Modelling Nanomaterials for Catalysis and New Energy Technologies

The Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry of the University of Barcelona, IQTCUB (http://www.iqtc.ub.edu/en/), is seeking a PhD candidate to work in the area of computational materials science and catalysis. The position is offered in the group Reactivity of Nanostructures led by ICREA Professor Konstantin Neyman (http://www.icrea.cat/Web/ScientificStaff/Konstantin-M-Neyman-292 and will be co-supervised by Dr. Albert Bruix.

The PhD study is part of a research project PGC2018-093863-B-C22 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Research, Innovations and Universities and built on significant recent advances the group has made in modelling inorganic nanomaterials, for instance:

• The role of metal/oxide interfaces for long-range metal particle activation during CO oxidation. Nature Materials 17 (2018) 519
• Counting electrons on supported nanoparticles. Nature Materials 15 (2016) 284
• How to determine accurate chemical ordering in several nanometer large bimetallic crystallites from electronic structure calculations. Chemical Science 6 (2015) 3868

Requirements

• Master's degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or a related field (60 ECTS)
• A strong background in physical and theoretical chemistry/physics paired with high motivation and curiosity
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an international research team
• Good oral and written communication skills in English

Application procedure

Interested candidates should send a motivation letter, CV (including undergraduate and Master’s grades) and names and contact details of two referees per e-mail to Dr. Albert Bruix (albert.bruix(at)ch.tum.de) before October 31, 2019. A phone/Skype interview will be part of the selection procedure. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and asked to apply formally through the application website before the deadline November 7th, 2019.

We offer

A 4-year PhD position funded by the Spanish Ministry of Research, Innovation and Universities (through a Formación de Personal Investigador PhD grant). The starting employment date is spring 2020. If necessary, a bridging contract could be negotiated for up to six month before the official start of the FPI grant.