Ph.D. Student Molecular Photonics/Catalysis at the University of Amsterdam

Ph.D. Student Molecular Photonics/Catalysis at the University of Amsterdam
"Photocatalytic Water Splitting in Microfluidic Devices"

The ambitious goal of this project is to integrate photo-induced water splitting systems (light harvesting, oxidation catalyst, reduction catalyst) in a microfluidic system. The project is a collaboration between the catalysis group (prof. J.N.H. Reek) and the Molecular Photonics group (prof. A.M. Brouwer) at the van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences  (Amsterdam) and the Mesofluidics group of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology Twente (prof. H. Gardeniers) in the framework of the FOM program Towards Biosolar Cells. The role of the PhD student will be to investigate the photochemical aspects of the water splitting process by means of steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopies in solution and in the prototype microfluidic devices. The results will be used in feedback loops to optimize the antenna ! and catalyst systems, and the molecular structural organization within the devices. This multi-faceted project, executed in our brand new Amsterdam Science Park Laboratories, will give the student an excellent and broad training, that will form a strong basis for a career in industry or academia.

Requirements
Applicants must have an M.Sc. degree in chemistry or physics and be strongly motivated to conduct scientific research. Training in experimental physical chemistry (preferably laser spectroscopy) and affinity with molecular chemistry are necessary. The PhD student should be able to handle chemical systems (accurately prepared concentrations, oxygen free conditions, etc.), to acquire data with spectroscopic equipment (steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence, confocal microscopy) and to analyze the results with computer software. Basic programming skills are indispensable.

More information
The PhD student will be employed! by the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) but work and study at the University of Amsterdam. More information can be obtained from prof. Fred Brouwer.
Email: a.m.brouwer@uva.nl Phone: +31 20 525 5491
http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/a.m.brouwer
http://www.science.uva.nl/hims/

Application
Send your application preferably in electronic form to a.m.brouwer@uva.nl.
Closing date: March 8, 2011. Start date: between April 1 and July 1, 2011.