About the role
A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available for an outstanding inorganic/organometallic chemist to undertake research in the field of copper(I) catalysis.
This is following the award of an EPSRC New Investigator Award to the University of Bath entitled "Carbon Dioxide Activation and Valorisation at Copper-Phosphorus Bonds". You will work in the Liptrot group, whose interest span main group chemistry, copper(I) catalysis and synthesis for materials science. The project will focus on the generation and exploitation of copper(I) complexes in catalytic reactions. The role is available from November 2025 to February 2027, and has funding available to support training and travel opportunities.
About you
We are seeking an exceptional postdoctoral candidates to perform research in the general area of synthetic and mechanistic main group and group 11 chemistry. We are particularly interested in candidates with an interest in following up our recent report of a compound containing a copper-magnesium bond (R. A. Jackson, N. J. Evans, D. J. Babula, T. M. Horsley Downie, R. S. C. Charman, S. E. Neale, M. F. Mahon, D. J. Liptrot; Nucleophilicity at copper(-I) in a compound with a Cu–Mg bond; Nature Communications, 2025, 16, 1101.).
The successful candidate will be expected to synthesise a range of copper(I)-main group complexes, perform mechanistic analyses, draft papers and supervise Postgraduate and Masters project students. All new compounds will be analysed by a combination of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and mass spectrometry.
Completion of a PhD in a relevant area, and previous experience in the synthesis and characterisation of highly air- and moisture-sensitive organometallics is essential. A record of accomplishment of peer-reviewed publications is desirable.
Further information
This role is offered on a full time (1 FTE) fixed term basis until February 2027.
For an informal discussion relating to this vacancy, please contact Dr David Liptrot (dl260@bath.ac.uk), or Dr Marina Uzelac (mu326@bath.ac.uk)
Deadline: Sunday 19 October 2025
For more information and to apply visit https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?ref=AP13080
