Rector of the
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU)
Slovak Republic
invites applications for postdoctoral research positions to work on the following research projects:
1/ SMART system of health care monitoring based on „Internet of things“ (prof. Ing. František Uherek, PhD., Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology STU, frantisek.uherek[@]stuba.sk)
The main aim of the projects is research and design methods of non-invasive heart monitoring using the smart systems of IoT (Internet of Things). These methods provide prevention of cardiovascular disease based on heart monitoring and additional measurements. Simultaneously with proposed topic the sensor platform based on which a prototype will be designed and prepared. In addition, the sensor devices will be designed and prototype will be fabricated. The sensor platform based on organic-inorganic hybrid system will combine specific advantages and enables fabrication of unique device integrable in complex system. Crucial part of the project dwells in design and development of sensor devices connected to IoT network. The communication interface will be prepared for the IoT applications. The research project has strong interdisciplinary nature and knowledge of electronics, physics, and biology is strongly recommended.
2/ Electronic structure of biologically active transition metal complexes (prof. Ing. Marián Valko, DrSc., Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology STU, marian.valko[@]stuba.sk)
High incidence of civilization diseases is related to increasing average lifetime. In addition to preventing these diseases, it is important to pay a proper attention to the development of new medicinal drugs which should eliminate or suppress the negative symptoms of these diseases. The aim of the project is to study the properties of multifunctional transition metal complexes with biologically active ligands acting as potential drugs. We will use quantum-chemical modeling of geometry, electronic structure and the implied physical and chemical properties of molecules to identify reaction intermediates in the study of the mechanism of the investigated drug action. Our main attention will be focused on the elucidation of the radical-quenching, or antioxidant activity of redox-active metal complexes with biologically active ligands. The successful candidate is required to be familiar with the basic quantum-chemical software (e.g. Gaussian, Turbomole) at the DFT level of theory, and experienced in modeling the transition metal complexes.
3/ Low-exergy radiant heating and cooling systems for nearly zero energy buildings (prof. Ing. Dušan Petráš, PhD., doc. Ing. Michal Krajčík, PhD., Faculty of Civil Engineering STU, dusan.petras[@]stuba.sk, michal.krajcik[@]stuba.sk)
The energy efficiency of low-energy technical systems based on renewable energy sources (RES) for nearly zero energy buildings is one of the urgent topics worldwide. Buildings consume more than 40 % of primary energy resources due to the operation of their technical systems. Referring to the declared objectives of the EU to significantly decrease the energy consumption, increase the share of RES, and to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses produced, it is necessary to develop adequate technical solutions. These solutions have to reflect the latest knowledge that should be implemented in the calculation procedures, design and operation of the technical systems. Simultaneously, integration of RES into these systems is important. This is possible to achieve by low-exergy radiant heating and cooling. Owing to their higher heating or cooling area compared to the traditional convective systems, the surface temperature of radiant systems is close to the room air temperature. They are therefore suitable for combination with low-temperature RES for space heating and with high-temperature energy sources for space cooling. Such RES are solar energy, geothermal energy, and energy of the environment extracted by heat pumps. The aim of this research is to contribute to the development of technical solutions for low-exergy radiant heating and cooling systems. Attention is paid to wall heating/cooling systems, which eliminate heat losses/gains through the building envelope on one hand, and emit heat/cool the interior to create thermal comfort at optimum energy performance on the other hand.
4/ "Phase2phase" - a platform for calculating the mechanical stability of crystals from the first principles (dr. Mariana Derzsi, PhD., Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, mariana.derzsi[@]stuba.sk)
The successful candidate will be part of a newly created research group dedicated to predictive computational materials modelling from first principles. The aim of the project is to develop a a high-performance Phase Diagram Calculator for crystalline structure and properties predictions aimed towards molecular design of new electronic and multifunctional materials from ab initio. This theoretical tool (or interface) will combine already existing quantum-mechanical programs to calculate the electron structure and thermodynamics of the crystalline grid and its role will be the prediction of the state conditions of existence of the given crystalline phase. At the same time, it will be a new computational tool to search for unknown crystal structures and phases using quantum-mechanical approaches.
The group will provide theoretical support for experimental quest for novel functional materials at the home Advanced Technologies Research Institute dedicated to ion-beam nanomaterial engineering. The newly established research group will have an active collaboration with inorganic synthetic Laboratory of Technology of Novel Functional Materials at the University of Warsaw, Poland as well as with several other international experimental and theoretical materials research groups.
The role of the selected postgraduate candidate will be the creation of the basic version of the "Phase2phase" platform (in cooperation with the host team and its foreign partners) and its subsequent application to new inorganic transition metal compounds with great potential for their use in electronics and spintronics. The new platform will enable highly effective mapping of new inorganic compounds and alloys as well as their phase transitions over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. This project will be realized in cooperation with other group members and international collaborators involving both theoretical and experimental researchers. Short scientific stays at cooperating international institutions may apply.
The candidate must hold PhD from physics, chemistry, computational material sciences or related field obtained no more than three years prior the application deadline. He/she must have programming skills and should have experience with quantum-physics/chemistry programs.
5/ Monitoring of pharmaceuticals, drugs and micropolymers in the environment Slovakia and their effective way of removal (doc. Ing. Tomáš Mackuľák, PhD., Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology STU, tomas.mackulak[@]stuba.sk)
The issue of high consumption of plastics is negatively reflected on their occurence in each parts of the environment. Similarly as micropollutants (drugs, pharmaceuticals, hormones or pesticides microplastics becomes currently intensively investigated pollution of environment in Slovakia as well. Therefore is environmental chemistry focused on studying of their occurence, penetration or behaviour in different parts of the environment. The main research objective of the project is the monitoring of selected pesticides, pharmaceuticals, drugs and microplastics in the basin of the river Váh. Therefore, wastewater
treatment plants will be intensively analyzed as a potential source of this kind of pollution. Another objective of the project is to define the consumption of illegal, legal and pharmaceutical drugs in selected cities, using advanced analytical methods. Such innovative approaches provide identification of potential users of new types of drugs and their precursors, which may not be detected by the police or medical facilities. For this purpose will be realized a detection system capable of warning of potential illicit drugs production or identifying of possible pollution e.g. drinking water source. The results obtained from micropollutants and microplastics analyses from surface and drinking waters will be available to the public in the form of an interactive map. The last, but equally important objective of the project, will be the testing of innovative degradation processes (membrane technologies, nanomaterials, ozonization, etc.) which are able to significantly reduce the micropollutants and microplastics from different types of water in Slovakia.
Call opening: 19. 6. 2018
Application deadline: 10. 8. 2018
Job open time: 1. 9. 2018
Minimum Experience/Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in appropriate field awarded no more than 3 years ago
Other conditions: EU residency
Applications should be send electronically to miroslav.mihalik[@]stuba.sk. In case of questions about this positions contact miroslav.mihalik[@]stuba.sk or directly the mentor.
Candidates should send written application for the postdoc position, CV, description of research or artistic activities, overview of publications or artistic activities.
Address for the applications:
Miroslav Mihalik
Rektorát STU
Útvar vedy a medzinárodnej spolupráce
Vazovova 5
SK - 812 43 Bratislava