Job Description
Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:
ERC Consolidator Grant –funded Postdoctoral
Research Associate
Chemistry
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Bath Chemistry
Job purpose
The appointee will be employed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work under
the supervision of Dr Sofia Pascu on a research project funded by the ERC
Consolidator grant for a fixed term period to be held full time.
The project involves a close collaboration with molecular imaging specialists Dr Stan
Botchway (cellular imaging) and Dr Paul Potter (in vivo optical imaging) and focuses
on the synthesis, functionalization and imaging of new metal complexes and
functional nanoparticles which are fluorescent with a strong focus towards
understanding their interactions with cellular environment.
Source and nature of management provided
Dr Sofia Pascu Royal Society URF and Reader in Inorganic Chemistry
Staff management responsibility
There is no staff management responsibility for this role
Career and Professional Development Activities
From time to time you may be asked to assist in the facilitation of CPD activities and
representing the research group at internal and international conferences which will
involve travel away from Bath. This will form part of your substantive role and you
will not receive additional payment for these activities.
Special conditions
The post will be based in the Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, and will
involve at least 4 weeks of residential experiment time at the Research Complex at
Harwell under the supervision of Dr Stan Bothway and Dr Paul Potter, where training
will be provided. There will be a requirement to be mobile within the Bath-LondonCardiff-Oxford-Cambridge and Research Complex at Harwell area throughout the
period of appointment due to the interdisciplinary and multi-site collaborative nature
of the experiments.
Main duties and responsibilities
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Synthesis of metal complexes and nanoparticles This will involve design,
synthesis and purification of new organic and inorganic materials.
Functionalisation with organic linkers
Coupling of peptides
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Synthesis of fluorescent molecules
Characterisation of newly synthesised materials in solution and solid state
Spectroscopic characterization by NMR and preliminary photophysical and
electrochemical characterisation of new materials.
Imaging in vitro and in vivo using two-photon fluorescence (at RCaH) and single
photon imaging (in vitro, at Bath) Training will be provided.
Manage, plan and prioritise research on a day-to-day basis within the agreed
framework of the project.
Write detailed, accurate and accessible reports of experimental work undertaken
and draw conclusions from the results obtained.
Write, or assist writing, the results of the research in a form suitable for
presentation at meetings and draft manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed
journals.
Plan several months in advance to meet project milestones and deadlines for
presentations.
Actively participate in, and orally present results at, regular research team
meetings at Bath and/or within collaborator’s laboratories.
Interact closely with in vivo and in vitro collaborators to facilitate the overall
cross-disciplinary aims of the project.
Attend relevant national and international conferences.
Assist in training less-experienced researchers in the team with advice and
demonstration of key practical skills.
Contribute to the general day-to-day running of the laboratory by, for example,
ensuring a safe working environment, with emphasis maintaining supplies of
solvents, cryogens and chemicals.
Day-to-day supervision of PhD students and undergraduates in Pascu group
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required as there will be
extensive interdisciplinary collaboration with in vivo and in vitro imaging
specialists at Hammersmith Hospital, London, PETIC Cardiff, Addenbrooke’s
Hospital Cambridge and Churchill Hospital, Oxford
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as
reasonably required by your line manager, Dr Sofia Pascu.
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Appendix B
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Assessed by
A/F
I/T
R
Qualifications
PhD in inorganic, organic
chemistry or chemical
biology
-
X
Experience
/Knowledge
Inorganic or
Organic synthesis or
Synthetic methodology
including manipulation of air
sensitive compounds and
Schlenk line techniques
-
Functional group coupling
chemistry
NMR spectroscopy
UVVis/Fluorescence
spectroscopy
Study of functional
and/or Switchable
inorganic molecules
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Structural chemistry
Photochemistry or
physical inorganic or
organic chemistry.
Nanotechnology
Skills
Excellent synthetic inorganic
and organic chemistry skills
-
Excellent Structural
characterisation of molecules
and nanomaterials
Human Resources
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Appendix B
Attributes
Excellent communication and
team working skills
-
X
X
Organised and with strong
managerial skills
Excellent writing skills
Excellent publication
portfolio
Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R – References
Human Resources
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X