PhD position in computational chemistry (reaction dynamics)

A PhD position is available at the Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Switzerland, jointly supervised by Prof. Stefan Willitsch and Prof. Markus Meuwly to study theoretically the reaction and collision dynamics of quantum-controlled cold molecules and ions. 

Project description

In recent years, impressive advances in the cooling and control of individual molecules have opened up new perspectives for studies of chemical reactions. In particular, recently developed “quantum-logic” methods enable the measurement and control of molecular quantum states with exquisite precision and thus the investigation of chemical reaction mechanisms and molecular collisions in unprecedented detail. The present PhD project is devoted to studying theoretically the reaction and collision dynamics of cold molecules and ions using classical and quantum scattering methods on ab-initio and machine-learned potential energy surfaces. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with experimentalists studying the reactions in the laboratory. Consequently, the position will be embedded in both the experimental group of Prof. Willitsch and the theory group of Prof. Meuwly. 

Further information 

For further information, please refer to recent publications, e.g.,

• A. Kilaj et al.,"Conformational and state-specific effects in reactions of 2,3-dibromobutadiene with Coulomb-crystallized calcium ions”, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 25 (2023), 13933–13945
• A. Vouté et al., "Charge transfer of polyatomic molecules in ion-atom hybrid traps: Stereodynamics in the millikelvin regime”, Phys. Rev. Res. (2023), in press (arXiv:2303.15327)
• A. D. Dörfler, P. Eberle, D. Koner, M. Tomza, M. Meuwly and S. Willitsch, "Long-range vs. short-range effects in cold molecular ion-neutral collisions: Charge exchange of Rb with N2+ and O2+”, Nat. Commun. 10 (2019), 5429
• M. Sinhal and S. Willitsch, "Molecular-ion quantum technologies", in "Photonic Quantum Technologies: Science and Applications", (Wiley-VCH 2023) (arXiv:2204.08814)

consult the groups’ websites at www.coldions.chemie.unibas.ch and https://quantitative-md-lab.org/  or contact Prof. Stefan Willitsch. 

Inquiries and applications

Inquiries and applications should be sent to Prof. Stefan Willitsch (stefan.willitsch@unibas.ch) and include a motivation letter, a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, transcripts of degree certificates and the contact details of at least two referees.