Organisation/Company University of Basque Country Department Advanced Polymers and Materials Research Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 13 Apr *********:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 7.5 Offer Starting Date 1 May **** Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number ********* Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Applications are invited for a 1+1-year Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position in organic synthesis, available from May **** (flexible), to work with Prof. Daniel Reta at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (EHU), Donostia, Spain.

The successful candidate will contribute to the ERC Starting Grant RadicalProtON, a project aimed at developing new strategies for charge-to-spin conversion in organic molecules, with the broader goal of gaining fundamental mechanistic insight into radical reactivity and biological function.

Title

Synthesis of Conjugated Donor-Acceptor Molecules for Charge-to-Spin Conversion.

Duration

1+1 years.

Start Date

Flexible, preferably May ****.

Location:

Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country EHU, Donostia, Spain.

Project Overview

Organic radicals offer unique magnetic and reactivity properties that can be harnessed in diverse ways, such as novel qubit implementations and valuable chemical transformations.

However, due to the reactive nature of radicals and the non-trivial chemistry required for their preparation, strict structural and electronic limitations are imposed on the available systems, limiting their potential applications.

In our group, we approach this problem from a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates computational modelling, advanced spectroscopic techniques and organic synthesis.

The overall aim of our research is to develop mechanisms that enable facile radical formation in simple reaction conditions, and applicable to a broad range of molecules, to fully harness the extraordinary properties of organic radicals.

Building on ongoing work and design principles developed within the group, the PDRA will take a leading role in the

synthesis of targeted donor–acceptor systems

and their transformation into open-shell species.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Design conjugated donor–acceptor molecules that promote charge-to-spin conversion

Develop and optimise synthetic routes to radical-precursor targets

Perform multi-step organic synthesis and full structural characterisation

Modify molecular frameworks to establish structure–property relationships

Study the chemical reactivity of generated radicals.

Process and manage data in line with FAIR principles

Prepare figures, reports, and manuscript drafts for peer-reviewed journals

Present research progress at group meetings and conferences

Support and mentor junior group members in synthetic and characterisation tasks

Research Environment and Training

:

You will join a young, dynamic, and highly motivated research group, working closely with group members specialising in quantum chemistry methods and EPR spectroscopy.

This close integration enables rapid feedback, continuous exchange of ideas, and strong validation of experimental results, maximising the scientific impact of the work.

The group benefits from a newly refurbished laboratory, including a recently installed Bruker EMX-Plus continuous-wave X-band EPR spectrometer.

Computational work is supported through access to Hyperion, hosted at the Donostia International Physics Centre (DIPC), one of the largest HPC facilities in Spain.

You Will Receive Mentoring In

Critical data analysis and interpretation

Scientific writing and peer-review publishing

Grant writing and project development

Oral communication and presentation skills

Project planning, time management, and leadership

Opportunities for networking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international secondments are actively encouraged.

How To Apply

Applications should be submitted

as a single PDF

by email to

Prof. Daniel Reta

Subject Line

RadicalProtON – Synthetic PDRA Application

Deadline

13 April ****

The Application Should Include

Narrative statement

describing your three most important publications, outlining your contributions and broader impact (maximum 1.5 pages)

Contact details for at least two academic referees

More information about the group and its research activities can be found on the group website .

Where to apply

E-mail ******

Requirements

Research Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required

PhD in Organic Chemistry.

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (C1 level or equivalent).

Preferred

Experience in the synthesis of molecules containing electron donor and acceptor groups.

Experience in boron chemistry.

Experience in protection and late stage deprotection of amines, amides or boron functionalities.

Experience working with superbases.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

Access to state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities

Opportunities for international research secondments

A stimulating, collaborative research environment

Strong support for career development and academic independence

Selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be notified of interview dates during the week commencing

13 April ****

Interviews will be held

online between ***** April ****

Candidates will be asked to give a

15-minute presentation (maximum 4 slides)

Covering

Their research trajectory

One project to which they made a significant contribution

How their expertise aligns with the RadicalProtON project and other research lines in the group

We are committed to equality and inclusion.

Reasonable adjustments will be made to support candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity, caring responsibilities, or other needs.

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