MSCA - Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) on “Multi-functional fluorescent sustainable polymers"

Research project description

Fluorescent polymers have attracted many interests in recent years thanks to their broad application fields, i.e. in chromogenic materials for the detection of external stimuli or in luminescent slabs or thin films for luminescent solar concentrators for photovoltaics. Even if already investigated for years, both applications still require the development of advanced homogeneous fluorophore/polymer matrices whose effective interactions maximize the optical output and response to the required functions. High-quantum yield fluorophores with chromogenic features will be designed, synthesized, embedded, or covalently linked to amorphous or semicrystalline polymers to provide effective color variations to external contamination such as thermal, mechanical or chemical stimuli. On the other hand, the exceptionally high emission of luminophores embedded in polymer waveguides is mainly concentrated on the edges and promptly collected by solar cells. In both cases, the polymer architecture will be designed to provide the best phase distribution of the embedded fluorophores or functional groups that can covalently link the emitter's molecular backbone. Special attention will be devoted to sustainability: regenerated polymers will be utilised after depolymerization or pyrolysis of end-used plastics to confer innovative and smart features to waste polymers.

The PI of the project, Prof. Andrea Pucci has more than 20 years of experience in the project activities (see website https://people.unipi.it/andrea_pucci/ and https://spg.dcci.unipi.it)and all the technical facilities for both materials synthesis and characterization as well as those required for the determination of the materials features. The publication list of the PI can be found at:

 https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57220338002. The project will also take advantages from the facilities available at the the Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP) is a Core Facilities platform offering access to a wide range of analytical instrumentation for life and physical science researchers (https://cisup.unipi.it).

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications (11^th September 2024). Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.

At the call deadline, the applicant must have a maximum of 8 years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.

Mobility Rule: The applicant may be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy (for European Fellowships) or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (in case of Global Fellowship) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before 11^th September 2024.

Application procedure

Expressions of interest must be sent by email to andrea.pucci@unipi.it  no later than 31/05/2024 and must consist of two pdf files:

1. Complete and updated CV, clearly demonstrating all 3 eligibility requirements.
2. Motivation letter, maximum one page.