2026 Ph.D. candidate in organic chemistry (organocatalysis/supramolecular chemistry) at Ruhr University Bochum

Our group at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany is striving to establish “unconventional” interactions like halogen bonding and chalcogen bonding in non-covalent organocatalysis. These interactions are conceptually similar to the well-known hydrogen bonding but feature some distinct advantages (e.g. “soft” interacting atoms and high directionality) and have been much less explored.

Your tasks:

The candidate will design and implement multi-step synthesis towards functionalized neutral or cationic halogen bond donors based on literature research and own method development. The synthesis of the target compounds will be characterized by NMR and various other spectroscopic techniques. As initial test of performance, binding constants to several substrates will be determined. Subsequently, reaction kinetics with appropriately chosen test reactions will be conducted to gauge catalyst performance. In addition, we will use some of the halogen bond donors for the construction of supramolecular assemblies in the solid state and in solution. An overview of halogen and chalcogen bonding organocatalysis can be found here: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, e202404823.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMarch 2, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorRuhr University Bochum
• School to studyRuhr University Bochum
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Challenging and varied tasks with a high degree of personal responsibility
• Support from and cooperation with competent colleagues
• Team-oriented cooperation in a committed, international and appreciative team
• A modern equipped workplace
• An open working atmosphere

Requirements

• MSc degree in chemistry (already granted or to be granted prior to the start of the position)
• experience in multi-step organic syntheses and the characterization of reaction products
• experience in the handling of air-sensitive compounds and reactions under inert-gas conditions
• very good command of English, oral and written
• (ideally) experience in the determination of binding constants of noncovalent complexes via NMR or ITC
• (ideally) experience in the determination of reaction mechanisms, reaction orders, kinetics
• (ideally) prior use of quantum-chemical calculations to determine minimum structures and transition states

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholarship

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Submit your application via the online application portal by 2026-03-02. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 5364.

For more iformation, kindly visit the Ruhr University Bochum webpage.