Location
University of Warwick Campus, Coventry
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Department
Chemistry
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Position Type
Fixed Term
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Duration
Fixed term contract for 30 months
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Salary
£35,608 to £46,049 per annum
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About the Role
Informal Queries
For informal queries, please contact Dr Mark Greenhalgh (Associate Professor) at
[email protected]
Flexible Working
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis (e.g. job share), despite the position being advertised as full-time.
Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research associate to work as part of a team under the supervision of Mark Greenhalgh in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick on enantioselective chalcogen bonding catalysis. This post is currently advertised for 30 months but there is a possibility that this may be extended for an additional 6 months.
Chalcogen bonding is an unconventional non-covalent interaction that arises between Lewis acidic chalcogen-containing molecules (S, Se, Te) and Lewis bases. Chalcogen bonding provides similar binding energies to hydrogen bonding; however, it is proposed that chalcogen bonding differs in its fundamental origin, potentially providing advantages in substrate selectivity when harnessed for applications in molecular recognition and catalysis. There has been significant recent interest in applying chalcogen bonding in catalysis, however the development of enantioselective variants is currently underexplored.
The project will build upon promising preliminary results to design and apply chiral chalcogen bond donors as enantioselective catalysts. A range of enantioselective transformations will be explored, including conjugate additions, cycloadditions and anion binding catalysis. The scope and limitations of the methods will be explored, with a particular focus on comparing our work to established methods to demonstrate examples where chalcogen bonding catalysis may provide a genuine advantage.
In this role, you will help lead the research group and work with them to generate new research ideas. You will have the opportunity to develop your written communication skills through the preparation of results for publication and your oral skills through dissemination of your work at internal and external seminars/conferences. You will also have the opportunity to supervise project students, be involved in departmental teaching activities, and engage in continuous professional development
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About You
We are seeking a motivated and talented applicant with experience in synthetic organic chemistry. The successful candidate will need to be able to work well both individually and collaboratively as part of a team Experience of working on (enantioselective) catalytic methodologies is desirable.
For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the
PhD Status
If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum).
Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).
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About the Department
The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving and inclusive community of students, academics, researchers, and professional services staff.
Our fundamental research pushes boundaries across all major fields of chemistry, while our applied work - delivered through close partnership with the wider scientific community and industry - addresses major global challenges, breakthroughs in health, solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.
We are proudly outward-facing, and our community is recognised as one of the strongest in the UK. Our extensive national and international relationships create an outstanding environment for collaboration, innovation, and career development. From polymers and catalysts to computation, advanced instrumentation and cutting-edge materials, our research sits at the forefront of the discipline.
We are highly interdisciplinary, having long-standing partnerships with the School of Life Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Physics, Manufacturing, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working and learning environment in which diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are recognised, respected, and valued. Our Athena Swan Silver Award reflects our ongoing efforts to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion into our culture, practices, teaching, and research, and our commitment to supporting the career progression of all staff.
Explore our webpages to learn more about the Department of Chemistry’s research and teaching, industry-leading facilities, and the impact of our work.
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About the University
We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK.* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.**
Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/.
- World University Ranking 2026, Complete University Guide 2026
** Research Excellence Framework 2021
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How to Apply
Closing Deadline: Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)
To apply, please click APPLY below and submit an application form by the closing deadline.
You will be asked to include a CV and Cover Letter. These documents should:
Outline employment, education history (including your most recent employment), details of any awards, publications, conference presentations, etc and any other relevant experience (e.g. volunteering, extracurricular).
Demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the /*generated inline style */
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
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