Postdoctoral Fellow - Wentz Lab

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 49,500 - 60,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Mentoring opportunities

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is offering a postdoctoral scholar position at Indiana University to develop new main-group heterocycles and polymers. The role involves independent research, mentoring, and a strong emphasis on publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The ideal candidate should have a Ph.D. in Chemistry, outstanding synthetic chemistry skills, and experience with spectroscopic techniques. A competitive salary of $55,000 is offered, with potential for extension based on performance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry by the start of the appointment.
• Strong publication record in synthetic chemistry and photophysics.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, both oral and written.

Responsibilities

• Manage own academic research project(s).
• Develop new main-group molecules and polymers and characterize their properties.
• Write up new results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their projects.

Skills

Synthetic chemistry

Photophysics

Leadership and communication skills

Inert-atmosphere manipulation

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Tools

NMR

IR

Mass spectrometry

X-ray crystallography

Job description

Position Summary

The Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts + Sciences at Indiana University consists of a well‑rounded research community with cutting‑edge expertise in a wide variety of modern disciplines including analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, and biochemistry.

Job Summary

The Wentz Lab at Indiana University is seeking to hire a postdoctoral scholar to develop the synthesis of new main‑group heterocycles, macrocycles, and polymers as functional materials. The goals of projects in the Wentz lab are to gain a fundamental understanding of how electronic structure and hierarchical structure influence bulk properties in main‑group materials. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in anaerobic organic and inorganic synthesis as well as experience in standard spectroscopic techniques (NMR, IR, mass spectrometry, X‑ray crystallography, UV‑vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy) necessary for characterizing new molecules and polymers.

The Wentz Lab is a collaborative, multidisciplinary laboratory environment, and the successful applicant will play a vital role within our emerging research team. The hired postdoc fellow will gain key leadership skills valuable for a career in academia or industry through mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students. Routine feedback and guidance for postdoctoral fellows will also be provided by Prof. Wentz in group meetings as well as individual meetings to ensure progress towards their future career goals are met.

Responsibilities

• Manage own academic research project(s).
• Achieve research objectives by developing new main‑group molecules and polymers and characterizing their properties.
• Write up new results for publication in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Maintain excellent record keeping through lab notebook documentation of experiments.
• Maintain equipment and instrumentation in the laboratory.
• Assist with setting up new instrumentation and other equipment purchased.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their projects and teach how to use new instrumentation.
• Contribute ideas for new research projects.
• Stay informed of new literature related to academic research project(s).
• Present new results and systematic literature reviews in weekly group meetings.

Basic Qualifications – Required

• Ph.D. in Chemistry by the start of the appointment.
• Strong publication record in synthetic chemistry and photophysics.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, both oral and written.

Basic Qualifications – Preferred

• Experience with inert‑atmosphere manipulation of air‑ and moisture‑sensitive chemicals and analytical techniques for characterizing the newly synthesized molecules and polymers (NMR, IR, mass spec, single crystal XRD, GPC, UV‑vis, PL, etc.).
• Deep understanding of the chemistry of the main‑group elements.
• Experience with DFT or quantum‑chemical calculations.

Additional Qualifications

No additional qualifications listed.

Department Contact for Questions

Prof. Wentz, Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, [e-mail]

Salary and Rank

$55,000

Special Instructions

The initial appointment for this position will be for 12 months. Additional 12‑month extension will be available based on performance. A competitive salary along with a benefits package will be offered.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit: 1) a cover letter, 2) CV, 3) a one‑page research plan that reflects the candidate’s research interest relevant to the job ad, and 4) contact information for three references to the following URL: http://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/32618. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.

For Best Consideration Date

04/10/2026

Expected Start Date

06/01/2026

Posting Number

IU-101527-2026