Job description

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow in chemistry is available at the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo. The position is part of the EU funded ERC-Synergy Grant (ERC-SyG) project entitled: “Unravelling the secrets of Cu-based catalysts for C-H activation (CUBE)”.

The fellowship period is 2 years.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoc Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.05.2020

Project

The CUBE project is a joint project between the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, the University of Turin and the Max-Planck Institute for Energy Conversion.

The aim of the CUBE project is to understand the key mechanistic features of copper-catalyzed C-H activation via a holistic approach in which biological and synthetic catalysts are studied side by side, and use the resulting design principles to develop new catalysts with rationally designed functionality.

The successful candidate will be central to the performance testing and mechanistic studies of catalysts provided by project colleagues in a direct feed-back loop, involving organic and inorganic synthesis chemists, spectroscopists, theoreticians and enzymologists. Special emphasis will be set on zeolite- and MOF-based catalysts, and test activities will be performed in the home laboratory as well as during operando spectroscopy campaigns at various synchrotrons.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

About the Catalysis Section:

The Catalysis section at the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology at the Department of Chemistry is studying the correlation between catalyst composition and their effects on chemical reactions. The catalysts can be of organic and/or inorganic origin. The Catalysis section has approximately 40 members, subdivided into three groups: the zeolite group synthesizes and characterizes zeolite and zeotype materials and studies catalytic reactions over those materials; the MOF-group does the same with metal-organic frameworks; the homogenous catalysis group synthesizes metal-organic complexes and studies their catalytic reactions.

More about the section:

https://www.mn.uio.no/kjemi/english/research/groups/catalysis/

Employment in the Catalysis section will enable the successful candidate to work in a highly cross-disciplinary field in an internationally competitive research group. The ERC-SyG project scheme implies that the successful candidate will collaborate closely with colleagues at all partner institutions, by regular virtual and physical meetings, by sample and data exchange, and by shorter and longer research stays at partner institutions.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in chemistry. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Extensive, documented experience with catalyst performance testing or closely related fields (e.g. reaction studies in electrochemical cells) is an absolute requirement.
• Experience from synchrotron radiation facilities, preferably including operando studies is an advantage
• Experience with standard characterization methods, such as SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD, N2 physisorption, TGA, NMR, TEM and XPS is an advantage

Please describe in your application your motivation for the position and how you meet the qualification requirements above.

Personal skills

• Ability to conduct high-quality independent research within a broad collaboration
• Interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Willingness to work together with PhD and/or Master/Bachelor students in specialty field
• Self-motivation, creativity, genuine curiosity about the subject, work discipline, professional ethics, and ambition

We offer

• salary NOK 523 200 - 605 500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• a professionally stimulating working environment
• attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes

How to apply

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• A preliminary project description/professional development plan (0.5-1 page), based on the applicant’s background and the position focus as outlined above.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the preliminary project description/professional development plan, and the candidate’s motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For question regarding the position:

• Professor Unni Olsbye, phone 228 55456, e-mail: unni.olsbye@kjemi.uio.no

For technical question regarding the recruitment system Adviser Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no

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