Job Description

Vacancy: Synthesis of catalysts and small organic molecules for hyperpolarized MRI.

Project description

Hyperpolarization transiently boosts the NMR/MRI signal of 13C- tracers by orders of magnitude, enabling real-time, noninvasive metabolic imaging. The motivation is to study disease (e.g. cancer) metabolism. We develop chemical synthesis routes for SABRE and PHIP catalysts and for isotopically labeled small molecules (e.g., vinyl pyruvate) to enable hyperpolarized NMR and MRI. The focus is on organometallic/organic synthesis of hydrogenation catalysts, ligand optimization, and isotope labeling (13C, 2H), followed by rigorous spectroscopic characterization and polarization screening.

Start in our team

We are looking for professional and competent support to start as soon as possible, limited for 3 years (PhD track) or ≥2.5 years (Postdoc track).

What we offer:

• The salary will be based on the German E13 TV-L scale (75%), if terms and conditions under collective bargaining law are fulfilled
• Part-time employment currently 28,75 hours/week
• Access to imaging and chemical facilities of the section of biomedical imaging of Kiel University (PI Prof. Jan-Bernd Hövener).
• An intensive Ph.D. supervision in an interdisciplinary team
• You can find more attractive UKSH benefits here: Benefits (uksh.de)

Your tasks:

• Synthesize SABRE/PHIP catalysts (e.g., Ir- and Rh-based complexes) and tailor ligands
• Design and execute isotope-labeling routes (13C, 2H) for target substrates optimize yields, purity, and scalability
• Characterize compounds by NMR (1D/2D), document structure, purity, and batch reproducibility
• Presenting the results at national and international conferences and publishing results in scientific journals

Your profile:

• Knowledge in NMR/MRI are not prerequisite
• PhD track: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry or a closely related field with a strong record in synthetic chemistry
• Postdoc track: PhD in Organic/Organometallic Chemistry (or closely related) with demonstrated output in catalyst and/or isotope-labeled molecule synthesis
• Hands-on experience with air/moisture-sensitive techniques (Schlenk, glovebox) and homogeneous catalysis
• Team-oriented, safety-minded, and motivated to translate synthesis into working hyperpolarization methods for NMR/MRI

Please submit your application until 03.03.2026, indicating the reference number 28040

PI’s of the project and contact persons

Prof. Dr. Jan-Bernd Hövener, jan.hoevener@rad.uni-kiel.de

Dr. Andrey Pravdivtsev, andrey.pravdivtsev@rad.uni-kiel.de

Section Biomedical Imaging, Dept. for Radiology and Neuroradiology, UKSH and Kiel University