Research Associate in Catalysis

Role Description

Department

A research associate is sought for a project, led by Professor Ian Fairlamb in the Department of Chemistry, co-funded by the EPSRC UK Catalysis hub and GlaxoSmithKline under the Catalysis for the Circular Economy & Sustainable Manufacturing theme.

The project aims to deliver a versatile platform to enable a large number of pharma-relevant reaction variables to be screened in a short period of time, allowing robustness and sensitivities in metal-catalyzed reactions to be better understood across a broad space. This will allow challenges encountered during scale-up in process chemistry to be efficiently addressed.

The project team comprises academic partners at York, Durham and Leeds and an industrial partner, GlaxosmithKline.  Complementary expertise spans a range of areas from applied synthetic chemistry, catalyst design and mechanistic understanding, automation, reaction screening and rich data analysis of reaction outcomes.

The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest and most successful departments at York and we are renowned internationally for our research. We strive to provide a working environment that allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We are proud of our Athena SWAN Gold Award. 

Role

Main duties include:

• Conducting individual and collaborative research, working effectively as a team member under the supervision of senior colleagues to contribute to a better understanding of metal-catalyzed reactions commonly used in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Analysis and interpretation of research data; using and developing appropriate research techniques in organic and organometallic synthesis and methods such as high throughput experimentation and reaction optimisation
• Positively engaging with UK Catalysis Hub activities and developing and initiating other collaborative working
• Assisting in the development of potential areas of research, applications and proposals for future research projects
• Writing up research results and disseminating them through publications, seminars, conference presentations and outreach activities
• Supporting the Fairlamb research group and providing guidance to other staff and students and coordinating the work of small research teams
• Assisting with undergraduate teaching in own area of expertise

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• First degree in Chemistry and PhD in synthetic chemistry (working with catalysis at the organic/organometallic interface)
• Specific knowledge and experience in synthetic chemistry research, especially metal-catalyzed reactions and reaction optimisation studies, to engage in high quality research.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of laboratory techniques (HPLC, GCMS, NMR, in situ spectroscopic techniques)
• Experience in data management strategies using both instrumentation and technology in the chemical sciences
• Highly developed communication skills including competency to make presentations
• Ability and experience in writing up research work for publication
• Ability to develop research objectives, projects and proposals
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office applications, ChemDraw and NMR software
• Highly motivated, collaborative and professional work ethic, committed to high quality research, and a willingness to proactively support and train others
• Ability and experience in working closely within a team environment and independently using own initiative
• Commitment to and Understanding of Equality and Diversity Issues

Interview date: 7 May 2021

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Ian Fairlamb on (email: ian.fairlamb@york.ac.uk)

The University is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community  – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds.

 A place where we can ALL be ourselves #EqualityatYork