Job details

Place of work

IPC PAS, Charge Transfer Processes in Hydrodynamics Systems

Funding institution

National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)

Project description

Project title, type and project number

Microfluidic cells for high-throughput multiple response analyses – UpTurn; POLNOR Project No. NOR/POLNOR/UPTURN/0060/2019, ICHF 009-2021

Project leader

Martin Jönsson-Niedziółka at ICP PAS, Paweł Wojcik at redox.me for the whole project

Description

We are looking for a postdoc for an exciting project as part of a collaboration between the Institute of Physical Chemistry, the Gdańsk University of Technology, the company redox.me and the Norwegian research institute Sintef, to develop first-of-its-kind, multiparametric instrumentation equipment integrating microfluidic electrochemical cells and advanced microelectrodes materials, and being compatible with other in situ analyses technologies such as UV-Vis, FTIR/IR, Raman, NMR and ultra-fast laser spectroscopy.

IPC PAS is the main responsible partner for testing and development of the electrochemical part of the system.

Microfluidic devices offer important benefits such as fast analysis time, reduced use of reagents (sometimes very expensive, highly reacting and/or highly toxic compounds) and the possibility of more accurate reaction control. Microfluidics coupled with electrochemistry has been exploited

for a variety of applications ranging from electrochemical energy storage and conversion to biosensing, environmental and chemical synthesis.

Here we will be combining novel electrode materials developed at Gdańsk University of Technology with microfluidic design by Sintef and the technical know-how from redox.me. This offers the candidate a unique opportunity to work on fundamental electrochemistry in an international collaboration with a clear path towards practical implementation to commercial production.

The postdoc will work together in a team to build up the test facility needed for the evaluation of materials from GUT. The materials will be tested both as general-purpose electrodes, but also for specific purposes within (bio)analytical chemistry. The final goal will be the development and demonstration of a multi-parameter electrochemical measurement platform based on microfluidics.

Job description

Number of vacancies

1

Key responsibilities include

  • Testing of electrochemical properties of novel electrode materials.
  • Design and test microfluidic systems for multiparametric measurements, including electrochemistry and optical techniques
  • Simulating flow and reactions in microfluidic systems using Comsol Multiphysics
  • Data analysis, writing reports and scientific publications
  • Cooperation with researchers, including communication with English-speaking colleagues
  • Support, supervision and mentoring of PhD and master students.
Offer

Position in the project

Junior postdoc

Job type

Full time employment contract

Salary

10 000 PLN (total employment cost), i.e. ca. 6600 PLN net

Position starts on

1.06.2021

Maximum planned period of contract/stipend agreement

12 months with possible extension to 24 months

We offer

  • Monthly salary of 10 000 PLN (total employment cost), i.e. ca. 6600 PLN net. The position is financed by NCBR through the POLNOR Project No. NOR/POLNOR/UPTURN/0060/2019. The position requires 100% time involvement and is scheduled to last up to 24 months.
  • Full health insurance and 24 days of paid holidays annually.
  • Work in an international project with collaborators from Norway, Poland and Sweden, both within the academic and private sector.
  • Possibility of participation in international conferences and Erasmus+ projects
  • see website: https://www.charge-transfer.pl/, https://ichf.edu.pl/en
Requirements

Scientific discipline

Microfluidics, electrochemistry, physics/optics or similar, ideally also with experience simulation of flow and reactions in microfluidics systems

Scientific profile of a candidate

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Requirements

  • PhD in chemistry, physics, engineering, or similar obtained a maximum of 6 years prior to joining the project
  • Solid knowledge and hands-on experience with experimental microfluidic systems (ideally experience with development of microfluidic systems for applications in electrochemistry)
  • Experience in electrochemistry, especially using hydrodynamic techniques.
  • Modelling of microfluidic and/or electrochemical systems in Comsol or other software is highly advantageous.
  • Experience with photolithography and/or other microfabrication techniques is advantageous.
  • Additional experience in one or more of the following fields is welcome: optics, spectroscopy, automation, programming
  • Creativity and enthusiasm measured by the quality and number of projects, internships, authorship in peer-reviewed publications and patents in which the Candidate participated and contributed
  • Analytical thinking and critical problem solving skills.
  • Fluent in spoken and written English
  • Flexibility and ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural research team
  • Experience in supervision and mentoring of MSc students

Key assessment criteria

  • Competences of candidates for specific tasks in a research project
  • Previous scientific achievements of candidates
  • Awards and distinctions of the candidate resulting from the conducted research
Required documents
  • Scientific curriculum vitae including a list of scientific achievements (publications, patents, scholarships, conference presentations, awards, etc.)
  • Motivation letter
  • A summary of professional accomplishments (not exceeding 3500 characters), containing concise information about scientific interests, past achievements pointing out the three most important ones, participation in and running research projects and the candidate's own research plans
  • Citation report (from Web of Science Core Collection) including the number of publication, number of citation without self-citation, h-index of the Candidate and the number of years worked effectively in science (after deduction of breaks)
  • At least one recommendation letter
  • A scan or photocopy of the candidate's university degree
  • A scan or photocopy of the candidate's PhD degree
  • Information about any breaks in performing research work, e.g. maternity leave, internship in industry, etc. When assessing the achievements of the candidate the Competition Committee shall take into account breaks in research and shall convert the candidate's indicated achievements into effective years of scientific work
Recruitment procedure
  • A recruitment commission for evaluation of the candidates will be established (consisting of 3 researchers and specialists in the field).
  • The commission evaluates applications on a point scale. The position will be awarded to the person who obtains the highest number of points.
  • The evaluation will be in two steps: first the submitted documents will be evaluated. Next, the top candidates will be invited of an interview. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews will be conducted online.
Additional information

Application must be sent to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl with the reference number ICHF 009-2021 in the subject line. (Emails without this number will be not considered!)

www.charge-transfer.pl/jobs

Deadlines

Application deadline

15.05.2021 23:59

Deadline for the settlement of the competition

31.05.2021

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

Date of announcement: 6.04.2021

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