Laboratory for Advanced Materials
CHeMoUK / LAM – lab exercise
Students participating in the CHeMoUK summer school tried out some interesting experiments this week. In the LAM designed and sponsored lab exercise participants prepared and tested their own solar cells using some commonly available materials, such as pigments extracted from blackberries.
LAM takes part in the Summer school for high school students – CHeMoUK
Laboratory for Advanced Materials is now a partner of the Summer school – CHeMoUK. During the first week of July students will have an opportunity to learn more about research in the field of novel materials during a lecture and a discussion led by the head of the LAM, Dr. Milan Sýkora. The participants will also take part in an interesting practical lab exercise, sponsored by LAM. More details about the CHeMoUK program and this year’s summer school can be found here:
Multiple Postdoctoral Positions in Laboratory for Advanced Materials
We are seeking multiple motivated postdoctoral researchers in Chemistry, Materials Science or related area to conduct state-of-the-art research in recently established Laboratory for Advanced Materials (LAM) at Comenius University (CU) in Bratislava, Slovakia. LAM is a European Union and CU co-funded facility with focus on development, characterization and application of novel materials including, inorganic and organic nanostructures, complex assemblies and clusters, narrow-bandgap perovskites, etc. There are currently two open positions:
Position 1: Inorganic Nanocrystals Synthesis. Desired skills:
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Strong background in colloidal synthesis of chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals
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Experience with preparation of semiconductor -semiconductor, -metal assemblies, core-shell structures, giant quantum dots, quantum rods with metal tips or similar structures.
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Experience with shape and crystalline-phase control, preparation of 2D nanoplatelets, TMDCs or similar structures
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Experience with basic structural (e.g., TEM) and electronic characterization (e.g., UV VIS, emission spectroscopy) of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals
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Experience with studies of catalytic and/or photocatalytic chemical reactions is a plus, but it is not essential
Position 2: Organic Synthesis. Desired skills:
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Strong background in organic chemical synthesis involving aromatic condensations particularly synthesis of PAHs including purification and product separation
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Ability to execute complex, multistep organic syntheses and product characterization independently
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Strong background in MALDI-MS and experience with other methods of characterization of organic compounds, such as: NMR, FTIR, GPC, Raman Spectroscopy
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Experience with electrochemistry, UVVIS absorption and emission spectroscopy
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Experience with fabrication of (opto-)electronic devices using organic/organometallic compounds is beneficial, but not essential
The candidates for both positions must:
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Be fluent in English (written and spoken)
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Have completed PhD in a relevant area of science or engineering.
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Have demonstrated record of scientific research achievement (through publications, citations, and presentations) in one or more areas mentioned above.
Where You Will Work. Located in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, Comenius University is the premier Slovak university. LAM is located on the campus of Comenius University in the recently constructed Comenius University Science Park https://cusp.uniba.sk/en/. By joining LAM, you will be participating in multidisciplinary research including theory, materials synthesis, characterization and development of applications. You will have an opportunity to interact/collaborate with researchers from the Comenius University, Slovak Technical University and Slovak academy of Sciences as well as other research teams within the EU and US.
Equal Opportunity. Comenius University is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regards to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation.
Compensation. The financial compensation/salary will be at the EU level, depending on experience.
Contact information: If you are interested in any of the positions, please contact Milan Sykora (sykoram011gmail.com) directly about this position. A cover letter and resume are required.
The president of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science visited Bratislava
The Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University received a visit from the president of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science (IAQMS), Prof. Odile Eisenstein. The main goal of IAQMS is to provide a forum for international contact and collaboration and a periodical evaluation of the main developments, advances and promising directions of research in the broad field of its interest - the application of quantum mechanics to the study of molecules and macromolecules. It was established in Menton, France in 1967 and among it’s members there are 14 laureates of the Nobel prize.
On December 14th Prof. Eisenstein gave a lecture about her research involving chemical shifts in NMR spectra of organometallic compounds. NMR is without any doubt one of the most versatile methods for characterization of chemical species. It is used widely in all domains of chemistry and biology. Prof. Eisenstein showed, that by combining the information derived from solid state NMR with simple molecular orbitals analysis it is possible to understand specific reactions associated with transition metal complexes.
Prof. Odile Eisenstein currently performs her research at the Institut Charles Gerhardt, University Montpellier and at the Hylleraas centre for Quantum Molecular Science, University of Oslo. In her scientific work she focuses on theoretical chemistry, reaction mechanisms, organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis.
RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. will be appointed as a head of the Laboratory for Advanced Materials
Laboratory for advanced materials (LAM), established 1.10.2018 as a part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences will be lead by RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD., as of 1.2.2019. The head of LAM (the ERA-chair position within the LAMatCU-H2020-WIDESPREAD-03-2017-ERAchairs project) was chosen in an international selection process from several other candidates.
RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. is an internationally recognized expert in the area of material chemistry. The results of his research were published in prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals, for example Nature, J. Am. Chem. Soc. and ACS Nano and are highly cited. He has also contributed to the development of eight patent applications, all in the area of materials science. His research includes number of important advances/breakthroughs in the field of materials science.
RNDr. Milan Sykora, PhD. obtained his master’s degree in chemistry at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava. He received his PhD. in chemistry from Marquette University, Milwaukee in USA and later moved to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he performed a postdoctoral research. Prior to his return to Slovak republic he held a position as a permanent technical staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico, USA. As the head of LAM, he will establish a research program in the field of advanced materials. Particular focus will be on materials for applications in energy conversion and storage, optoelectronics, electronics and related applications.