Fully Funded PhD Position in the Field of Cocatalysis with Organocatalysis

The PhD project will aim to implement classical organocatalytic approaches with borane catalysis, thereby unlocking novel reactivity that can revolutionize the synthesis of chiral amino alcohols and diamines. These motifs are widely represented in the structure of bioactive molecules and hold immense potential for applications in pharmaceuticals and beyond. A strategy enabling their enantioselective synthesis in an atom-efficient approach would be highly valuable to the chemical community. 

The project will be supervised by Dr. Mikk Kaasik and funded from the Estonian Research Council project PSG951.

We expect the potential candidate to plan and carry out experiments in a research laboratory, will actively participate in regular group discussions, show initiative in pursuing new research ideas, communicate latest results at seminars/conferences and is eager to expand her/his expertise in organic chemistry. With our guidance and supervision, the candidate will advance practical and theoretical skills in synthetic organic chemistry, especially in relation to asymmetric organocatalysis and borane catalysis, along with pertinent analytical (NMR, HPLC) skills. In addition, the candidate will develop and enhance transferrable skills, such as writing, communication, public speaking (preparation of scientific articles, presenting work at group meetings and conferences), problem-solving, project and time management (planning the experiments to reach the goal of the project, carrying out those experiments and analyzing the results). 

Requirements:

A M.Sc degree or equivalent in chemistry or biochemistry, or equivalent.

Strong knowledge of organic chemistry and sufficient knowledge of typical analytical methods used in this field.

Work experience in a research laboratory 

A good command in both spoken and written English.

Demonstrated competence and motivation to pursue postgraduate studies.

Ability to work on-site at TalTech campus.

We offer:

The position will be full-time for fixed-term of 4 years. It is expected to start at the latest before the end of 2024, as mutually agreed upon by both parties. The candidate will be enrolled in the Chemistry and Biotechnology PhD program (duration of 4 years) at TalTech and employed at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, TalTech as an early stage researcher. There are no tuition fees for doctoral studies in Estonia. The university has a common salary structure for all doctoral candidates. In 2024, the minimum salary for full-time employment is 1,828 € (gross). From the gross amount, taxes will be deducted. In Estonia, taxes are withheld from your gross salary by the employer (TalTech) on a monthly basis. This means you don’t have to make additional payments or file monthly tax returns. For more information see here.

Estonian health insurance is valid for people who work and whose social tax is paid for or who pay the social tax themselves. The validity of your health insurance is the responsibility of the employer (TalTech). You become eligible for the national health insurance when your place of residence is registered in Estonia, you are working and the necessary social security contributions are paid for you.

We offer modern working conditions, with years of knowledge on asymmetric organocatalysis on-site. The work schedule can be flexible, with the possibility to work from home. TalTech has a green and one of the most compact university campuses in Europe that includes the Tehnopol Tallinn Science Park. The university provides individual development and training opportunities in addition to PhD courses, material and non-material tokens of acknowledgement, sporting opportunities at TalTech Sports Club and all-staff activities.

How to apply?

Please submit your application through e-mail to: Dr. Mikk Kaasik, [email protected].

Applications and all accompanying documentation should be written in English, and in PDF format.

The application should contain: 

a cover letter (max 1 A4), detailing why you would like to join the group,

CV, with details about education, work experience, skills and contact information of one professional reference. 

Please note, to finalize the application process and to be enrolled in a PhD program additional documentation will be needed as per the rules at TalTech (such as: proof of English language proficiency which must be at least B2, Scans of original qualification documents, etc; see also).

Applicants may be contacted for additional information and/or the availability for an interview via video-call at a mutually agreed upon time.