Deuteration Chemist Summer Placement

at  Science and Technology Facilities Council STFC

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL

Salary: £22,096
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Deuteration is an isotopic contrast technique, critical to neutron scattering. It enables complex hydrogen containing chemical and biochemical structures to be investigated and structural and chemical properties to be determined that would otherwise remain hidden. Although some deuterium-containing molecules are commercially available in gram quantities (for instance those commonly used as NMR solvents), most systems of interest to the user community are prohibitively expensive or are not commercially available at all. The Deuteration Facility provides custom synthesis of target isotopic materials for the ISIS and ILL user communities in order to enable their experimental programmes.

In recent years, the neutron research community has shown a growing demand for small organic molecules such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and ethanolamine. These molecules are crucial not only for battery research but also for the study of ionic liquids. At the ISIS Deuteration Facility, we have developed an innovative catalytic process to efficiently produce these compounds, offering significant advantages over traditional methods, including reduced costs, improved quality, and shorter production times. Additionally, these compounds serve as valuable precursors for synthesising specialised target molecules of great interest to researchers at ISIS.
We are seeking a motivated summer student for a 12-week project focused on optimising the existing catalytic process, building a stock of deuterated materials for further synthesis, and exploring modifications to the catalyst to enhance efficiency and deuteration performance. The successful candidate will work closely with a team of scientists specialising in chemical deuteration, utilising high-pressure and high-temperature Parr reactors. This role involves working with catalysts and pressurised gases under varying conditions. The candidate should also be experienced in purification techniques and proficient in sample characterisation using instruments such as GC-MS, NMR, and mass spectrometry.