the conducted research.
The commission evaluates applications on a point scale.

Required documents

1. Employment application;
2. Cover letter;
3. Professional curriculum vitae;
4. University degree diploma, scan or photocopy of candidate's MSc degree;
5. PhD certificate or other document confirming PhD degree;
6.A list of scientific achievements: publications, patents, conference presentations and research projects;
7. At least one letter of recommendation written by well-known scientists in the field.

Recruitment procedure

• The application deadline is on the
13.01.2025 , 12:00 noon
Applications should be sent to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl. IMPORTANT! email subject: “Recruitment no 58/2024 ” (emails without this number will not be considered)
• Top candidates can be invited for an online or in-person interview 21.01.2025. 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 29.01.2025.
• Employment will take place in accordance with the provisions of the competition documentation of the National Science Center (NSC) for the OPUS25, https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2023/uchwala23_2023-zal1.pdf
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.
Appeals should be sent to the following email address: dzgran@ichf.edu.pl.
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

The successful candidate for the postdoctoral position shall, for the full term of their employment within the project, be obligated to maintain compliance with the following conditions:
- 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

Contact person:Anna Śrębowata asrebowata@ichf.edu.pl

Postdoc
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. 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

13.01.2025 12:00

Deadline for the settlement of the competition

29.01.2025

Send the application via the "Apply to the position" button, or to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl with the title 58/2024.

Apply to the position

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Procedure for Reporting Internal Violations of the Law and Subsequent Actions together with Protection of Whistleblowers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS with its registered address in Warsaw (link)

Date of announcement: 30.10.2024

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