PhD Position in Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry: Electrically Controlled Cargo Release in [2]Rotaxanes via Mechanochemical Retro Diels-Alder Reactions at SDU in Odense

A three-year (5+3) or four-year (4+4) PhD position at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, funded by a DFF-Research Project 1 grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The project designs and synthesises electroactive molecular machines that convert electrically controlled molecular motion into mechanical force, testing whether redox-induced shuttling in mechanically interlocked molecules ([2]rotaxanes) can trigger covalent bond cleavage through mechanochemical retro Diels-Alder reactions and so enable controlled cargo release.

The student also helps supervise bachelor’s and master’s students. Available from 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

A master’s degree (5+3 programme) or bachelor’s degree (4+4 programme) in chemistry or a closely related field, preferably with a strong background in synthetic organic chemistry.