Postdoctoral Research Associate - Chemistry

Iowa State University • Ames, IA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Chemistry at Iowa State University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the research group of Professor Aaron Rossini. The successful candidate will conduct experimental research focused on the development and application of advanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods for the structural characterization of pharmaceutical solids and related materials. Research activities will focus on obtaining detailed structural information on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), pharmaceutical cocrystals and salts, formulated drug products, and other complex solid-state systems. Projects will utilize state-of-the-art solid-state NMR techniques, including fast magic-angle spinning (MAS), proton-detected NMR, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), and multinuclear spectroscopy to investigate molecular structure, hydrogen-bonding interactions, and intermolecular organization in pharmaceutical materials. Specific areas of research may include the development of high-resolution proton-detected solid-state NMR experiments, DNP-enhanced approaches for natural-abundance oxygen-17 and nitrogen-15 NMR spectroscopy, and the application of multidimensional correlation experiments to elucidate hydrogen-bonding networks and complex molecular structures. Depending on project needs and the candidate's interests, research may also involve isotope enrichment strategies, NMR crystallography, crystal structure prediction, density functional theory (DFT) calculations of NMR parameters, powder X-ray diffraction, and other complementary analytical techniques. The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for planning and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, developing new methodologies, preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting research findings at scientific conferences. The successful candidate will work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment and will contribute to the training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students. This position offers opportunities to collaborate with researchers across Iowa State University, national laboratories, other academic institutions, and industrial partners in the pharmaceutical and consumer products sectors. The appointment provides an excellent environment for professional development in scientific communication, research leadership, mentoring, and preparation for future careers in academia, national laboratories, or industry.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering, physics, or a closely related field.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated research experience in solid-state NMR spectroscopy, including acquisition and analysis of multidimensional NMR data.
• Experience with advanced solid-state NMR methodologies such as magic-angle spinning (MAS), fast MAS, proton (^1H) detection, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), or NMR pulse-sequence development.
• Experience characterizing pharmaceutical materials, organic solids, molecular materials, or other solid-state systems.
• Experience with computational approaches relevant to structural characterization, including density functional theory (DFT) calculations, crystal structure prediction, NMR simulation, scientific programming, or quantitative data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, analyze complex datasets, communicate research findings through publications and presentations, and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary research environments.

Responsibilities

• Planning and conducting experiments
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Developing new methodologies
• Preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Presenting research findings at scientific conferences
• Working both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment
• Contributing to the training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• WorkFlex options for some positions

What This Job Offers

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