Post-doctoral position on the VUV beamline DESIRS at Synchrotron SOLEIL

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 missions

The DESIRS beamline, covering the 5-40 eV range with very high resolution and variable polarization aims at studying gas phase VUV high resolution spectroscopy and polarization- dependent molecular and photoionization dynamics https://www.synchrotron- soleil.fr/en/beamlines/desirs .

On one branch of the beamline is connected a versatile molecular beam chamber, SAPHIRS, for the study of gaseous, liquid and solid samples as well as nanoparticles. It is equipped with a double imaging electron/ion coincidence i2PEPICO spectrometer (G. A. Garcia et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 053112 (2013); Tang et al. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 86, 123108 (2015)), coupling a VMI spectrometer for the electrons with a 3D momentum imaging spectrometer on the ion side.

Profile


The candidate will be involved in one or more of the scientific programs developed on this branch, for which he/she is expected to propose a sound personal contribution, including:

  • VUV photodynamics (spectroscopy, fragmentation and photoionization) of size- selected molecular complexes and clusters via TPEPICO, Angle-Resolved PEPICO and e-/ion energy correlations.
  • Probing chemical reactions intermediates and final products generated inside different gas phase reactors—notably a room-temperature fast flow tube but also other combustion/oxidation environments—by i2PEPICO-based spectroscopies.
  • High resolution Angle-Resolved Photoelectron spectroscopy to probe photoionization dynamics on small molecular systems including radicals.
  • Photoelectron Circular Dichroism (PECD) on various chiral samples and environments, from free species, to complexes/clusters up to nanoparticles.
  • Angle-resolved photoemission on nanoparticles and secondary organic aerosol chemical composition studies via thermodesorption.

Besides this in-house research program, the candidate will host external user teams on the SAPHIRS branch with whom we have established collaborations. He.she will also be involved in instrumental developments regarding the spectrometer itself as well as the sample environments and/or chemical reactors.

Working conditions


The contract is for one year renewable once upon mutual agreement. Knowledge of French is not mandatory, but a fluent level of spoken and written English is required.

The candidate is expected to hold a PhD in Chemical Physics or Physics or Chemistry, since no more than 3 years. A solid background in either gas phase molecular dynamics/spectroscopy or gas phase chemical reactivity / combustion processes is required. Previous expertise in handling/producing challenging samples such as radicals, biomolecules or aerosols would be a plus. Experience in synchrotron radiation and/or coincidence techniques and/or velocity imaging techniques as well as experience in electron and/or ion mass spectroscopy associated with molecular/effusive beams or chemical reactors is not mandatory but will be positively considered.

Motivated candidates should contact by e-mail Laurent Nahon (laurent.nahon@synchrotron-soleil.fr) providing a cover/motivation letter, CV and list of publications before April 17th. By April 24th, selected candidates will be notified and will be asked for at least two reference letters before May 15th. Virtual interviews will be conducted before the end of May.

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)