The position

The Department of Chemistry (IK) at UiT-The Arctic university of Norway has a PhD position vacant for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). The position is part of the CO2 PERATE Innovative Training Network funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT is a multi-campus research university in Norway and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.

The fellow will apply high-level quantum chemical methods to investigate the mechanisms and selectivity-determining interactions of non-precious metal-catalyzed formation of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids with CO2, with the goal to propose activity- and selectivity-enhancing modifications.

Objectives of the project:

• High-level ab initio modelling of non-precious metal-catalyzed C-C bonding of CO2 with hydrocarbons
• Mechanistic analysis of the use of inert ether-materials (related to lignin biomass) as reagents in carboxylation
• Design of more efficient carboxylation catalysts on basis of computational insights

Expected results:

• Reliable computational protocols for computing activity and selectivity of CO2 -based reactions
• Mechanistic pathways of C–C bond formation involving CO2
• Mechanistic understanding of the activation of ether-like materials
• Novel catalytic systems designed on basis of computational insights

The fellow will work in coordination with other PhD students within the CO2PERATE consortium. Two stays at other CO2PERATE nodes are planned for this position, for a total duration of 6 months. At UiT, the fellow will be under the supervision of Associate Professor Kathrin Helen Hopmann.

The position is for a period of three years. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

Field of research

Carboxylic acids (-COOH) and their alkyl derivatives esters (-COOR) are uttermost important building blocks in the chemical industry, among others in the manufactures of detergents, dyes textiles, pharmaceuticals, and perfumes. Molecules containing –COO(H/R) motifs are prime examples of compounds that can be partially synthesized from CO2, yet conversion of simple alkanes into carboxylic acids and esters is a major challenge, due both to the difficulty of activating inert Csp3-H bonds and the obstacle to do this in a site-selective manner.

The computational analysis of chemical reactions provides information not accessible through experiment, such as relevant transition states. The obtained insights can help to identify bottlenecks and to propose beneficial catalyst modifications, while at the same time reducing the amount of trial-and-error experiments that has to be performed.

Affiliation

The CO2PERATE consortium has a simple but essential vision: Training of European researchers in the synthesis of indispensable molecules from sustainable carbon sources and with sustainable catalysts. This will involve development of novel and industrially relevant methods for employing CO2 as a carbon synthon, alongside other renewable biomass, catalyzed by non-precious metals. The main focus is on C-C bond formation with CO2, which is an important but insufficiently developed area.

The fellow will be affiliated with the CHOCO research team at the Dept. of Chemistry at UiT The Artic University of Norway. We are an interdisciplinary research team, working on the development of novel catalysts for converting CO2 into molecules of higher value (https://site.uit.no/choco). In addition, the PhD fellow will be enrolled into the local PhD school at the Dept. of Chemistry (https://site.uit.no/phdchem), which provides an international and collegial environment and support for all PhD students at the department.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Kathrin Helen Hopmann:

• phone: +47 77 62 31 09
• email: kathrin.hopmann@uit.no

Eligibility and qualification criteria

Applicants have to satisfy the following criteria:

• Your educational background is in Chemistry.
• You have completed a Master’s degree or equivalent at the time of recruitment
• At the time of appointment, applicants must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the first degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited).
• At the time of appointment, applicants must not hold a doctoral degree or equivalent.
• Applicants can be of any nationality. However, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the appointment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not included.
• You have documented excellent proficiency in English as stated on this website

Qualification with a Master’s degree is required before commencement in the position (no later than the 1st of July). If you are near completion of your Master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must document completion of your degree before commencement in the position.

Emphasis will be put on the applicants potential for research, motivation and personal suitability for the position. Applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of experienced scientists from different genders. Applicants will be ranked according to how they fulfill the scientific requirements of the project, their previous scientific work and the input from references. There will be no penalty for career breaks.

Admission the the PhD programme

The position requires admission to the PhD program. Admission requires that the applicant has at least 5 years of higher education, comparable to 300 ECTS. The applicant must have a Master’s thesis evaluated equivalent to 30 ECTS or more. The applicant must have an average grade of C or better on the Master’s degree. Further information about requirements is available here: Regulations PhD Faculty of Sciences and Technology

Applicants with a foreign education will be evaluated on whether the educational background is equivalent to Norwegian higher education. We use national guidelines according to NOKUTs country database. Applicants from some countries will have to document additional higher education in order to be admitted.

More information about the PhD programme is available here: https://uit.no/nt/phd

Application

Your application must include:

• Application and motivation letter (max 1 page)
• CV (max 2 pages)
• Documentation of English language proficiency
• Three references, preferably including the Master’s thesis supervisor
• Master’s thesis, and, if applicable, other academic works, up to ten
• Diplomas and transcripts (diploma supplement) for both bachelor and master level education

The documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications sent via www.jobbnorge.no.

The documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

UiT has good welfare arrangements for employees, including beneficial arrangements for pension, insurances and loans in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: http://uit.no/mobilityA good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to Offentleglova information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

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