Postdoctoral Fellow, Research School of Chemistry

Classification: ANU Academic Level A
Salary package: $78,940 - $99,083 per annum, plus 17% superannuation
Terms: Fixed Term (up to 20 months), Full Time (part-time will be considered)
Position description & Selection Criteria: PD and PEWER - Academic Level A Colebatch and White.pdf

Working at ANU

This is an opportunity to work with a world class University that undertakes cutting edge research and has a strong tradition in research-led teaching excellence.

We offer:

• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid arrangements working both on our beautiful, green campus and working remotely,
• Generous paid parental leave entitlements of up to 32 weeks. We are one of the leading employers in Australia for parental leave entitlements,
• Designated parent rooms, quiet spaces and childcare facilities on campus,
• Career support, training, mentoring & upskilling opportunities.

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A Diverse and Inclusive Team

ANU is introducing measures to support the recruitment, inclusion and retention of employees with disability. To find out more, please click here.

ANU is a large, diverse employer with staff working across numerous professions (see the full list of available roles here. We are a recipient of the bronze award through the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and a platinum member of the Australian Network on Disability. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities and from individuals who may have had a non-linear career path, career gaps or career breaks.

The Position

This appointment is supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project ‘Self–assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis.’ This is a key role in a friendly, motivated team encompassing members of both the Colebatch and White groups. The research will involve preparing new cationic organic cage molecules in water using hydrazone condensation reactions. You will then  study the binding of guests to these cages and explore their coordination chemistry. In preliminary work, we have shown that the organic cages can bind anionic guests very strongly, even in water (DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2021-qqhs8). This role will build on with this work and study the incorporation of transition metals into the cages to further enhance guest binding and potentially sensing. 

The role is part of a bigger project exploring the use of these cages for catalysis, and a key part of the job will be working with and mentoring 1–2 PhD students as well as supervising undergraduate/BSc(Hons) students on related projects.

The Person

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with experience in supramolecular chemistry and/or coordination chemistry with strong skills in organic and/or inorganic synthesis. We are particularly keen to find someone who is enthusiastic about taking a leadership role working with a small team of research students (undergraduate, Honours, PhD) in collaboration with Dr Colebatch and Assoc. Prof. White. The project is hosted in two research groups so an ability to communicate effectively and a willingness to be flexible is essential. Skills in supramolecular chemistry (DOSY NMR, determining association constants) or homogeneous catalysis would be valuable, but are not essential, as are skills in X-ray crystallography or computational chemistry.

Learn more about the ground-breaking research and world class facilities of the Research School of Chemistry here.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr Annie Colebatch: annie.colebatch@anu.edu.au or, Assoc. Prof. Nicholas White nicholas.white@anu.edu.au.

To Apply

To be considered for this position, please upload the following documents:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV), and
• A summary addressing your suitability against the selection criteria (no more than two pages).

The committee will consider candidates that do not meet one or more aspects of the selection criteria.

If shortlisted, candidates will be asked to complete a:

• 20 minute interview
• 10 minute presentation on their prior research experience

If you require adjustments to participate in any of the above assessments, please contact our HR team at E: hr.cos@anu.edu.au or T: +61 2 6125 9708 Any adjustment request or the disclosure of disability will not be communicated to the selection committee without the candidates consent and it will not having any bearing on hiring decisions.

For examples of common reasonable adjustments please click here.

Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.

Closing date: 05 April 2023.