Postdoctoral Researcher in Organic Chemistry for the Synthesis of Ligands and Catalysts for CO₂ and Proton Electroreduction (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

The project will focus on the synthesis of ligands and catalysts to be used for the electroreduction of CO₂ and protons. Molecular catalysts offer several advantages, including well-defined structures and clearly identifiable active sites. These features enable a deep understanding of reduction mechanisms in homogeneous solution and provide opportunities for fine-tuning catalysts to improve their selectivity. Ligand design therefore plays a key role in enhancing catalyst efficiency, with the ultimate goal of approaching the remarkable performance of metalloenzymes.
The project will be developed within the SeRCO team (Synthesis and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry) at the Département de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR 5250), Université Grenoble Alpes, under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Darses (CRCN, CNRS).

Activity

The project will focus on a highly promising yet underexplored class of molecular catalysts: cobalt complexes featuring tetra-aza macrocyclic Schiff base ligands incorporating a pyridyldiimine (PDI) motif. The recruited candidate will be responsible for synthesizing new structures aimed at mimicking their microenvironment beyond the first coordination sphere of the metal center. The obtained molecules will need to be characterized using all standard analytical techniques, and the catalysts will be prepared in collaboration with the EMPRe team, also based at the Département de Chimie Moléculaire (DCM), which will conduct the electrochemical studies.

Your Profil

Skills

The candidate must hold a PhD in molecular chemistry, with strong theoretical knowledge and practical skills. They must have solid experience in organic synthesis, purification, and structural characterization, and experience in catalyst synthesis would be preferable. The recruited candidate must be rigorous, capable of proposing synthesis strategies, highly motivated, and hardworking. They must be able to work both as part of a team and independently with minimal supervision. The candidate must be fluent in either French or English, and at least one year of experience abroad will be a plus to demonstrate adaptability and communication skills.

Your Work Environment

This research work is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) under the acronym InnovMat. It will be carried out as part of a collaboration between the SeRCO (Synthesis and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry) and EMPRe (Molecular Electrochemistry and Redox Photochemistry) teams, both located within the Département de Chimie Moléculaire (DCM, UMR 5250) at Université Grenoble Alpes. The project builds on previous work developed by the EMPRe team, as well as on an ongoing collaboration between our two teams focusing, on one hand, on the synthesis of innovative new structures and, on the other, on electrocatalytic studies.
The Département de Chimie Moléculaire (DCM) is a joint CNRS/Université Grenoble Alpes research unit (UMR 5250) with nearly 80 permanent staff (researchers, teacher-researchers, ITA/IATOSS) and an equivalent number of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and master's students. Its research is organized around two interactive themes: chemistry for health and chemistry for nanoscience. The DCM is structured into 6 research teams, each with its own scientific focus, including the SeRCO team (led by Prof. Jean-François Poisson), which has strong expertise in organic synthesis and catalysis. The recruited candidate will work within the SeRCO team, under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Darses (CRCN, CNRS).

Constraints and risks

The recruited candidate will work with standard reagents and solvents in organic synthesis and must therefore follow standard handling procedures: wearing personal protective equipment (safety glasses, lab coat), working under a fume hood when necessary, etc. Working alone in the laboratory is not permitted. The recruited candidate must organize their schedule and leave in such a way that at least one other team member is always present in the workplace.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

From €3,041 gross per month, depending on experience and the current CNRS salary scale.

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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