This position is in the research group of Associate Professor Caroline Saouma in the Department of Chemistry. The position will focus on using electrostatic fields to modulate the reactivity of homogeneous catalysts that are appended to electrode surfaces. The researcher in this position will have discretion and freedom to pursue research goals with routine consultation, but limited supervision, so long as they fall within the boundaries of our funding source.
This appointee will perform all aspects of research and development in the area of assignment; will plan, propose, and conduct agreed upon research projects requiring independent evaluation, selection, and use or adaptation/modification of standard techniques and procedures; will devise new approaches to problems, will plan, conduct and report on their work; will perform conventional and complex techniques; and will apply nontraditional approaches and higher levels of problem solving for research.
Specific technical duties will include:
1) Ligand and catalyst synthesis, which will require the use of air-free techniques;
2) Appending of catalyst to the electrode surface, which will also necessitate surface characterization;
3) Characterization of complexes/catalysts using spectroscopic and diffraction techniques (solution and solid-state);
4) Mechanistic studies, which may entail thermochemical analysis or kinetics;
5) Catalyst screening on our high-pressure system, which will include product analysis by chromatographic means.
Additional duties will include:
1) Routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, including but not limited to gloveboxes, rotovaps, GCs, high-pressure systems, and spectrometers (IR, UV-vis).
2) Following all safety protocols and writing new safety operating procedures.
3) Help mentor others in the group, either directly or indirectly.
4) Contributing to the collegial and collaborative culture within the Saouma group and Department of Chemistry.