a PhD position funded by DFG (German Science Foundation) for 3 years is available in the laser

molecular spectroscopy group of Otto Dopfer at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

The predominantly experimental research of our group involves 

the laser spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and quantum chemical investigation 

of molecules, radicals, ions, clusters, and nanostructures in the gas phase, 

with strong relevance to a broad range of interdisciplinary topics ranging from 

biophysics, catalysis, astrochemistry, environmental chemistry, 

and plasma physics to materials science.

The funded projects is entitled:

and a brief summary is given below.

Available equipment includes pulsed IR and UV lasers, several ion sources

and rf-traps, as well as several types of mass spectrometers.

The project involves international collaborations with groups in 

Japan, France and Netherlands, so that the PhD student can 

participate in international exchange.

Qualified candidates should hold a Master in Physics, Chemistry, or related

fields. Experience in several of the following fields is of advantage but not mandatory:

(1) laser spectroscopy

(2) mass spectrometry

(3) ion sources (EI, CI, MALDI, ESI, laser desorption)

(4) ion traps

(5) vacuum physics

(6) molecular beams

(7) cluster science

Interested and highly qualified candidates are encouraged to send their

application to Prof. Otto Dopfer (dopfer@physik.tu-berlin.de), including 

- a cover letter

- a CV (including a list of publications)

- a statement of qualifications relevant for the position (max. 1 page)

- a statement of research interests (max. 1 page) 

- names and complete addresses of two referees. 

and will continue until the positions are filled. 

The desired starting date is as soon as possible but negotiable. 

Berlin is an international city at the heart of Europe 

and offers an exciting scientific and cultural environment.

This project aims at the laser spectroscopic and quantum chemical characterization of size-selected aromatic ion-ligand clusters isolated in the gas phase, to determine the potential energy surface describing the involved intermolecular ion-ligand interaction. Target molecules are aromatic cations of biophysical relevance, including benzene derivatives, amino acids, neurotransmitters, amides, and small peptides. These biomolecules are microsolvated by a controlled number of (non)polar solvent molecules, mainly rare gas atoms, molecular nitrogen, water, and methanol to mimic both hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvation. A particular focus lies on the characterization of the energetics and dynamics of photoionization-induced ligand site-switching processes. We aim at a molecular-level understanding of intermolecular solvent rearrangement dynamics of (non)polar ligands around biological molecules, such as hydrated proteins, often called biological/interfacial water. To this end, in a joint international German-Japanese collaborative effort (DFG-JSPS) with the group of Masaaki Fujii in Tokyo Technical University, unique and complementary state-of-the-art experimental strategies are combined for the static and time-resolved spectroscopy to explore fundamental parameters of the solvation sites (energetics, rearrangement dynamics, reaction mechanism, barriers, dependence on solvent type, degree of solvation, internal energy,…). Significantly, these benchmark results are the first direct time-resolved observations of dynamical intermolecular isomerization processes in such clusters. In particular, they are the first data for monitoring the motion of single specific ligands around biomolecules, such as water migration and water network rearrangement around peptide linkages. As such, these data have invaluable importance as benchmark for modelling the motion of water solvent around proteins.

Recent key references include:

1. Ionization-induced site switching dynamics in solvated aromatic clusters: Phenol-(rare gas)n clusters as prototypical example, Fujii and Dopfer, Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 31, 131-173 (2012) DOI: 10.1080/0144235X.2012.656013

2. Watching Water Migration around a Peptide Bond, Tanabe, Miyazaki, Schmies,  Patzer, Schütz, Sekiya, Sakai, Dopfer, Fujii*, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 51, 6604-6607 (2012), DOI: 10.1002/anie.201203296, classified as very important paper (selected for cover)

For further information, please contact: