Research Associate in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry

About the role

We are recruiting for a postdoctoral research associate to work on a new, experimentally-driven research project in synthetic inorganic chemistry, funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

The project aims to provide new strategies for achieving "precious metal-like" redox catalysis using main group elements, and is driven by both sustainability concerns and fundamental academic curiosity. Other recent studies in this area have typically focused on trying to directly mimic the elementary reaction steps used by precious metals, despite these being poorly matched to most main group elements' "natural" reactivity. Instead, this project aims to develop new elementary steps that can be used to form alternative, "main group-friendly" catalytic mechanisms, while retaining precious metal-like net outcomes. To do this, the successful applicant will design, synthesise, and investigate main group Lewis acids with redox-active scaffolds that will enable systematic, "umpolung" transformation of nucleophiles into electrophiles, as a direct alternative to traditional reductive elimination steps.

We are seeking an exceptional postdoctoral candidate with a strong track record of successful research in the field of molecular inorganic synthesis, who possesses good organisational and presentation skills, and who can be an effective organiser of their own research and administrative duties. The latter will include coordination of research with external project collaborators, and assistance in the broader management of the Scott research group (including co-supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students).

Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent qualification) in chemistry or a closely related subject, or be close to completion at the time of applying.

Experience and expertise in the synthesis and manipulation of air-sensitive compounds are essential. Experience in the field of "transition metal-like" main group chemistry is desirable, but not essential for applicants with good experience in other areas of molecular inorganic synthesis.

Experience with NMR spectroscopy is essential. Experience with other relevant characterisation techniques such as XRD, CV, and/or EPR is desirable, but is not essential for otherwise strong candidates.

The potential to publish work in high quality, peer-reviewed journals is essential, and may be demonstrated either by an applicant's prior publication record or by providing suitable recommendations from the applicant's previous research supervisor(s).

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 19th May 2025.

This position is offered on a full-time basis with a duration of up to 24 months, and a suggested start date of August 1st 2025. It will be supervised by Dr Daniel Scott, who can be contacted if applicants require further information about the proposed research or would like to informally discuss any other aspect of their application (ds2630@bath.ac.uk). More general information about the Scott group can be found here: https://scottchemistry.wixsite.com/scott-research-group.

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