Marie Curie Research Fellow – Theoretical Chemistry
Fixed-term for 36 months
24 Months based at Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde
12 Months based at Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg
This fixed-term position is available for 36 months to work on a project entitled: “Modelling the Physical and Chemical Behaviour of Amorphous Solid Water: an Interstellar Ice Analog” within the LASSIE (Laboratory Astrochemical Surface Science in Europe) Marie-Curie Initial Training Network. The aim is to build a clear picture on the molecular level, looking in particular at the role of hydrogen bonding in the physical and chemical behaviour of thin-films of ASW, to elucidate how they govern the chemical evolution of star-forming regions. The project is split between two partners in the network. During the first 12 months of the project you will be based at the University of Strathclyde, with Dr Helen Fraser, and will utilise an exiting molecular dynamics code, and apply state-of the art techniques to develop long time- and length- scale simulations of amorphous solid water (ASW) to look at the effects of temperature on the ASW structure and a process called pore collapse. The kinetics and thermodynamics of such processes are poorly understood, yet dominate the trapping of adsorbate gases in interstellar ices, and thereby the availability of adsorbate species to subsequently react and enhance the chemical evolution of star-forming regions. The post will be based for the second 12 month period in Gothenburg, with Prof. Gunar Nyman and Dr Stefan Andersson where you will focus on using state of the chemical reactions dynamics calculations, alongside an existing photochemistry code, to study the chemical reactions that can result in ASW in interstellar space, whether induced by heating (and pore collapse) or by UV photons. The final 12 months will be based at Strathclyde, and will involve coupling the findings of the theoretical chemical calculations into astrochemical networks, according to our existing knowledge (from elsewhere in the network) of observational and laboratory determined constraints on the chemical processes in interstellar ices.
This LASSIE project (http://www.lassie-itn.eu) is a consortium of 13 experimental and theoretical academic groups, with 5 industrial and 1 outreach partners. You will spend the majority of your time in the Astrochemistry Group at Strathclyde University, (http://bcp.phys.strath.ac.uk/astro/astro.php), but will also spend a significant period at the University of Gothenburg (http://www.chem.gu.se/english/research/physical_chemistry).
Candidates for this challenging and rewarding position must have a Masters Degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Maths or a related Engineering field, obtained within the past four years, and demonstrate experience in at least one of the following areas: observational astronomy; chemical physics; physical chemistry; surface science; computational chemistry or theoretical astrochemistry and astrophysics. Research experience in physical chemistry, chemical physics, amorphous materials or theoretical chemistry is an advantage. It is desirable that you have skills in computer languages such as C, C++, Fortran, DL POLY, IDL and are used to LINUX based operating systems. You will be expected to possess excellent communication and team working skills and the ability to think ‘outside the box’ and place your work in the context of a ‘bigger picture’.
At the time of appointment, in line with the eligibility terms of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network, applicants should:
• be within the first 4 years of their career in research;
• be of any nationality, except a national of the UK or Sweden. In the case of an applicant holding more than one nationality (including the UK or Sweden), he/she will be eligible if he/she has not resided in the UK or Sweden, during the previous 5 years;
• not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in the UK or Sweden for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account;
• if they hold UK or Swedish nationality, be legally resident and have their main activity in a country not from the EU and not belonging to the list given at ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/third_country_agreements_en.pdf for at least three of the last four years immediately prior to their appointment;
The successful candidate must commence the appointment by 1st February 2011.
For an application pack visit http://www.mis.strath.ac.uk/Personnel/open/r852010.htm or contact Human Resources, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ. Tel. 0141 553 4133, quoting ref: JA/R85/2010.
Closing date: 14th December 2010
We value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
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