Postdoctoral Fellowship in Electrochemistry

* For candidates interested in apply for Scholarship in Nanobionics group (www.nanobionic.com.br). It is desirable candidates having experience in electroanalytical and electrochemistry methods (among them methods based on impedance spectroscopy).

The goals are to study fundaments related to chemical covalent attachment of molecules over conductive electrodes and the control of the properties of the nanoscale junction. This has been the state-of-art for molecular electronics and molecular electrochemistry. In the present call, selected candidate is going to measure time-dependent electronic features of nanoscale junctions in an electrochemical environment. Impedance methods will be supported by other complementary techniques such as Kelvin probe, scanning electrochemical microscopic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and computational simulations.

 

About the project

The essence of the problem is that it has been recently demonstrated that both capacitive and resistive phenomenon involved with electron dynamics throughout molecular-scale junctions embedded in an electrolyte environment are governed by mesoscopic principles. Although this is demonstrated, the mesoscopic physics of nanoelectronics and electrochemistry are marginally exploited up to now. Particularly it has been demonstrated (by our research group) that the electrochemistry of a two-dimensional molecular ensemble made of individual molecular point contacts is a particular case of a quantum resistance-capacitance circuit. The intrinsic electrical current exchange (resonant) between electrochemical accessible sites and the electrode is enlightened by considering quantum resistive-capacitive ensembles (a collection of parallel individual quantum point contacts) in such a way that the electron transfer rate, which governs the rate of electrochemical reactions, is given by k=G/C_μ-, wherein C_μ- is the electrochemical capacitance and G is the conductance associated with the quantum of conductance. Astonishingly this simple equation reconciles molecular electronics and electrochemistry and its usefulness has been demonstrated in accessing the energy for charging molecular redox switches (in the Fermi energy of the interface) and thus use these switches as energy transducers in molecular diagnostics, for instance. Additionally, the concepts have been shown to be applied in obtaining the conductance of DNA nanowires (in different chemically designed double strands) and finally in explaining the supercapacitance phenomenon of reduced graphene molecular layers. Even so, the use of specifically designed molecular switches and semiconductive (organic or inorganic) layers under different electric or optical estimulative conditions yet remains to be exploited in both fundamental and experimental features so this constitutes the main goal of the present call for those post-doctorate that would be able to support the continuing investigation and to find out alternative uses of molecular switches and nanoscale electrochemistry. 

 

Scholarship period

The period of validity covered by the scholarships is TWO year that can be extended to FOUR years.

 

Scholarship stipend

1. Scholarships' stipend will be BRL 7.373,10 monthly (free of tax);

2. The scholarship also includes an additional stipend for congress participation and travel to cooperate with third parties. 

 

Requisites for acceptance of applications

The scholarship candidate (after selection) shall send the following documents to the head researcher of the project:

a) Application form (signature may be scanned);

b) Photocopy of national identity card of your country or equivalent;

c) Photocopy of valid passport for foreign citizens not resident in Brazil;

d) Photocopy of official academic certificate including your academic title and grades obtained, together with dates;

e) Photocopy of academic degree or deposit made for the issuance of degree;

f) Applicant's updated résumé;

g) Report on your participation in previous research proposals;

h) 2 letters of recommendation;

i) Supporting documents of knowledge of English or Portuguese.

 

Evaluation and selection of candidates

The application will be evaluated by the research body, and the head researcher of the project shall provide a shortlist of a maximum of three candidates sorted by score, according to the following scale:

a) Academic record (30%);

b) Experience related with this applied proposal (electrochemistry methods) (20%);

c) Adaptation of their skills to specific requirements of this call (30%);

d) Letters of recommendation (20%). 

 

Admission

Beneficiaries must join the corresponding research body within the scheduled period as provided in the award decision. In the event that he/she does not join within the scheduled period, the scholarship will be cancelled, unless the beneficiary has been granted an adjournment period.

 

Temporary suspension of scholarship

Authorized voluntary suspensions shall not exceed 6 months over the whole period of scholarship and during such suspension period no stipend shall be paid. The period of suspension cannot be recovered.

If the holder does not return after the period of suspension has expired, it shall be understood that the beneficiary renounces the scholarship. 

UNESP, São Paulo State University

Institute of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Department

Personal Home Page Nanobionics Group: http://www.nanobionics.pro.br/.

More information about the fellowship is at: fapesp.br/oportunidades/2374.

Eligible destination country/ies for fellows: Brazil

Eligibility of fellows: country/ies of residence: All

Eligibility of fellows: nationality/ies: All