PhD student position - Synthesis of size-controlled Ag clusters by electrochemical methods - INL, Braga (Portugal)

Synthesis of size-controlled Ag clusters by electrochemical methods: optimization and scaling up. Study of their catalytic and antimicrobian properties.

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) is launching a PhD student position. The laboratory provides a high-tech research environment formed by state-of-the-art infrastructure equipped with the latest technologies, to address the major challenges in nanofabrication, nanocharacterization and other nanotechnologies applied to environmental & food control, nanomedicine and nanoelectronics.

A successful applicant must be in a possession of a degree that will allow him/her to embark in a PhD programme. The applicant should have strong enthusiasm for work and excellent communication skills.

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) invites applications for a PhD student position in the topic of synthesis of size-controlled Ag clusters by electrochemical methods: optimization and scaling up; study of their catalytic and antimicrobian properties, within the InveNNta project between the Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela and INL. The work to be carried out will be the study of the experimental parameters, which have a major influence on the cluster size and the cluster production effciency, such as current density, concentrations, ionic strength, etc. The routine characterization will be performed by voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques. A more exhaustive characterization will be carried out on some selected samples by means of other specialized techniques like mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopies, scanning transmission electron microscopy, etc. Those well-characterized, and optimized samples will be used for developing studies of their catalytic and antimicrobian properties. The selected person for this job has to have a solid background in electrochemical techniques, as well as experience in the synthesis of nanoparticles and clusters by these techniques. Work will be done in collaboration with the Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS) and the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). The PhD degree will be obtained in collaboration with USC, in the Nanomedicine doctoral program.

Interested applicants should submit, until October 31st 2013, their curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing motivation through INL’s recruitment website.

http://inl.int/job_offers