We currently have no open PhD or postdoctoral positions. Funded positions may open as funding becomes available. We are also happy to host externally funded researchers, including fellows supported through programs such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions or the Schrödinger Fellowship.

Open thesis projects:

Project 1: Understanding the reaction pathways of photochemical conversion of CO₂ using metal-organic frameworks

Background: The pressing need to address CO₂ accumulation in the atmosphere has catalyzed research into innovative carbon capture and conversion technologies. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their high surface area, tunability, and unique catalytic sites, emerge as promising candidates for CO₂ capture and subsequent photochemical conversion. Understanding the detailed reaction pathways and intermediates in these processes is crucial for optimizing MOF design and functionality. This project proposes to leverage in situ Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to investigate the reaction intermediates and pathways of CO₂ conversion in MOFs under both liquid and gas-phase conditions.
Objective: The goal of this project is to systematically elucidate the detailed reaction mechanisms and pathways involved in the photochemical conversion of CO₂ using porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with a focus on achieving a deeper understanding of the roles of sacrificial agents, reactants, and light in driving these processes through in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

Project 2: Better cameras to capture the moment: Exploring Photoactive Materials with Advanced Spectroscopy

Background: Imagine metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as tiny, intricate structures that can grab sunlight and use it to kickstart chemical reactions—kind of like how plants use sunlight in photosynthesis. These MOFs are exciting because they can potentially convert sunlight into useful energy or products. But there’s a catch: when we try to see how MOFs do their job, especially looking at the very first steps of the reaction, our current “cameras” (or scientific instruments) miss out on a lot of the action. They either can’t catch the fast-paced action or need us to modify the MOFs, which might change how they naturally behave.
Objective: We want to build a better “camera” that can capture these fast moments without missing a beat or needing to change anything about the MOFs. This project aims to develop a visible transient absorption spectroscopy setup in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration, specifically tailored for photoactive powders. This new setup, avoiding the need for suspensions, aims to precisely capture the early-stage interactions between light and MOFs, including the elusive excited states and reaction intermediates, without altering the MOFs’ natural state. The integration of a TAS-ATR flow cell within an existing nanosecond to millisecond TAS framework will facilitate this detailed analysis.