Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Computational Materials Chemistry

We are deeply proud of our academic community. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a diverse and dynamic learning environment, defined by a shared sense of respect for all its people. Our mission is to be bold, to do the right things and to change lives, and our academics are key to realising those goals. Their work continues to reinforce our credentials as an award-winning university, and a research centre of excellence.

Our continued success — underpinned by the number of prestigious national awards we’ve won — has hinged on two commitments: forging excellent partnerships around the world and harnessing the talents of all our people. We secured a ‘Gold’ rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework; received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our pioneering research; and in 2018, we were the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge, further demonstrating our commitment to ensuring ‘success for all’. NTU is a university at the peak of its powers, but we know we can still go even further. That’s why we’re now looking for new, passionate, ambitious people to join our community.

Molecular Framework Materials (MFMs), in particular Metal- and Covalent Organic Frameworks (MOFs and COFs) are an increasingly popular class of materials, with potential uses in adsorption, separation, catalysis amongst many others, yet challenges in their design have to date, prevented their wide application outside of the laboratory. One particular challenge is that in many cases the behaviour and properties of individual MFMs depend on internal motion within the framework. This flexibility is currently difficult and expensive to model and so our understanding of when and why MFMs are flexible relies on the analysis of ad hoc examples.

A one month post-doc position currently available will develop a novel understanding of flexibility in molecular framework materials (MFMs), culminating in development of a general force field for flexible MFMs. The EPSRC-funded post is  working under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Addicoat (https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/matthew-addicoat).

You will have a PhD in chemistry, materials science or equivalent. This project requires experience in python scripting for data analysis, creation and manipulation of chemical databases, expertise in quantum chemical calculations (e.g. Crystal, Quantum ESPRESSO, BAND), a deep understanding of chemical force fields (e.g. MM3, UFF) and experience of topological analysis of molecular frameworks (e.g. ToposPro). If you’ve got three out of five and you’re prepared to get stuck into the other two, I want to hear from you. You will be able to work collaboratively at a high level and provide academic leadership to drive the project forwards, completing research objectives within a short timeframe.

The position will be based at NTU Clifton Campus in the newly built Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC). The School of Science and Technology is one of the most innovative in the UK, with state-of-the-art facilities. We pride ourselves on our strong multidisciplinary ethos and delivery of excellent taught courses. Our research attracts substantial external funding to underpin our research programmes and PhD supervision.

Please address informal inquiries to [email protected]

Interview Date: TBC

NTU prides itself on being an inclusive employer. We value and celebrate equality in opportunities, and we welcome applications from people who reflect the diversity of our communities.

This role is open to non-UK/Irish applicants subject to current UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rules. Please ensure that you have the appropriate right to work in the UK for this role and consult the Home Office website for further information.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come. With a shared vision, we are a community of more than 4,000 colleagues, all committed to our goal of becoming ‘the university of the future’. Do you have the passion to help us to go even further? www.ntu.ac.uk

Please note that this role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and successful applicants will be asked to declare any unspent criminal convictions.