Research Fellow

Role Description
An exciting opportunity exists for a Research Fellow to join Professor Simon Duckett's internationally renowned group at the Centre for Hyperpolarisation in Magnetic Resonance (CHyM) within the Department of Chemistry at the University of York. This full-time position (with flexibility if required) is available for 24 months in the first instance, supporting the CEROC research project, Converting Elusive Reaction Intermediates into Observable Compounds, funded by the EPSRC.

Department
The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest and most successful departments at York and we are renowned internationally for our research. As a department, we strive to provide a working environment that allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We are proud of our Athena Swan Gold Award.

Role
Each year, industry consumes over 500 million tons of alkene, and 100 million tons of alkyne building blocks in reactions where by-products lead to waste. This project seeks to harness advanced NMR methods including hyperpolarization to study such reactions. It will start with the preparation of suitable 13C, 15N and 2H labelled alkynes and alkenes that will be NMR sensitised through interactions with parahydrogen. Once isolated, these agents will be used to detect reaction intermediates in catalytic reactions, like the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, to understand how by-product formation can be mitigated. The role will therefore incorporate aspects of complex organic synthesis to prepare appropriate molecular building blocks. It will optimise their hyperpolarization through appropriate NMR approaches before identifying routes to their separation/storage prior to introducing them into appropriate in-flow reactors that facilitate the exploration of catalytic reactions by NMR.

The successful applicant will contribute to the production of research outputs for the CEROC project, work with industry, produce papers, write grant applications and participate actively in the planning and management of the research including supervising the work of others and providing expert advice and guidance.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Needed

• Undergraduate degree and PhD in Chemistry.
• Knowledge of and experience in high quality research including organic synthesis, catalysis and techniques and methodologies aligned to reaction monitoring.
• Skilled in Magnetic Resonance and data collection or willingness to learn.
• Ability to develop strategies to successfully prepare complex organic molecules and introduce 13C, 2H or 15N labels.
• Experience of working with industry and instigating industrial reactions and taking the lead on project reporting.
• Advanced and Specialist IT knowledge, highly developed communication and analytical skills including ability to write up research work for publication, give presentations.
• Ability to lead research projects and proposals, supervise others and identify sources of funding and secure funding.
• Attention to detail, ability to plan and prioritise work and work proactively with others.

Interview date: to be confirmed.

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Simon Duckett on simon.duckett@york.ac.uk.

The Department of Chemistry values all employees for the qualities and skills they bring to the workplace and aims to be a diverse and egalitarian community in which all can thrive.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

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