Postdoctoral Researcher (Chemistry) (amherst)

Job Description

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Postdoctoral Researcher position. The Postdoctoral Researcher is a full-time, one-year term position, starting at $50,000 per year - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst’s distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The postdoctoral researcher will perform independent research on the synthesis of catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters. The exact project area will fall within the broader themes of the Durr Lab and will be determined collaboratively between Professor Durr and the postdoctoral researcher. A primary goal of this research project is to support the postdoctoral researcher's growth as an independent researcher and will ideally produce a peer-reviewed publication.

The postdoctoral researcher will also be expected to train and mentor undergraduate students in the Durr lab and may potentially assist in the instruction of either general chemistry or inorganic chemistry courses. These tasks are viewed as professional development opportunities for the postdoctoral researcher’s training as a teacher-scholar. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Research Support

• Carry out inorganic chemistry research projects in the Durr Research Laboratory

• Read scientific literature and help develop new research directions

• Analyze data and produce high-quality figures summarizing work

• Train undergraduate students in proper laboratory techniques

• Ensure the research lab runs safely

• Train undergraduate students in data analysis

• Maintain laboratory inventory and assist in ordering supplies

• Instructional Support

• Attend lectures for either a general chemistry or inorganic chemistry course for one semester

• Hold weekly office hours or discussion sections to gain experience helping students in small groups

• Assist with grading

• Deliver a small number of guest lectures in courses to gain experience as a lecturer

Qualifications:

Required

• PhD

• 3 to 5 years of related experience

• Demonstrated interest and skills in carrying out independent research

• Excellent verbal and written communication and organizational skills

• Ability to work collaboratively and the desire to train and support undergraduate students new to research

• Experience with wet chemistry techniques

• Experience with analytical techniques in synthetic chemistry/polymer chemistry: NMR, x-ray crystallography, GPC, MALDI, DSC, etc.

• Experience with data analysis using programming (Matlab, python, R, Mathematica, etc)

• Some teaching experience in either general chemistry or physical chemistry

Preferred

• Some teaching experience in either general chemistry or inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume, cover letter, and the names of three professional references online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.