Postdoc in synthesis and crystal growth of molecular conductors

Lead the experimental side of making metal-like electronic materials from abundant elements via salts of stacked oxocarbon rings.

Reference number: REF 2026-0419.

About the project

Calculations (Rahm group) predict one-dimensional metallic—and potentially superconducting—behaviour. A phase matching the average predicted structure has been made; your job is to control composition and spacing via chemistry, grow single crystals, and extend the family.

Main responsibilities

• Grow single crystals of inorganic molecular solids; extend the materials family; improve synthesis routes
• Lead advanced characterization (variable-temperature diffraction and total scattering, electron transport, magnetometry, spectroscopy)
• Coordinate with collaborators; publish and present

Research environment

Employed in Daniel Weber’s group, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, with close contact to Martin Rahm’s computational group. Capabilities include Ar glovebox, Schlenk lines, air-free PXRD, single-crystal diffraction, TGA-DSC, Raman & IR; synchrotron/neutron beamtimes; collaborators across Chalmers, Uppsala and Swedish NMR Centre. Project accepted into Chalmers Ventures technology transfer program.

Contract terms

Full-time temporary employment of two years with possible extension to three years. Employment (not stipend): occupational pension, paid holiday, parental leave and full Swedish social insurance. Monthly salary is 42,500 SEK. Expected start as soon as possible. Physical presence implied by experimental role.

Application procedure

English PDFs: CV with publications; personal letter (1–2 pages) including a clearly marked half-page on a past air-sensitive molecular salts (or comparably demanding) project; degree certificate or expected defense date; two references with emails. Apply via the official Chalmers vacancy Apply button.

Deadline: 15 October 2026.

Contact

Daniel Weber, daniel.weber@chalmers.se.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science or Physics (met no later than employment decision); doctoral degree within last three years prior to deadline highly meritorious
• Excellent English (spoken and written)
• Experience making new compounds; everyday use of gloveboxes, Schlenk lines, single-crystal and powder diffractometers; enough band structure/spin knowledge to discuss with collaborators; interdisciplinary communication; careful sample records

Meriting (priority order roughly)

• Air- and moisture-sensitive preparative chemistry
• Crystal growth of molecular/ionic solids and single-crystal XRD
• Powder diffraction (indexing, Pawley/Rietveld; ideally PDF)
• Molecular conductors / radical / charge-transfer salts / oxocarbon electrode chemistry
• Synchrotron/neutron beamtimes; magnetometry, conductivity, EPR or solid-state NMR on air-sensitive samples
• Co-authorship combining experiments and theory