Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS, v.v.i., offers a postdoctoral position in Department of Chemistry of Ions in Gaseous Phase

Location: Prague, Czech republic

Job description:
Post-Doctoral Researcher in gas phase ion chemistry and physics

Fixed term contract until 31. 12. 2020, full time, start date: immediate.

The successful candidate will participate in research and development of a new analytical method for absolute quantification of trace gaseous analytes using Secondary Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry, SESI-MS, technique. This work will be carried out within the investigator team of a project „Secondary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SESI-MS) for quantification of gaseous analytes in air, headspace and breath" funded by the Czech Science Foundation.
In the first year of project she or he will investigate processes taking place within a new SESI ion source with the possibility to control the ionisation conditions and parameters. In the next phase the research will focus on the description of kinetics of ion-molecule reactions and construction of a numerical model of reaction kinetics allowing absolute trace gas quantification.
The developed technique will be validated on case studies using real samples, including volatile metabolites released by bacterial cultures and food samples, and those present in exhaled breath of groups of patients and healthy controls in collaboration with specialist clinics. Other techniques available at the department of chemistry of ions in gaseous phase, including Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, GC-MS, and Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry, SIFT-MS, will be used to verify the methods for absolute trace gas quantification. Results will be published in peer-reviewed impacted scientific journals.

Key Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Required:
- Higher degree in physics or chemistry
- Knowledge of mass spectrometry
- Experience in experimental research (3 years minimum)
- Knowledge of numerical methods for modelling
- Good communications skills in English language
- Experience with publication of results in peer-reviewed papers
- Writing skills and ability to work in a team

Beneficial:
- PhD
- Experience with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
- Experimental skills in electronics, vacuum technology and programming for data processing and analysis (for example C#, R project, Arduino)
- Knowledge of basic chemistry of small volatile organic molecules
- Knowledge of relevant areas of thermodynamics, basics of chemometrics and statistics.

About the employer

The Post-Doctoral Researcher in gas phase ion chemistry and physics will work in the research team led by Prof. Patrik Spanel in collaboration with Dr. Kseniya Dryahina and other scientists. The laboratory is one of the leading workplaces in the area of soft chemical ionization mass spectrometry in Europe. The focus is on the validated quantitation of volatile compounds in air or breath. The aim of the GACR project "Secondary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SESI-MS) for quantification of gaseous analytes in air, headspace and breath" is to develop and test a new analytical method for absolute quantification of trace gaseous analytes using the SESI-MS technique. Objectives include construction of a new SESI ion source with controlled parameters, description of kinetics data for sequences of ion-molecular reactions involved in the formation of product ions, construction of numerical model of reaction kinetics allowing absolute trace gas quantification, optimization of the experimental ion source, impurities suppression and case studies in medical, food and environmental areas.

Documents required from the candidate:
Application form (see the attached file) with CV including list of publications and any supporting documents
Please send all documents in English language, preferably as one PDF file by e-mail.

The institute endorses The European Charter & Code for Researchers.

Applications with required documents must be submitted via e-mail to a contact person:
Mgr. DRYAHINA Kseniya, Ph. D. (dryahinajh-inst.cas.cz)

Salary: Remuneration is according to the Czech Science Foundation salary grade

Entry date: as soon as possible

Limitation: Appointments are made for fixed term.

Applications deadline: May 30, 2018

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