www.chem.ed.ac.uk/staff/academic/kirrander.html Adam.Kirrander@ed.ac.uk
Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship in Ultrafast Imaging and Quantum Dynamics in the Theoretical Chemical Physics group of Dr. Adam Kirrander at the School of Chemistry, Edinburgh.
New light and electron sources provide new opportunities for the imaging of ultrafast processes. The x-ray free electron lasers under construction in Hamburg (XFEL) and Stanford (LCLS), will provide scientists with a source of short pulses of intense x-rays. At the same time, new sources of ultrafast electron bunches are built, that can be used for time-resolved electron diffraction. The advantage of diffraction-based techniques is that they yield the transient structure of molecules during a chemical process directly, circumventing the need for complex inversion of spectroscopic data.
We develop theoretical and computational methods to unambiguously interpret these new experiments, trying to unlock the chemistry encoded in the experimental data. Our aim is start-to-finish quantum molecular dynamics simulations of the experiments. This requires pushing the current state-of-the-art for computational molecular quantum dynamics, and developing new theory appropriate for modeling the interaction between the excited molecules and the probe, whether an intense x-ray laser or electrons.
A suitable candidate should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first (possibly higher second) class Honours degree, or equivalent, in chemistry or physics. Candidates with background in computing or mathematics may be considered. A strong interest in theory and computation is a must, and a willingness to learn computer programming. Please address informal enquiries to Dr. Adam Kirrander (include your CV and the contact details of two referees). For the formal application procedure please click on the 'Apply' button below. Eligibility: UK and EU nationals. Non-EU candidates will be considered, but funding will not cover overseas fees in full. Starting date is Sep 2014.
About the University of Edinburgh:
The School of Chemistry (www.chem.ed.ac.uk) has an extremely strong research reputation. The Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews have formed EaStCHEM, the leading Chemistry research school in Scotland, and the largest in the UK. EaStCHEM is 4th in the UK according to the power ranking in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008), sitting above Oxford and Cambridge. EaStCHEM researchers produced 75% of all world-leading outputs (4* maximum ranking) in Scotland. The University of Edinburgh is one of the largest and most successful universities in the UK with an international reputation as a center of excellence, and was ranked 6th in Europe according to the QS 2013 international university ranking.
The deadline for applications is 30 April 2014
Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship in Ultrafast Imaging and Quantum Dynamics in the Theoretical Chemical Physics group of Dr. Adam Kirrander at the School of Chemistry, Edinburgh.
New light and electron sources provide new opportunities for the imaging of ultrafast processes. The x-ray free electron lasers under construction in Hamburg (XFEL) and Stanford (LCLS), will provide scientists with a source of short pulses of intense x-rays. At the same time, new sources of ultrafast electron bunches are built, that can be used for time-resolved electron diffraction. The advantage of diffraction-based techniques is that they yield the transient structure of molecules during a chemical process directly, circumventing the need for complex inversion of spectroscopic data.
We develop theoretical and computational methods to unambiguously interpret these new experiments, trying to unlock the chemistry encoded in the experimental data. Our aim is start-to-finish quantum molecular dynamics simulations of the experiments. This requires pushing the current state-of-the-art for computational molecular quantum dynamics, and developing new theory appropriate for modeling the interaction between the excited molecules and the probe, whether an intense x-ray laser or electrons.
A suitable candidate should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first (possibly higher second) class Honours degree, or equivalent, in chemistry or physics. Candidates with background in computing or mathematics may be considered. A strong interest in theory and computation is a must, and a willingness to learn computer programming. Please address informal enquiries to Dr. Adam Kirrander (include your CV and the contact details of two referees). For the formal application procedure please click on the 'Apply' button below. Eligibility: UK and EU nationals. Non-EU candidates will be considered, but funding will not cover overseas fees in full. Starting date is Sep 2014.
About the University of Edinburgh:
The School of Chemistry (www.chem.ed.ac.uk) has an extremely strong research reputation. The Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews have formed EaStCHEM, the leading Chemistry research school in Scotland, and the largest in the UK. EaStCHEM is 4th in the UK according to the power ranking in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008), sitting above Oxford and Cambridge. EaStCHEM researchers produced 75% of all world-leading outputs (4* maximum ranking) in Scotland. The University of Edinburgh is one of the largest and most successful universities in the UK with an international reputation as a center of excellence, and was ranked 6th in Europe according to the QS 2013 international university ranking.
The deadline for applications is 30 April 2014
