RESEARCH SCIENTIST IN COMPUTATIONAL NANOCHEMISTRY
ONE POSITION IS AVAILABLE
Position Title: Researcher (Investigador Titular A).
Employment Status: Full-Time, 12 months. The appointment is renewable depending
upon performance and funding. After three years, candidates can apply for tenure.
General Description: A productive and innovative computational chemist is required for a
newly established biomimicry-inspired Scientific and Technological Cluster (Biomimic)
through which institutions share facilities and equipment and exchange scientific personnel
to foster transdisciplinary research. The successful candidate will be responsible for the
design, simulation and analysis of biomolecules, such as antibiotics, proteins, enzymes,
nucleic acids, nanoparticles and nanomaterials. This will be achieved through
computational studies and molecular modeling of natural and naturally-derived products,
particularly related to nanostructures and/or potential applications in agriculture, in the
solution of environmental issues, in the production of materials with potential
pharmacological value as well as useful in medicine, food science, cosmetics, renewable
energies, agriculture and industrial uses such as the development of novel formulations for
environmentally-friendly paints, polymers, etc.
To foster a broad understanding of the aims of the Biomimic cluster among the new
scientific staff, once recruited, the candidate will spend a period of 2-6 months in CIMAV
(Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados) or CIQA (Centro de Investigación en
Química Aplicada) to establish productive collaborations, write collaborative grants, and to
foster long-term research projects. The candidate will then return to the brand new
facilities equipped with state-of-the art technologies to perform high quality academic and
technological studies. The recruited computational chemist will actively collaborate with
agronomists, biologists, ecologists, molecular biologists, chemists, biochemists, and
microbiologists to produce novel solutions to Mexico’s most pressing problems/challenges.
The recruited scientists will also meet on a regular basis with industry and government
representatives to identify demands, common interests and suitable funding sources.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will perform the highest quality research at the cutting edge
of knowledge on nanostructures/nanomaterials that can be employed to solve
pressing agricultural, energy, disease and environmental issues of national
importance in Mexico.
The candidate will collaborate extensively with other researchers of the Biomimic
cluster, both in providing computational chemistry related services to the Biomimic
community and by participation in collaborative studies.
Develop highly original innovative solutions to specific problems through new
methodologies and software that can strengthen links to the industrial sector by
offering expert technical services and by developing intellectual property.
Employ molecular models to examine potential environmental impact and biosecurity
issues related to the use of nanomaterials in the environment.
Teaching in INECOL Master’s and Doctorate programs.
Supervising graduate and undergraduate students.
Write competitive grants to fund research activities submitted to Mexican and
international organizations/government agencies, and also to commercial companies.
Publish high quality papers in internationally recognized scientific journals, and
occasionally in books, national and outreach journals and popular magazines intended
for the general public.
Write or help write patents.
Help recruit talents for science and technology among primary, secondary and high
school students.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or materials science with a doctoral degree in
computational chemistry.
At least one postdoctoral position in area of expertise.
Special attention will be granted to those candidates having obtained outstanding
research achievements during their doctoral studies.
Expertise with computational software for the design, simulation and analysis of single
molecules or chemical reactions, with emphasis on biomolecules and
nanoparticles/nanomaterials.
Expertise with specialized hardware for computational chemistry and molecular
modeling.
Expertise in the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic results, including IR, UVVis,
NMR, Raman, etc.
Expertise in computational chemistry and molecular modeling of natural and naturallyderived
products related to nanostructures and/or those with potential applications in
agriculture, environmental issues and/or compounds of pharmacological value.
Experience living and working in Latin America is desirable but not essential.
Fluency or a willingness to learn Spanish, both spoken and written, is required; as are
written and spoken skills in English.
Excellent interpersonal and multitasking skills, ability to negotiate, to deal with
pressure, complex situations and stress.
Work outside of regular business hours including weekends and travel is occasionally
required.
Commitment to ethics/scientific integrity.
Proven grant-writing skills.
Ability to work with the private sector as well as government agencies.
Skills in constructing and working in multidisciplinary teams as part of multidisciplinary
projects.
A spirit of collaboration/team working and service to society.
A driving license.
Authorship of at least 5 recent scientific publications (at least three as first author or
corresponding author), in high quality international indexed journals.
Interested candidates from Mexico and elsewhere in the entire world should send their
updated Curriculum Vitae and additional support material of particular value for members
of the Search Committee (e.g., citation record, relevant awards, narrative of particular
achievements or contributions to science) to Dr. Guillermo Angeles, Secretario Académico
at secretaria.academica@inecol.edu.mx always cc’ing maluja.dirgral@inecol.edu.mx.
Three letters of recommendation are needed as well as the e-mail addresses and
telephones of three established scientists/professors that have agreed to be interviewed
on the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. An additional letter by the candidate
expressing interest in the job, explaining how exactly her/his training/experience fits the job
description, and expressing her/his willingness to strictly adhere to the principles of
collaboration, team working, networking and scientific integrity is also needed. Any
questions should be addressed to Dr. Guillermo Angeles.