A Ph.D.

Scholarship, supported the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and

Nanotechnology, has become available in the Department of Chemistry at the
University of Otago. The position involves contributing to a project titled
Coordination polymer nanocrystals: Rational design for active function, and will be
supervised by Dr. Carla Meledandri.
Coordination polymer nanocrystals are an exciting new class of materials with
remarkable properties and largely untapped potential. The aim of the project is to
gain knowledge for the rational design of molecular complexes that will
subsequently be used to prepare new nanocrystals of metal-organic frameworks,
with specific chemical and physical properties, and therefore function, for desired
applications. The nanoMOFs will be prepared through colloidal-based synthetic
methods, following a thorough, fundamental investigation into the physical
properties, surface composition and mechanism of growth of a class of coordination
polymer nanocrystals recently developed by our team. Also of interest is the
development of multi-compositional nanocrystals, with the materials taking the
form of either hierarchical structures and/or co-crystals.
The successful candidate will have a B.Sc. Honours or M.Sc. degree (or equivalent)
in chemistry, and an excellent command of written and spoken English. Applications
from international as well as domestic students are welcomed. Knowledge and
experience in colloidal and surface chemistry techniques, nanocrystal synthesis and
related characterisation techniques, and/or synthesis and characterisation of metalorganic frameworks would be an advantage. The tenure of the scholarship is for
three years, and it is desired that the successful candidate would take up the
position as soon as possible. Review of applications will begin in late Nov 2016, and
continue until the position is filled.
The student will receive a stipend of NZ$27,000 per annum in addition to course
fees. Funding is provided by The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and
Nanotechnology.
Applications should include a full CV and the names/contact details of at least two
referees. Applications should be sent (preferably by email) ASAP to: Dr. Carla
Meledandri, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin,
New Zealand;