Postdoctoral Scholar, Organic Materials, Department of Chemistry

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Position Description

Welch Research Group
https://welchlab.wixsite.com/website

Nature of the Work 

This is a full-time position within the Department of Chemistry reporting to Professor Gregory Welch. The job entails chemistry-based research and development centred on the design, synthesis, characterization, and coating of organic conjugated materials for use as active in printed sensor devices. The work will combine both organic materials design and synthesis and the development of printed sensing devices. The successful candidate is expected to work on campus, in a laboratory setting 5-days per week. The job requires use of organic and inorganic chemicals/solvents in a controlled laboratory setting. 

The post-doc will work as part of an integrated team with expectations of publishing work in high impact journals, having work covered by patent applications, and commercializing the technology. 

The post-doc will be expected to apply for internal and external funding.

Primary Purpose of the Position:
•    Synthesize current organic conjugated molecules at-scale (>10 gram)
•    Derivatize current organic conjugated molecules for chemical and light sensing
•    Optimize the large area slot-die coating of organic conjugated molecules for chemical and light sensing

Qualifications/Expertise:
•    Post-secondary degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science.
•    Minimum two years’ experience in the synthesis of organic conjugated materials for electronic applications.
•    Experience with solution to film coating methods, ideally slot-die coating.
•    Demonstrated ability to conduct organic chemistry in a fume-hood, organometallic chemistry in an inter-atmosphere glove box and vacuum/gas line.
•    Proficient at running NMR spectroscopic experiments, optical absorption experiments, electrochemical experiments, and all related data processing and analysis.
•    Experience with organic film formation and characterization using force and optical microscopy. 

Accountabilities, Tasks, and Duties: 
•    Deliver on provide project milestones
•    Conduct wet laboratory tests, experiments, and analysis to assist in the goals of the research.
•    Develop laboratory protocols to create libraires of new organic conjugated materials for sensing
•    Develop laboratory protocols to make champion materials on processing scale (i.e. 10 gram scale)
•    Monthly progress report in the form of power-point slides are required.
•    Formal reports summarizing project progress every 6-months
•    Write scientific papers and file patent applications.
•    Entrepreneurial opportunities exist.         

Salary, Term, and Start Date:
•    Salary ranges from $40-50K/year plus benefits for a post-doctoral fellow (PhD required)
•    Term is set for one year. Additional years funding and salary increases are available and subject to meeting and/or exceeding project goals.
•    Start Date: August to October 2022.  

Application Deadline: August 4, 2022

Additional Information

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website .  

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website .

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca .

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High , committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected] ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected] ).