Martin Elsner

PhD position in Analytical Chemistry / Physical Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany . The Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry is recruiting for a doctoral project on advancing stable isotope analysis to study the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalytic systems with kinetic isotope effect measurements . The work combines analytical chemistry , physical chemistry , photocatalysis , compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) , and mechanistic reaction studies. The project aims to develop highly precise measurements of stable isotope ratios at natural abundance in organic substances, such as tertiary alcohols, and to use kinetic isotope effects to identify rate-determining steps and competing reaction mechanisms. In collaboration with the Chair of Physical Chemistry, the successful candidate will help characterize photocatalytic reactions under controlled conditions and contribute to the development of competitive materials for practical applications. Typical tasks include planning and conducting photocatalytic experiments for isotope effect measurements, developing analytical protocols for target compounds, varying reaction conditions to probe isotope effects, and synthesizing labelled substances for mechanistic elucidation. The project also offers opportunities to present at international conferences and publish in leading journals. The doctoral researcher will join the TUM Graduate School. Eligibility: an above-average master’s degree in chemistry, strong interest in experimental research, willingness to learn new techniques, interdisciplinary teamwork, and very good English communication skills. Experience with catalytic reaction systems, mass spectrometry, or gas chromatography is desirable. Funding: fully funded, 67% TV-L E13. Location: Germany. Start: immediately. How to apply: email your CV, degree certificates, transcript of records, motivation letter, and possible references to Prof. Martin Elsner ([email protected]). More information is available on the TUM research pages and the job portal link provided in the post.

Doctoral/PhD position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Analytical Chemistry / Physical Chemistry , focused on advancing stable isotope analysis to study the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalytic systems using kinetic isotope effect measurements. The project combines compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) , reaction mechanism elucidation, and photocatalysis. The successful candidate will conduct and plan photocatalytic experiments for isotope effect measurements, develop analytical protocols for dedicated target compounds, systematically vary reaction conditions to probe isotope effects, and synthesize labeled substances for complementary mechanistic studies. The work is carried out in collaboration with the Chair of Physical Chemistry. This opportunity is especially relevant for students interested in chemistry , physical chemistry , analytical methods , reaction kinetics , mass spectrometry , gas chromatography , and environmentally relevant catalytic systems. The project aims to build a molecular-level understanding of photocatalytic reactions and support the development of competitive materials for practical applications. Funding: the position is fully funded and paid at 67% TV-L E13 . The position is available immediately. The candidate will join the TUM Graduate School and may present results at international conferences and publish in leading journals. Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold an above-average master's degree in chemistry, have strong experimental research interest, be willing to learn new techniques, and be able to work across disciplines. Very good English communication skills are required; experience with catalytic reaction systems, mass spectrometry, or gas chromatography is preferred. How to apply: email your CV, Master's and Bachelor's certificates, transcript of records, motivation letter, and names of possible references to Prof. Martin Elsner ( [email protected] ). See the linked TUM research pages for additional background information.