Postdoctoral Associate in Photocatalysis and Green Chemistry
Gilbertson Laboratory at Duke University, https://gilbertsongroup.pratt.duke.edu/
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Gilbertson Laboratory invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral associate to advance a green chemistry approach to recovering critical metals from technology waste. We seek a researcher motivated to connect fundamentals of chemistry to developing an approach that reduce reliance on concentrated acids, bases, and other hazardous reagents.
Research focus and responsibilities
The project examines how photocatalyst chemistry, feedstock composition, and solvent properties jointly control metal liberation from solid matrices and subsequent metal fate. The postdoctoral associate will help develop and lead research in the following connected areas:
- Synthesize and characterize carbon nitride photocatalysts to link composition, bonding, and electronic structure with the generation and fate of photogenerated electrons, holes, and reactive oxygen species.
- Design controlled kinetic experiments to identify the redox pathways that enable metal liberation from chemically distinct solids and determine how catalyst and feedstock chemistry affect reaction rates and selectivity.
- Investigate solvent effects on interfacial reactions, reactive species behavior, and metal speciation. Distinguish release from the original feedstock from subsequent complexation, precipitation, colloid formation, adsorption, or redeposition.
- Integrate thermodynamic and chemical speciation predictions with kinetic measurements, solid-phase characterization, and metal mass balances to identify favorable reaction conditions and guide experimental and reactor design.
The postdoctoral associate will be expected to lead peer-reviewed publications, presentations in conference and workshop forums, collaborate with other researchers, and mentor graduate and/or undergraduate students. The appointment will provide opportunities to develop independent research questions within the project, build grantsmanship skills, and pursue professional development aligned with the individual’s career goals.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in chemistry, chemical or environmental engineering, materials science, or a closely related field by the start of the appointment. A strong experimental background in photochemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, materials chemistry, or a related area is required, along with the ability to formulate mechanistic hypotheses, design controlled experiments, and interpret quantitative data. Excellent scientific writing, clear oral communication in English, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are essential.
Additional relevant experience
Experience in one or more of the following areas is particularly relevant. Applicants are not expected to have expertise in every area:
- Photocatalyst synthesis and characterization of composition, surface chemistry, electronic structure, or charge-carrier behavior, using methods such as XPS, UV–vis NIR, photoluminescence, or microscopy.
- Reactive species measurements, chemical probe assays, or mechanistic studies of redox and interfacial reactions.
- Metal analysis by ICP-MS or ICP-OES, solid-phase characterization, and mass balances across dissolved, colloidal, and solid fractions.
- Solution chemistry, solvent effects, thermodynamic or speciation modeling, or development of photocatalytic reactors.
Appointment and application process
The initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of extension. Salary will be commensurate with experience. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2026 and is negotiable. Application review will begin October 1, 2026 and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Application materials
In addition to applicants’ prior accomplishments, I would like to learn what motivates them, how they approach unfamiliar problems, and what they hope to contribute to and learn from the Gilbertson Laboratory.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Cover letter of up to two pages. Please introduce yourself and explain why this postdoctoral opportunity interests you. Describe the experience you would bring to the project, including your contributions to experimental design, methods development, or mechanistic interpretation. Discuss what draws you to the connections among photocatalysis, green chemistry, and critical metal recovery; an example of how you approached an unfamiliar research problem or worked across disciplines; and something about your motivations or working style that we would not learn from your CV.
- One-page career development statement. Describe the career you hope to build, the capabilities or experiences you would like to develop during the appointment, and how this position could help you move toward those goals. Applicants are encouraged to identify what a successful postdoctoral experience would look like for them.
- One-page research vision. Identify one or two questions within the project’s scope that you find compelling. These might address catalyst structure and reactivity, solvent effects on metal liberation, or the relationship between predicted chemical behavior and experimental observations. Briefly explain why the question matters, how you would begin investigating it, and what additional expertise or methods would strengthen the work. These ideas will help us understand your creativity and research instincts; they will not be treated as a fixed proposal or commitment.
- Names and contact information for at least three professional references. References will be contacted only at a later stage of the search.
Applicants are welcome to use figures, conceptual diagrams, or other concise visual elements in their statements when these help communicate their ideas. Submit application materials through https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32798. For questions about the position, contact Dr. Leanne Gilbertson at leanne.gilbertson@duke.edu.