Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain
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We are currently accepting applications for a PhD student position within the framework of the Severo Ochoa program. This is a unique opportunity for highly motivated students recently graduated from the University in Physics or related fields to gain research experience in one of DIPC’s high-profile research teams. The role In recent years, the Salassa group has developed catalytic reactions in which flavins act as photocatalysts to enable the activation of anticancer metal complexes, including clinically approved drugs (see, for example: Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 4619–4625; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 3143–3147; Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 59–67; Chem Catalysis, 2023, 3, 1–14). This unconventional reactivity, where metal complexes act as substrates rather than catalysts, opens new opportunities for research beyond traditional catalytic frameworks. The present PhD project focuses on the development of a new flavin-based catalytic platform for the transformation of metal-containing substrates, with applications in organic and inorganic synthesis, sustainability, and chemical biology. Research Environment and Methods The successful candidate will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and will contribute to: * The development and optimization of new catalytic reactions * Mechanistic investigations and elucidation of reactivity pathways * The synthesis and characterization of organic and inorganic compounds Key techniques will include: * NMR spectroscopy * UV–Vis and optical spectroscopies * Electrochemistry * Computational methods * Additional analytical tools as required
