PHOTOCATALYSIS AS A TOOL FOR SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (PhotoReAct)

Offer description:

Are you interested to tackle the challenges associated with photocatalysis in a coherent and comprehensive fashion? Are you curious to make important contributions to the applicability and scalability of photocatalytic processes through the design of novel photocatalysts, new photocatalytic methodologies, cutting-edge technological solutions to enable automation and scalability, and immediate industrial implementation?

The Gryko group at the Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS is seeking an excellent, highly motivated PhD candidate to carry out interdisciplinary research with the aim to developed chiral porphyrin-based catalysts for the photoactivation of diazo compounds within the PhotoReAct project.

PhotoReAct is an Innovative Training Network (ITN) and PhD students, which in this context are called Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), will participate in the research to tackle the challenges associated with photocatalysis in a coherent and comprehensive fashion. The use of visible light energy to induce chemical transformations constitutes a chemoselective and green activation mode of organic molecules. However, implementation of this energy source in organic synthetic methodologies and in the industrial production of fine chemicals has been challenging.

In total 15 Early Stage Researchers will be trained in 14 organizations from industry and academia within the PhotoReAct network. The network will provide them with opportunities to undertake research with the aim to overcome the current limitations towards the applicability and scalability of photochemical transformations. All ESRs will perform three secondments, of which at least one is intersectoral and carried out with an industrial partner and a second is international. EU funded (project no. 956324) and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action.

What are you going to do?

Objectives: Development of chiral, porphyrins and their application in photocatalytic processes

Expected results: Synthesis of new, chiral porphyrins bearing various chiral moieties will be developed. These compounds will be employed in enantioselective processes involving energy transfer including oxidations, activation of diazo reagents, etc. Comprehensive mechanistic studies on influence of porphyrin structure and state of metalation on photosensitization ability will be performed.

You will work in a team with one other PhD student under supervision of professor Dorota Gryko. The work will be executed within the European Innovative Training Network project PhotoReAct.

Questions?

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Or do you want to know more about our organisation? Please contact: Prof. Dorota Gryko, dorota.gryko@icho.edu.pl

The mission of the Gryko group is to create greener methodologies for the production of valuable chemicals. To address current sustainability issues of the chemical industry, we need to develop alternative technologies to eliminate environmentally damaging chemicals and by-products. This can only be achieved by taking inspiration from the Nature as what works is based on its 3.8 billion years of evolution. Nature constructs and decomposes complex molecules with the help of enzymes as catalysts and light as the ultimate energy source. However, despite fundamental benefits of enzymes, their industrial application can be limited by their availability, instability towards certain conditions, cost etc. Our lab develops catalytic methods that mimic efficiency characteristic for enzymes by combining the robust nature of simple nature-derived catalysts with light as the source of energy.

Job application

The IOC PAN is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity. Following the 'Women and Science' movement, the PhotoReAct project encourages and promotes applications from excellent female candidates.

The IOC PAS is the party responsible for processing your personal data (the 'controller') within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).

The selection procedure includes interview and a reference check. The interview will be done by video calls and include a presentation of your master thesis, and questions from organic chemistry at the master level. Please read the Charter and Code for recruitment