Short-time Postdoc Fellowship in Gas Phase Ion Chemistry 

  • RESEARCH FIELD: Physical chemistry, Chemical physics
  • RESEARCHER PROFILE: Recognised Researcher (R2)
  • APPLICATION DEADLINE: 19/06/2021 23:00 - Europe/Brussels
  • LOCATION: Czech Republic › Prague 8
  • TYPE OF CONTRACT: Temporary
  • JOB STATUS: Full-time
  • HOURS PER WEEK: 40
  • OFFER STARTING DATE: 19/08/2021

OFFER DESCRIPTION

Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS, v.v.i., for the purposes of the project "Optimalisation of analytical methods for environmental and biomedical diagnostics", Reg.No. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_053/0016922, under the call 02_18_053 International Mobility of Researchers, Technical and Administrative Workers of Research Institutions (MEYS, OP RDE) offers post-doc position "Short-time Postdoc Fellowship in Gas Phase Ion Chemistry".

OFFER DESCRIPTION

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS, has become a valuable gas phase analytical tool for real-time monitoring of the environment, of industrial processes and in health and safety management. It is also finding use also in medical research (breath analysis), biology (blood and urine headspace) and food science (food freshness and spoilage), which exploit its real time analysis facility and high sample throughput in comparison with other gas phase analytical methods such as GC-MS. In SIFT-MS, chemical ionisation proceeds in a carrier gas in a flow tube by ion molecule reactions either between selected reagent cations H3O+, NO+ and O2+ or selected reagent anions O-, O2-, OH- and NO2- and trace analyte molecules in an air sample that are commonly volatile organic compounds, VOCs. Traditionally, SIFT-MS used inert helium, He, carrier gas, which is becoming prohibitively expensive and it seems feasible to use nitrogen, N2, as the carrier gas. It is thus important now to investigate how the interactions of the reagent ions with analyte molecules are affected by using N2 instead of He carrier gas.

Thus, the top-ranked research institute in the Czech Republic, named after the Czech Nobel prize winner in chemistry, J. Heyrovsky, offers a 4-months Fellowship in the field of Gas Phase Ion Chemistry. The successful candidate will be part of a team in the Department of Chemistry of Ions in the Gaseous Phase. He/she will work in close association with Professor Patrik Spanel, the Head of Department and the Principal Investigator, on a broad-ranging research project involving:

• Studies of the structure, energetics and reactivity of hydrated reagent and analyte ions

• Studies of the kinetics of reagent anion reactions with a variety of VOCs

• The reactions of reagent and analyte cations and anions ion-molecule in N2 carrier gas

• Automation of identification and and quantification of VOC analyte ions formed in the analysis of multicomponent humid air mixtures by SIFT-MS

• Validating and demonstrating the efficacy of SIFT-MS and other analytical methods for trace gas analysis via interdisciplinary studies that have clear societal impact.

Eligibility criteria

To apply, please send your CV, motivation letter and references to recruitmentatjh-inst.cas.cz (recruitment[at]jh-inst[dot]cas[dot]cz).

Please, write in the subject line of your email SC2021_10.

Additional comments

This document was prepared with the support of the Capacity Development of ÚFCH JH, v.v.i. for Research and Development (reg. No. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/16_028/0006251) project financed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and the European Union – European Structural and Investment Funds in Operational Programme Research, Development and Education.

Required Research Experiences

  • RESEARCH FIELD: Chemistry

  • YEARS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: 1 - 4

Offer Requirements

Skills/Qualifications

  • Ph.D. degree (maximum 7 years from receiving the Ph.D. degree) before the date of starting the mobility 
  • The applicant is working outside the Czech Republic for two years from the last three years.
  • Experience with writing scientific papers and publishing in high quality peer-reviewed journals.
  • Advanced level of written and spoken English.
  • Competencies necessary for a team work.

Specific Requirements:

  • Applicants should have:

    • A PhD (or equivalent) degree in physical chemistry, analytical science or chemical physics and a demonstrable publication record in the field of mass spectrometry or related fields.

    • Previous experience in experimental laboratory work is essential.

    • Excellent spoken and written English (intermediate B2 required, advanced C1 is welcome).

    • Understanding of numerical modelling, concepts of gas-phase kinetic theory and basic knowledge of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics.

    • Understanding would be advantageous of the principles of computational molecular modelling methods such as DFT and molecular dynamics, and a willingness to learn and use them is expected.

    • Knowledge of soft chemical ionisation techniques would be an advantage.

    • Interest in electronics (Arduino, Raspberry Pi …) and software (C#, python …) would be welcome.

    The research will be carried out in a small but vital and friendly team based in the Heyrovsky Institute in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. An active and initiative attitude to the research work will be reciprocated by the enthusiasm of the co-workers.

    The Department has strong international connections and research collaborations with scientists in the UK, France, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and New Zealand. There will be opportunities for the successful candidate to be involved in these collaborations with the possibility of visits to their laboratories and to attend international conferences.

Uzávěrka přihlášek
19. 6. 2021