Up to two PhD positions are available in chirped-pulse rotational spectroscopy of astrochemically relevant molecules in the “Spectroscopy of Molecular Processes” group headed by Melanie Schnell in Hamburg, Germany.
The goal of the ERC-funded research program, Astrorot, is to significantly advance the knowledge of astrochemistry by exploring the molecular complexity of the interstellar medium and by discovering new complex molecules and key chemical processes in space. So far, mostly physical reasons have been investigated to explain the observed variations in molecular abundances. We study the influence of chemistry on the molecular composition of the universe by combining chirped pulse broadband rotational spectroscopy in the laboratory and pioneering telescope observations. We are interested in exploring the molecular complexity by discovering more complex molecules in space, detecting isotopologues that provide information about the stage of chemical evolution, generating abundance maps of highly excited molecules to learn about their environment, and identifying key intermediates in astrochemical reactions.
In collaboration, we also perform experiments with the Free-electron lasers FELIX (in Nijmegen, the Netherlands) to study the vibrational motion of astrochemically relevant species and with FLASH (in Hamburg) to perform time-dependent studies on the photochemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The two PhD projects will focus on the following subjects:
Project 1: Exploring the astrochemical role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a multi-spectroscopic approach (chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, IR/UV spectroscopy (with Felix) and XUV/UV spectroscopy (with FLASH). Besides understanding the photochemistry of these molecular systems, we are interested in investigating their role in chemistry. We study complexes of PAHs with different molecular species, such as water, to reveal their respective structure and dynamics.
Project 2: We use the rotational signatures of molecular species, determined via broadband rotational spectroscopy mainly in the millimetre wave frequency range, to identify potential reaction pathways in interstellar space. Using a combination of laboratory spectroscopy and spatially resolved radio astronomy, educts and products of potential reaction scenarios are identified. Spatial abundance maps will allow us to identify potentially connected educts and products. This provides information about which species are connected via chemical pathways.
Suitable candidates should have a solid background in physical chemistry or molecular physics, and they should be interested in laboratory experimentation and in data analysis. They should be self-motivated and interested in working in a team.
If you are interested, please apply with a meaningful motivation letter, a CV containing information on publications and presentations as well as names of 2-3 potential contacts for recommendation letters.
We will collect applications until May 15, 2017 after which we start the selection procedure. We might accept later applications until the positions are filled.
In case of questions, please don’t hesitate to contact either Dr. Amanda Steber (amanda.steberATmpsd.mpg.de) or Dr. Melanie Schnell (melanie.schnellATdesy.de).
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Amanda Steber and Melanie Schnell
To join or leave the molecular-dynamics-news email list, go to:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/molecular-dynamics-news.html
|