Alexandra Brumberg

Alexandra Brumberg’s group at Drexel University is recruiting for two chemistry-related openings: a postdoctoral researcher and a PhD student. Postdoc: The project focuses on structure/property relationships governing emission in hybrid metal halide phosphors. The work involves design and construction of optical instrumentation and the use of ultrafast optical spectroscopy, including transient absorption and time-correlated single photon counting, to study emission lifetimes and mechanisms. Applicants should have prior experience designing and building optical instrumentation for spectroscopy and/or microscopy. Experience in inorganic or hybrid materials synthesis is not required, though related interest or background may help. PhD student: The graduate project centers on the structure and dynamics of semiconductor nanoparticles. The work combines synthesis and spectroscopy, including Schlenk line synthesis, UV-visible absorption, FTIR, NMR, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultrafast optical spectroscopy to probe carrier dynamics. Competitive applicants will have undergraduate research experience; familiarity with nanoparticles or materials chemistry is a plus. Applicants must have a chemistry background, or equivalent coursework in physical chemistry and inorganic chemistry/solid-state materials/physics if their degree is in another field. Funding: The PhD position is fully funded for five years. Most students serve as teaching assistants in both fall and spring semesters during the PhD. No funding details were stated for the postdoc. Application: The postdoc is currently being handled by email; send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] with the subject line “2027 Postdoc App.” The PhD application deadline is December 1, 2026, via the Chemistry PhD program application link.