Post-doctoral position – AD UltraSNOM

Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France's leading research facilities. Since it began operating in 2008, it has served the national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL covers a wide range of scientific and industrial fields — including physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage — all connected to current societal challenges. Experiments carried out on the beamlines rely on the use of synchrotron light emitted by electrons accelerated to nearly the speed of light within a storage ring. SOLEIL is jointly supervised by the CNRS and the CEA and offers its staff a dynamic, innovative, multidisciplinary, and international working environment.

At the forefront of technology, SOLEIL II is an ambitious project designed to provide new opportunities for scientific and industrial research. SOLEIL II consists of a major upgrade of the existing infrastructure and aims to significantly improve the performance of electron accelerators and beamlines. It is designed to address major current and future societal challenges, particularly in areas such as advanced materials research, energy and sustainable development, health and well-being, and the environment.

Construction work on the SOLEIL II project began in 2024, marking the start of a phase of development and technological innovation. In parallel, the existing facility will remain operational until the fall of 2028. SOLEIL II is scheduled to start operations in 2030, with a gradual ramp-up phase continuing until 2035.

Context and mission 

SMIS is an infrared spectromicroscopy beamline that delivers high-brilliance radiation in the mid and far-IR spectral range. The synchrotron beam is split to operate two endstations in parallel, one of which is an Attocube NeaSCOPE sSNOM instrument. The beamline is dedicated to multiscale spectromicroscopy through a world class spectromicroscopy instrumentation park, allowing as high as ~20 nm spatial resolution and up to several cm sample size combining several instruments. 

In the framework of UltraSNOM we will develop and investigate a new nanophotonic chemical analysis modality to reach ultra-high detection sensitivity. We will integrate scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (sSNOM) with graphene devices and couple the light in the near-field into the devices, also containing a minute amount of analyte. Spatial resolution will reach up to twenty nanometre lateral resolution, which translates to extremely small amounts of probed volumes. Through coupling between the plasmon polaritons of graphene and the analyte's molecular vibrations, we will be able to achieve ultrahigh detection sensitivity. Experiments will spread from the terahertz to the far-infrared, which are relevant in chemical fingerprinting. To achieve the best possible coupling and detection, we will model, characterize and optimize the AFM tips and employ thermoelectric detection in the terahertz where other types of detectors are missing. Compressed sensing will be used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements as less time will be necessary to accumulate a single spectrum.

For more information see https://ultrasnom.github.io/

The postdoc will work at the SMIS beamline under the supervision of Ferenc Borondics. They will participate in the UltraSNOM research project and will be granted in-house beam time while also submitting requests to the peer review committees. They will be encouraged to collaborate with beamline staff and users and may also pursue their own research interests. Publishing scientific results and presenting them at national and international conferences will be essential.  

Responsibility and Tasks :

The postdoc will work on several topics in the framework of UltraSNOM:

  • Tip/sample interaction simulation in the near field;
  • Development of sSNOM data analysis tools;
  • Device design, fabrication, characterization;
  • 2D material stacking and analyte deposition optimization;
  • sSNOM measurements and data analysis.

Profile

We’re looking for a motivated, curious, dynamic, autonomous person who strives working in a team.

The candidate should hold a PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (chemistry, physics, near-field optics, materials science, etc.) and have experience with near field experiments and data analysis. Experience with scientific data modeling (COMSOL or similar software) and analysis at the coding level, preferably with Python is considered to be a strong advantage. 

An excellent command of the English language and proven track record with publishing scientific papers is essential.

The postdoc will join an enthusiastic and growing multidisciplinary team at the SMIS beamline, benefiting from interactions with a plethora of national and international partnerships.

General conditions

This is a 12-month position.

Benefits :

  • 26 days of paid vacation + up to 2 additional split days + 23 RTT (reduction of working time) days per full year of work, based on a 40-hour work week;
  • Mandatory health insurance (basic plan) costs €20.35 per month for the employee (with an employer contribution of €183.18, corresponding to 90% of the premium), covering household members (spouse/partner + children);
  • We also offer an optional supplementary health plan for €28.43 per month covering your household (spouse/partner + children);
  • Access to a provident scheme that supplements the benefits of the mandatory French Social Security system, which are often insufficient. It compensates for loss of income in case of inability to work, ensuring the standard of living of the insured and their family in difficult circumstances: death, incapacity for work, or disability resulting from illness or accident;
  • Possibility to open a Time Savings Account (CET) after one year of seniority;
  • On-site corporate catering at SOLEIL, with subsidized meals;
  • Family-related benefits depending on individual situations: family allowance supplement, additional days off under certain circumstances, marriage and birth bonuses, etc;
  • Social and cultural activities offered by SOLEIL’s Social and Economic Committee (CSE).