The Spectroscopy of Cold Molecules (SCM) department, part of the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) (https://www.ru.nl/imm) at Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands) invites applications for the Radboud Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship.
This highly-prestigious 2 year fellowship enables outstanding post-doctoral researchers to conduct a research project within a research group at Radboud University. Within the SCM department we invite applications for projects within the following areas:
Novel methods for ultrafast photochemistry
The Ultrafast Chemical Dynamics group explores femtosecond electronic and nuclear dynamics in gas-phase neutral molecules. A particular focus of the group is the development of novel methods and technologies to tackle hitherto unreachable problems. Examples include the use of electrostatic fields for producing isomer-selected beams, novel light sources such as high-harmonic generation and Free-Electron Lasers, and coincidence imaging methods.
References:
-Abma et al, J. Phys. Chem. A 126, 3811 (2022) – https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.2c02277
-Caballo et al, J. Phys. Chem. A 125, 9060 (2021) – https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05541
-Smith et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 183003 (2018) – https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.183003
Contact: Dr. Daniel Horke (d.horke@science.ru.nl)
Molecular Collisions
What exactly happens when molecules and atoms collide and possibly even react with each other? We aim to answer this question by experimentally investigating molecular collisions in the gas phase using crossed molecular beams. We use Stark and Zeeman decelerators to obtain full control over the velocities and quantum states of atoms or molecules before the collision. The scattered products are probed in high detail using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization and velocity-map imaging. This powerful combination of techniques allows us to investigate molecular collisions with extraordinary resolution, revealing intimate details of the collision process that are washed out otherwise.
Prof. Dr. Bas van de Meerakker focusses on inelastic collisions at low temperatures, whereas Dr. Jolijn Onvlee recently started investigating reactive collisions.
References:
– Tang et al., Science 379, 1031 (2023). https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf9836
– De Jongh et al., Nature Chemistry 14, 538 (2022). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-022-00896-2
– Plomp et al., J. Phys.Chem. Lett. 12, 12210 (2021). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03643
Contact: Dr. Jolijn Onvlee (j.onvlee@science.ru.nl), Prof. Bas van de Meerakker (b.vandemeerakker@science.ru.nl)
About the SCM department
You will be part of the SCM department (https://www.ru.nl/scm). We develop and use unique experimental techniques to control, collide and image individual molecules in the gas-phase. This includes Stark and Zeeman decelerators, electrostatic deflectors and state selectors, ultrafast and free-electron laser sources, and charged-particle imaging detectors. These allow us to control properties such as the velocity, quantum state, and orientation of individual molecules in a molecular beam and enable the study of molecular processes in unexplored regimes and with unprecedented precision.
Selection procedure
Candidate selection follows a two-round process. After an initial selection at the SCM department, top candidates will be invited to prepare a full application for the university-wide Radboud Excellence Initiative. The SCM department will support these candidates in preparing the application. For the university-wide program, an interdisciplinary selection committee will decide which candidates will be awarded a fellowship.
Eligibility
Applicants should have a proven track-record of scientific excellence, as evident for example through their publication record, invited presentations or successful grant applications. The Fellowships are open to non-Dutch researchers based outside the Netherlands, who have no previous study or work experience in the Netherlands and who obtained their doctorate no longer than eight years before the time of application. They will be offered a two-year employment contract with excellent secondary conditions. Further information: https://www.ru.nl/excellence/.
Interested candidates should send a detailed CV and publication list to the corresponding contacts mentioned above before 15 May 2023.
GEFAM 