Postdoctoral 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 Postdoctoral Research 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.

He/she will also have an opportunity to mentor a PhD student working on the available Selected Ion Flow Drift Tube, SIFDT, instrument and collaborate on research using other MS techniques, including the Secondary Electrospray Ionisation, SESI.

Researcher profile: R2

Type of contract: Temporary                                                                          

Research field: Chemistry of Ions in Gaseous Phase

Job status: Full-time

Hours per week: 40

Job starting date: May 2021

Required education level: PhD or Equivalent

Required research experience: 1 - 4 years

Specific requirements:

  • 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.

Relevant publications:

  • Dissociation of H3O+, NO+ and O2+• reagent ions injected into nitrogen carrier gas in SIFT-MS and reactivity of the ion fragments. P. Španěl, D. Smith. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 458 (2020) 116438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2020.116438
  • Understanding Gas Phase Ion Chemistry Is the Key to Reliable Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry Analyses. D. Smith, M.J. McEwan, P Španěl. Anal. Chem. 92 (2020) 12750−12762. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03050
  • Quantification of volatile metabolites in exhaled breath by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS. P. Španěl, D. Smith. Clinical Mass Spectrometry 16 (2020) 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinms.2020.02.001
  • P. Španěl, A. Spesyvyi, D. Smith, Electrostatic switching and selection of H3O+, NO+ and O2+• reagent ions for selected ion flow-drift tube mass spectrometric analyses of air and breath, Anal. Chem. 91 (2019) 5380–5388. 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b00530
  • Mass spectrometry for real-time quantitative breath analysis
    D. Smith, P. Španěl, J. Herbig, J. Beauchamp
    J. Breath Res. 8 (2014) 027101
    10.1088/1752-7155/8/2/027101
  • Progress in SIFT-MS: breath analysis and other applications Patrik Španěl, David Smith Mass Spectrometry Reviews 30 (2011) 236-267 doi:10.1002/mas.20303 

Benefits:

  • 25 days paid leave of absence (holidays) per year + 3 days of paid sick-leave in addition to the statutory insurance
  • Flexible working-time, the possibility of part-time work
  • Lunch vouchers
  • Subsidy for sport and cultural activities
  • Recreation subsidy, recreation subsidy for children
  • Possibility of attending children groups of the CAS
  • Possibility to use discounts in recreation centers of the CAS
  • Sports goods rental, free parking, trade union library
  • Language courses
  • Accommodation facilities
  • Possibility of further education and career development by participating in courses organized by our institute.

Selection proces:

https://www.jh-inst.cas.cz/sites/www.drupal/files/inline-files/Nabor_web_Final.pdf

To apply, please send your CV, motivation letter and references to recruitmentatjh-inst.cas.cz
Please, write in the subject line of your email SC2021_06

Additional information:

By providing us your personal data in your CV, you have allowed J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry to process and file your CV in the HR database. Your personal data will be used for the internal HR needs of the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry only.
At the same time you confirm herewith that the personal data as stated in the CV you have sent to us is true and accurate.

Application deadline
22. 4. 2021