Presently, a PhD position is open on a joint project between the Molecular
Photonics group of Prof. W.J. Buma at the University of Amsterdam and the
Molecular Dynamics group of Dr. J. Oomens at the FOM Institute Rijnhuizen.
The project is concerned with the development of new functional systems
that are responsive to exposure to a temperature above a threshold value
and/or exposure to UV light. One of the approaches employed is based on
discotic liquid crystals. The spectroscopic properties of the employed
molecular systems have been studied to some extent in solution, liquid, and
solid state, but the excited and ionic state, properties under isolated
conditions, and – in particular how they change upon aggregation – are
largely unknown.