Job description
Metal and semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are currently under investigation as future building blocks for novel materials with tunable magnetic, electrical, and optical properties. NCs can self-assemble into two and three dimensional structures. The properties of these structures are directly related to the NC size and size-dispersion, the distance between NCs, and the (often organic) capping layer which prevents the NCs from aggregation during colloidal synthesis. Although experimentally it is possible to have a reasonable control over the formation of these materials, it is still an enormous challenge to fabricate them uniformly on a large length scale. Although most research in this area is focused on experiments (e.g. synthesis and characterization of electrical and optical properties), important microscopic details such as selective adsorption and melting of capping molecules, the surface structure of a single NC, and the potential of mean force between NCs in solution cannot be measured directly at present. Therefore, computer simulations that provide a fundamental understanding of interactions between individual NCs, capping layer, and the solvent are the missing key ingredients that will ultimately lead to a better understanding and control of NC materials. To this end, we aim at computer simulations to understand (1) the effect of the capping layer on the surface structure of NCs in solution, (2) adsorption of organic capping molecules on the facets of NCs, and (3) coarse-graining procedures to obtain effective interactions between different NCs which allows for quantitative comparison with experimental assembly studies.

Qualifications
We are looking for two highly motivated chemists or physicists with either a MSc or equivalent (for the PhD student position) or a PhD (for the postdoc position) degree. A background in statistical mechanics and/or numerical simulations would be an advantage.

Terms of employment

• For the PhD student: We offer a full-time position for four years duration. Gross monthly salary increases from 1877 to 2407 euro in year 4. The position carries a small teaching load (of about 0,1 fte).
• For the Postdoc position: We offer a full-time position for two years duration. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 3472 euro gross per month (scale 10 Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities), depending on your level of experience.

Further details
Interested? Please contact Dr.Ir. T.J.H. Vlugt (tel. +31 30 253 2417, t.j.h.vlugt@phys.uu.nl) for more specific information. See also http://www.chem.uu.nl/cmi and http://www.phys.uu.nl/~vlugt
NWO-VIDI grant of Dr.Ir. T.J.H. Vlugt

How to apply
Applications, including curriculum vitae, a list of at least two references (with full address and e-mail contact info) and a description of experience relevant to the research project, should be sent, before the First of October 2005, to: Personnel Department, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands, quoting vacancy number 64.515 or submitted by e-mail to secr.peno@chem.uu.nl

:::Source of this announcement.