Postdoctoral Fellow - Harvey Lab

Indiana University Academic Positions • Bloomington, IN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts + Sciences at Indiana University is a highly collegial department with cutting-edge expertise in a wide variety of modern disciplines including materials chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. The department has remarkable characterization facilities including multiple transmission electron microscopes including a state-of-the-art NeoArm JEOL , multiple powder and single crystal X-ray diffractometers, NMR , EPR , and time-resolved fluorescence amongst others. The Harvey Lab at Indiana University focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopy of colloidal inorganic nanomaterials, particularly binary and ternary transition metal oxides, chalcogenides, and pnictides. Research topics range from developing new synthetic routes for unique nanocrystal compositions to in-depth characterization of electronic, optical, magnetic, and thermal properties of nanomaterials. The Harvey Lab is seeking a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in ultrafast spectroscopy. Ideal candidates will have completed a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, or materials science/engineering by or before August 2026. The candidate must have expertise in ultrafast optical spectroscopy including transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence. The candidate should be comfortable modifying and building optical setups. Other ideal qualifications (though not required) include firsthand experience with (i) Spectra Physics lasers, Ultrafast Systems Helios/ EOS setups, and OPAs, (ii) magneto-optical measurements such as magnetic circular dichroism, and/or (iii) nanocrystalline materials. The Harvey Lab is a collaborative, multidisciplinary group with a wide range of research interests. Successful applicants will be joining a new group and will be vital in developing research directions and lab culture. Postdocs must be willing and excited to help mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Requirements

• Completed a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, or materials science/engineering by or before August 2026.
• Expertise in ultrafast optical spectroscopy including transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence.
• Comfortable modifying and building optical setups.

Nice To Haves

• Firsthand experience with Spectra Physics lasers, Ultrafast Systems Helios/ EOS setups, and OPAs.
• Firsthand experience with magneto-optical measurements such as magnetic circular dichroism.
• Firsthand experience with nanocrystalline materials.

Responsibilities

• Help in the set-up, maintenance, and upkeep of the transient absorption and magnetic circular dichroism setups.
• Serve as a super-user on one of these instruments and train other group members.
• When necessary, develop and write SOPs.
• Manage own academic research project(s).
• Maintain good record keeping of experiments and data.
• Write up results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Develop new research directions within the Harvey Lab through innovative project ideas.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their projects.
• Be an active group member who supports others and bring new skills to the lab.
• Stay informed of current literature relevant to academic research projects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree