University of Toronto at Scarborough, Toronto, ON (7th July/2012)
Postdoctoral Research Associate in multiphase NMR Spectroscopy
Environmental NMR Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto at
Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Project Description:
This is a unique opportunity to develop a novel area of NMR spectroscopy
termed Comprehensive Multiphase NMR spectroscopy (CMP NMR).
CMP NMR is a new area of NMR spectroscopy that incorporates solid-state,
semi-solids (HR-MAS) and solution-state NMR (J. Magn. Reson. 2012;
217:61-76). The goal is to take samples such as tissues, plants, cells,
soils etc. In their natural fully swollen state and study structure and
interactions in-situ and potentially in-vivo, and do so for all the bonds
present (solid, liquid or gel). The candidate will work with a range of
unique hardware prototypes to study intact natural samples that have solid,
gel and liquid components (samples may include plants, soils, sediments,
atmospheric particles, tissue/bone etc.) thereby eliminating the need for
drying or pre-treatment. This research aims to differentiate molecular
structures in various natural phases and more importantly, to permit the
study of the chemistry and transport between phases and across key
interfaces by NMR spectroscopy for the first time. The successful candidate
will have considerable opportunities to publish in a diverse range of
disciplines.
The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Bruker BioSpin
and will involve: 1) fundamental development of the technique and
preliminary applications in a range of disciplines; and 2) development of
applications in environmental chemistry. The candidate must be willing to
spend time at Bruker headquarters in the U.S. Assisting in building the
probes as required (typically 1month per year). At present we have number of
fully working prototypes but are working on further development of new probe
designs with Bruker.
Environmental applications will focus on understanding the molecular
processes behind soil/sediment contamination, understanding chemical
composition and layering in atmospheric particles, and understanding plant
growth, metabolism and contaminant interactions. Much of the environmental
work is performed in collaboration with Environment Canada, the National
Water Research Institute, and the Ministry of the Environment. Therefore
this represents an excellent opportunity for an open-minded NMR researcher
to apply novel NMR technologies to some of the most challenging and
real-world environmental problems in addition to NMR development.
The candidate must have an extremely strong background in NMR spectroscopy
ideally with expertise in solid-state, HR-MAS and solution-state NMR.
Expertise in one area is sufficient as long the candidate is willing and
interesting in to learn all areas of NMR spectroscopy. The candidate must be
open minded and willing to work with very complex environmental samples and
be able to design novel pulse programs that combine aspects from
solution-state and solid-state NMR. Candidates will need to draw upon and
integrate a range of concepts including saturation transfer, diffusion
editing, cross-polarization dynamics, relaxation filters, isotope filtering
with 1-3D NMR spectroscopy to access specific key molecular interactions
from within complex matrices. The candidate will have access to a range of
state of-the-art equipment at the Environmental NMR center including
prototype multiphase probes and hardware, as well as solid-state, HR-MAS,
liquid-state, micro-imaging, and hyphenated (2D-HPLC-SPE-NMR-MS(Q-q-Tof) NMR
spectrometers.
The candidate should have an interest in environmental chemistry and/or
willingness to learn key issues in this field. Due to the very technical
nature of the project the position is specifically suited to a gifted and
open-minded NMR spectroscopist rather than an environmentalist with NMR
experience. The candidate must be willing to travel and may be expected to
lead visits with graduate students to the Bruker BioSpin Corporation
headquarters, if required. In addition, the candidate, along with the center
manager and directors, will be expected to act as a general NMR resource for
graduate students, and collaborators in the Environmental NMR Center, and
assist with training, data acquisition, processing and interpretation on
projects as required. The Environmental NMR Center is highly collaborative
and such involvement will nearly always result in the post-doctoral fellow
becoming a co-author in any research in which they assisted.
Application
Candidates should send a complete C.V. Including a publication list, a one
page statement outlining their suitability and their interest in the
position. Candidates should arrange to have 3 references sent directly.
Applications without the appropriate references have to be considered
incomplete and cannot be considered.
Applications and references should be sent to
Professor André Simpson, FRSC
Director of the Environmental NMR Center
Department of Chemistry
Division of Physical and Environmental Sciences
University of Toronto at Scarborough
1265 Military Trail
Toronto, MIC 1A4
Canada
Or e-mailed as a PDF attachment to andre.simpson_at_utoronto.ca
All applications and references will be reviewed once complete. We aim to
fill the position by Sept 1st 2012.
Received on Fri Jul 06 2012 - 11:48:54 MST