Research support technician 2026/CP/236

University of A Coruña; España; Presencial; EUR 26.000 - 38.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

University of A Coruña invites applications for a New Bispyridinium Molecular Switches Towards Controlled Chemical Function in Aqueous Media position. The role is a First Stage Researcher (R1) under a temporary contract, with a 35-hour workweek at the QUIMOLMAT 5 Laboratory (CICA).

The project runs through 2023–2026 with a focus on modular synthesis of pyridine-based building blocks and self-assembly into photovermellogens and colorboxes.

Formación

• Academic qualification: Degree or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.
• Master’s degree in Chemistry (advantageous).
• Work experience in a research field related to the tasks to be performed (advantageous).
• Experience with structural determination techniques (NMR/UV–Vis/IR/MS) is desirable.

Responsabilidades

• Stage 1: provide technical support in synthesis of linear photovermellogen systems with acid–base and photochemical responsiveness.
• Stage 2: support development of photocolorboxes in macrocycles/cryptands for functionalization.
• Stage 3: assist in applicability studies evaluating receptors for drugs, neurotransmitters, and environmental compounds.

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Herramientas

NMR spectroscopy

UV-Vis

IR spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry

HPLC-MS

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company University of A Coruña Research Field Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 15 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? European Union / Next Generation EU Reference Number 2026/CP/236 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Grant/funding reference: PID2022-137361NB-I00

Job title: New Bispyridinium Molecular Switches Towards Controlled Chemical Function in Aqueous Media

Research line / Scientific-technical services: Materials and molecular chemistry.

Grant/funding period: START: 01/09/2023 END: 31/12/2026

Centre of Principal Researcher: CICA

PURPOSE OF CONTRACT: Collaborator on activities related to the project/agreement stated.

JOB LOCATION AND SCHEDULE: QUIMOLMAT 5 Laboratory (CICA). Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

a) Tasks to be carried out

The overall objective of the project is the design and study of molecular receptors with dual responsiveness to light and pH stimuli, contributing to expanding the possibilities of functional control in biologically relevant media.

Three specific goals are envisaged:

Stage 1. Technical support in the synthesis of linear photovermellogen systems with the ability to respond simultaneously to acid–base and photochemical stimuli, taking advantage of the E/Z isomerization of C=N bonds and the modulation of pKa values around physiological pH.

Stage 2. Technical support in the development of photocolorboxes: implementation of photovermellogen in macrocycles and cryptands, exploring their structural diversity and dual-stimulus properties, with possibilities for further functionalization through metal coordination or peptide coupling.

Stage 3. Technical support in applicability studies: evaluation of photocolorboxes as molecular receptors for compounds of biomedical interest (drugs, neurotransmitters) and environmental relevance (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), studying their thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of complexation and the effect of stimulation on recognition processes. The methodology proposed to achieve these objectives includes the modular synthesis of building blocks based on pyridines and related heterocycles, and their self-assembly into photovermellogens and colorboxes. The resulting compounds will be studied using advanced structural characterization techniques (multidimensional NMR, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis, IR and fluorescence spectroscopies), photoisomerization studies and pKa determination, together with thermodynamic and kinetic analyses by ITC, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT-D calculations.

b) Justification of the contract duration

The proposed duration of the contract is considered sufficient to carry out the technical research support tasks assigned and described in the planning outlined above

Academic qualification: Degree or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Selection criteria

• Academic qualification: Degree or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (maximum 3 points; minimum academic record grade of 7.5 out of 10). Other qualifications (0 points).
• Master’s degree in Chemistry (maximum 2 points; 2 points × average grade). Other qualifications (0 points).
• Work experience in a research field related to the tasks to be performed (maximum 3 points; 1 point per year).
• Experience in the use of techniques for structural determination, as appropriate and available in each case, such as NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹H–¹H and ¹H–¹³C), UV–Vis, IR, mass spectrometry and HPLCMS (maximum 2 points; 1 point per year).
• Interview (up to 2 points; the interview will be conducted provided that the minimum academic record requirement is met and that the difference in score between the highest-ranked candidates, excluding the interview, is less than 2 points).

Minimum score to be awarded the contract: 6 points.

The position may be declared vacant if no candidate scores above 6 points.

A waiting list will be drawn up with those candidates who reached the minimum score set by the call, not counting the interview score

Selection process