The Group of Molecular Electronics in collaboration with the Group of Surface Chemistry at Curtin Chemistry, Perth, invites applications for a PhD position on electrostatic catalysis. The PhD stipend is funded by an Australian Research Council 2019-2021 Discovery Project (Electric fields as a chemical reagent – Electrostatic catalysis in diffusive systems) and the project seeks to explore chemical catalysis of non-redox reactions by an electric field. We have recently demonstrated the first experimental links between the polarity of an external static electric field and chemical rates – questioning our understanding of chemical reactivity and transforming our view of catalysis (Nature 2016, 531, 88; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 766; ACS Nano 2018, 12, 8071). One of the received wisdoms is that a catalyst is a specific molecule, engineered for a specific reaction. A specific catalyst can in principle be replaced by a generic electric field stimulus, enabling cleaner and cheaper opportunities that current technologies cannot fulfil. Cutting-edge techniques in surface chemistry, electrochemistry and scanning probe techniques will be used and developed throughout the project.

How to apply: Please direct enquiries and requests for further information to Dr Simone Ciampi (simone.ciampi@curtin.edu.au) or Dr Nadim Darwish (nadim.darwish@curtin.edu.au). Interested applicants should include a copy of their CV and a brief statement of their research interests in an initial correspondence. Details on the formal application procedure can be found at https://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/international/.  Further information on our research activities and outputs are at:

 http://www.molecularwidgets.com/publications.html

Applicants should be highly motivated and have an honours or master degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, materials science or other relevant discipline. Applicants do not need to be Australian citizens. Basic electrochemistry knowledge and experience in SPM (AFM or STM) is preferred, but not strictly required. The PhD stipend at Curtin is fixed at approximately 28000 AUD per year (tax free).