Careers Job Description
General Description
The Ulijn lab (www.ulijnlab.com) in the Nanoscience Initiative at CUNY’s Advanced Science Research Center (asrc.gc.cuny.edu) is seeking to recruit two highly motivated and independent postdoctoral scholars to research systems-based design of biomolecular modalities and materials, following from recent research in this area1-3. The overall objective of this project is to understand how complex mixtures of molecules acquire functionality, and to repurpose this understanding to create new nanotechnology that is inspired by living systems with features such as chemical recognition and catalysis, energy conversion and motility. The combination of complexity science, systems chemistry, biophysical chemistry and nanoscience could ultimately produce breakthrough materials and modalities with diverse applications in biomedicine, green technology and more. The research is cross-disciplinary and combines supramolecular self-assembly, systems chemistry, molecular dynamics simulations, analytical chemistry (with a focus on LC-MS quantification of complex mixtures), and various imaging techniques. The postdocs are expected to be experts in their own fields, and collaborate with researchers with complementary research skills at the ASRC and elsewhere.
1. Piotrowska, R. et al. Mechanistic insights of evaporation-induced actuation in supramolecular crystals. Nature Materials 20, 403-409 (2021).
2. Lampel, A. et al. Polymeric peptide pigments with sequence-encoded properties. Science 356, 1064-1068 (2017).
3. Kumar, M. et al., Amino Acid-Encoded Biocatalytic Self-Assembly Enables the Formation of Transient Conducting Nanostructures, Nat. Chem., 10, 696-703 (2018).
Other Duties
In addition to the General Duties, responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Conducts experimental research in the area of systems chemistry, peptide nanotechnology, supramolecular materials;
- Prepares papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals and patents and present lectures at conferences;
- Collaborates with internal and external academic colleagues, and participates in knowledge exchange activities to establish research links with industry;
- Assists in laboratory management, laboratory maintenance, and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students;
- Conducts individual and/or collaborative research, and contributes to the development of new research methods and ideas, giving direction to the project;
- Assists in the development and planning of research objectives for specific projects, and contributes to the development of research objectives as part of the wider research program within the group, with guidance from the academic supervisor, as appropriate;
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The applicant should have:
- PhD in experimental or theoretical chemistry, materials science, bionanotechnology, biophyscis or related fields.
- Strong hands-on experience in computational or experimental research in peptide-based functional materials, systems chemistry, self-assembly, stimuli-responsive materials.
- Previous experience in communicating research results at conferences and through publication in quality peer-reviewed journals.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and AccrualsAbout the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) was established as a not-for-profit educational corporation chartered by the State of New York in 1963. RFCUNY supports CUNY faculty and staff in identifying and obtaining external support (pre-award) from government and private sponsors and is responsible for the administration of all such funded programs (post-award).
RFCUNY stands between CUNY’s principal investigators (PIs) and the sponsors who support them and strives to fulfill its essential responsibilities to both groups. Working closely with individual PIs and Grants Officers on the campuses, RFCUNY oversees employment, accounting, audit, reporting, purchasing, and special responsibilities that include management of a planned giving program; liaison with governmental agencies and foundations; negotiation of agreements; facility construction and renovation; protection and commercialization of intellectual property; and compliance with applicable standards in research involving human subjects, animal care, environmental and radiological safety, and conflicts of interest.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Key Features
Nanoscience Initiative
Full Time
Depends on Qualifications
Jul 26, 2021 (Or Until Filled)