PostDoc in Automated Spectroscopy of Photoactive Molecules and Thin Films

Post Doc in Automated Spectroscopy of Photoactive Molecules and Thin Films
UvA - University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
€ 3,706 - € 5,760 per month gross
The project aims at establishing a self-driving platform for photohemical research. You will first implement new reliable and quantitative diffusion-ordered optical spectroscopy that will permit rapid and automated determination of fundamental photochemical parameters, such as optical spectra, quenching, or quantum yields. This will aid and abet discovery of new systems for photoactivated chemotherapy. Second, you will co-supervise development of a flow-based ATR-UV–Vis spectroscopy platform that follows the formation of porous or photoactive thin films in real time.

By measuring both polarization directions, how molecular building blocks become oriented during film growth will be determined, and also how the films respond to external perturbations, such as molecular guests, light or charge. The focus will be on organic cages thin films as the key material class.
The broader goal is to create robust, automated set of synthetic and spectroscopic tools that connect molecular structure and organization, their properties and function.

• Design and build flow setups using 3D printer, pumps, valves operated by a computer and the corresponding software;
• Develop flow cells to connect various spectroscopic tools to the setup;
• Create and validate reproducible automated workflows for quantitative photophysical measurements to obtain optical spectra and quantum-yields;
• Implement AI methods to search in the parameter space that affects the measured data and translate the observations into mechanistic insight;
• Lead a PhD student in development of a controlled flow system for in situ ATR-UV–Vis spectroscopy including polarization and use it to monitor the formation, orientation, and evolution of porous or photoactive thin films;
• Turn the developed methods into robust, documented and transferable experimental workflows, analyse the resulting multidimensional datasets, publish the results and collaborate closely with the supervisory team and colleagues.

You enjoy experimental research and want to work at the interface of physical chemistry, spectroscopy, photochemistry and instrumentation. This is a heavily hands‑on oriented position: you will not only measure samples, but also build, automate, troubleshoot and improve the setup and ensuing workflows.

• You have a PhD degree in chemical engineering, physical chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field;
• You have hands‑on experience with building experimental setups, ideally involving flow synthesis and experimental spectroscopy, and can prepare and handle molecular solutions and photosensitive samples accurately and reproducibly;
• You are comfortable working with optics, fluidics, detectors, light sources or related laboratory hardware;
• You are interested in instrument automation and quantitative data analysis. Experience with Python, LabVIEW, or Matlab for instrument control/data processing is required, but you do not need to be an expert at the start;
• You can document experiments carefully, work safely with chemical samples and solvents, and communicate results clearly with collaborators from different scientific backgrounds;
• Strong initiative and passion for science;
• Open to collaborate with students PhDs and postdocs involved in related project and research groups within the institute.

Deadline 15 October