Vacancies
There will be two new PhD-positions available in the Materials and Catalysis Modeling group based in the Bernal Institute at the University of Limerick, within the areas of:
- Computational design and engineering of enzymes
- Molecular Modelling of adsorption and separation of chemicals in porous materials
The Materials and catalysis modelling group led by Professor Matthias Vandichel at the University of Limerick, Ireland, is looking for two highly motivated PhD researchers.
Potential applicants are expected to have the following attributes
- Self-drive and motivation, ambition, resilience and high willingness to learn within a multidisciplinary project and research environment.
- Fluent English communication skills
- Excellent research and scientific writing and skills.
- A background in Master’s degree in Physics, Chemical Engineering, Theoretical Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Computational Chemistry, Physics Engineering, or an equivalent degree.
- demonstrated knowledge in computational (and/or experimental) material science, physics, chemistry or equivalent experience
- demonstrated experience with coding (Matlab, Python, Jupyter, C, etc.) and quantum chemistry software (VASP, CP2K, quantum espresso, wien2k, Gaussian, etc.) or force-field-based simulations is an advantage;
- Strong oral communication and interpersonal skills and with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including presenting research outcomes at national and international conferences.
What we offer
A 4-year PhD stipend and payment of fees. The selected candidates will moreover get the ability to strengthen their CV within the context of the multidisciplinary 'Bernal' Structured Materials Research Institute, hosting 80 principal investigators and their research teams. The PhD research can lead to interdisciplinary collaborations, and PhD students will also have the opportunity to attend various international conferences, tutorials and workshops.
How to apply
Applicants should mention ‘PhD application’ in the subject of their email and include their curriculum vitae, cover letter and copies of relevant diplomas and transcripts to Matthias.Vandichel@ul.ie. The CV must include information on the applicant's educational background, scientific publications and presentations, and any relevant research/work/volunteering activities. Considered candidates will be contacted shortly thereafter and will be asked for further details. Updates on the hiring procedure will be provided during the interviews. Applications will be considered as they are received, and positions will be filled as soon as possible, preferably by or before the end of September 2026.
We are always seeking talented coworkers at the Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral level. Besides the available PhD- and postdoctoral positions, motivated candidates interested in self-funded, visiting and/or personal fellowship positions (see below) are encouraged to contact Matthias Vandichel at matthias.vandichel@ul.ie.
There are currently no postdoctoral vacancies, however, there are several opportunities via externally funded fellowships
Interested candidates can obtain their own fellowship by applying to external funding agencies. If you are interested in working with us and would like to apply for any of the postdoctoral or PhD fellowships below, feel free to contact Matthias Vandichel (mattthias.vandichel@ul.ie).
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowships (up to 2 years – postdoctoral)
- SFI-IRC Pathway Programme (up to 4 years - postdoctoral)
- Irish Research Council postdoctoral fellowships (up to 2 years – postdoctoral)
- Irish Research Council postgraduate fellowships (up to 4 years -- PhD)
- Irish Research Council enterprise partnership scheme postgraduate fellowships (up to 4 years - PhD)
Profile
Applicants may have a background in Chemical Engineering or Materials Engineering, Physics Engineering, Chemistry, Physics or equivalent degrees. A background in computational material science, computational chemistry or equivalent computational experience is desired as well as good communication and interpersonal skills. The research will certainly involve interdisciplinary collaborations and the aim is to gain computational understanding of phenomena taking place on the nanoscale and being able to explain experimental observations.
Experience with first-principles program packages, computational workflows and programming background (for example Python, Julia, Jupyter, etc.) will certainly be useful for PhD-positions and is desirable for Postdoc positions.
Interested candidates can send their resume and short introduction letter to matthias.vandichel@ul.ie.
For the PhD-positions, I will review of the applications immediately and continue the recruitment until the positions are filled. There are currently no postdoctoral vacancies advertised (https://www.ul.ie/hr/), however, applications for personal fellowships (see LEFT) can be supported.