Researcher Position in Chemistry Related to Catalytic Testing for C-H Activation Reactions

About the position

A position as a Researcher in chemistry is available at the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), University of Oslo. 

The position is for a period of 1 year, with possible extension, upwards limited to the project end date (31.10.2026).

The starting date is as soon as possible, and no later than November 1, 2025.

Knowledge development in a changing world - Science and technology towards 2030

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description/project description:

The position is associated with an EU funded ERC-Synergy Grant (ERC-SyG) project Unravelling the secrets of Cu-based catalysts for C-H activation (CUBE) (cube-synergy.eu). The aim of the CUBE project is to understand the key mechanistic features of copper-catalyzed C-H activation via a holistic approach in which biological and synthetic catalysts are studied side by side. The ultimate goal is the selective production of methanol from CH4 and O2. A promising strategy is to incorporate bio-inspired catalytic motifs and second sphere components in solid porous materials, combining heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic approaches. The unprecedented tunability, stability and high surface area of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) make them attractive as solid framework for this purpose.

Metal complex and materials synthesis, characterization, performance testing and mechanistic studies - using experimental and computational tools - are performed in a direct feed-back loop, involving organic and inorganic synthesis chemists, spectroscopists, computational chemists and enzymologists. The resulting design principles will be used to develop new catalysts with rationally designed functionality.

CUBE is a joint project between the University of Oslo (Norway), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway), the University of Turin (Italy) and the Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (Germany).  

The successful candidate will be central to investigations of the catalytic performance and structure-composition-function correlations of homogenous complex and functionalized metal organic framework (MOF) based catalysts. This will include design and implementation of novel NMR experiments for high-field NMR, and data analysis strategies as well as instrumentation development. We believe that NMR spectroscopy can provide an in-depth physico-chemical characterization of copper-catalyzed C-H activation and will become a valuable technique in this research field. Besides, the spectroscopic investigations in solution are considered to team up with ongoing computational studies to benefit our understanding of the chemical events at work.

The position will be part of the  Section for catalysis and organic chemistry. The Section for catalysis and organic chemistry studies the correlation between catalyst composition/structure and their effects on chemical reactions. The catalysts can be of organic and/or inorganic origin. The section has approximately 35 members, subdivided into three groups: the zeolite group synthesizes and characterizes zeolite and zeotype materials and studies catalytic reactions over those materials; the MOF-group does the same with metal-organic frameworks; the homogenous catalysis group synthesizes metal-organic complexes and studies their catalytic reactions.

The Section for catalysis and organic chemistry is part of Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN). Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary centre, collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.

The Section for catalysis and organic chemistry has strong ties to the Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Science.

Employment in the Section for catalysis and organic chemistry will enable the successful candidate to work in a highly cross-disciplinary field in an internationally competitive research group.

Qualification requirements:

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education, and innovation. Candidates for fellowships will be selected in accordance with this and are expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in chemistry, materials science, or a related field. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• The successful candidate must have documented experience in the following areas:
  • Significant experience in experimental NMR spectroscopy
  • Study of organic reactions mixtures and structure elucidation using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy including product detection, characterization and quantification
  • Handling of organometallic complexes under inert atmosphere
  • Mechanistic studies of organic reactions under homogenous or heterogenous catalysis with detection and quantification of reaction intermediates
• The position's subject area may require licensing under the Norwegian Export Control Act. In order to be considered for the position, it is a prerequisite that UiO must be able to be granted such license: https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/master/export-control.html

Desired qualifications:

• Experience in magnetic resonance research, particularly in the development of NMR instrumentation and methods
• Hands on synthetic methods under inert atmosphere
• Synchrotron radiation facilities, preferably including operando studies
• Characterization methods, such as SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD, N2 physisorption, TGA, NMR, TEM and XPS

Personal skills:

• Ability to conduct high-quality independent research within a broad collaboration 
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Willingness to work together with PhD and/or Master/Bachelor students in speciality field
• Self-motivation, creativity, genuine curiosity about the subject, work discipline, professional ethics, and ambition 

We offer:

• Salary NOK minimum 575 400 – 708 000 per year depending on qualifications in position as Researcher (position code 1109)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest and how this relates to the targeted position)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations:

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

The research area for the positions may include technologies referred to in the Ministry's export control regulations and all applicants will be evaluated in accordance with these regulations.

Contact persons:

For further information about the position please contact: 

Professor Unni Olsbye, phone: +47 2285 5456, e-mail: unni.olsbye@kjemi.uio.no

Professor Mamou Amedjkouh, phone: +47 2285 7009, e-mail: mamou@kjemi.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system please contact: 

HR-adviser Olga Holmlund, e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no