Science Director for Physical Sciences

 

Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the French capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France’s leading research infrastructures. Since entering operation in 2008, it has served both national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL spans a wide range of scientific and industrial fields (physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage), addressing major societal challenges. Experiments carried out on the beamlines rely on the use of synchrotron light produced by electrons accelerated to speeds close to that of light within a storage ring. SOLEIL operates under the joint supervision of the CNRS and the CEA, and offers its staff a dynamic, innovative, multidisciplinary, and international working environment.

Based on a 2.75 GeV source, SOLEIL operates 29 beamlines covering a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum, from infrared to hard X-rays. SOLEIL’s multidisciplinary scientific program encompasses life sciences, chemistry, physics, materials science, Earth and environmental sciences, as well as heritage science. It is supported by state-of-the-art developments in instrumentation. International users account for approximately 25% of the SOLEIL user community.

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 the electron accelerators and beamlines. It is designed to address 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 for the SOLEIL II project began in 2024, marking the start of a new phase of development and technological innovation. At the same time, operation of the existing facility is expected to continue until autumn 2028. The commissioning of SOLEIL II is scheduled for 2030, followed by a gradual ramp-up phase extending through 2035.

Context and Mission

The Scientific Director is a member of SOLEIL's Executive Management Team, currently composed of two Scientific Directors, the Director of Accelerators and Engineering, the Administrative and Finance Director, and the Director of Information Systems and Digital Technologies. The position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The two Scientific Directors jointly share responsibility for defining and implementing SOLEIL's scientific strategy, with the ambition of maintaining the facility at the highest international level.

Their main responsibilities include:

  • Organising and leading SOLEIL's scientific activities;
  • Overseeing the Experiments Division, which currently includes approximately 150 permanent staff, including around 80 beamline scientists, as well as approximately 150 non-permanent staff and collaborators;
  • Supervising the Beamlines and Laboratories Programme within the framework of the SOLEIL II Upgrade Project, covering scientific strategy, instrumentation projects, as well as the adaptation and reconstruction of beamlines.

One Scientific Director comes from the Life Sciences community, while the other represents the Physical Sciences community. They organize their activities according to their respective scientific expertise and may be supported by scientific advisors in complementary fields.

Profile

The successful candidate should be an internationally recognized expert in the field of Physical Sciences, including physics, chemistry, materials science, Earth and environmental sciences, and heritage science, with substantial experience in leading a research organization or large-scale research infrastructure.

Experience in a scientific discipline making use of synchrotron radiation—and more broadly, knowledge of the associated techniques and instrumentation—would be considered a strong advantage, particularly in the field of soft X-ray science.

Experience in managing large-scale scientific projects will also be highly valued.

A good command of the French language and familiarity with the French research landscape and institutions would be appreciated.

SOLEIL offers the successful candidate the opportunity to maintain an active research programme, provided it remains compatible with the responsibilities of the position.

General conditions

For further information about the Synchrotron SOLEIL see the website https://www.synchrotron-soleil.fr/en. For further information about the application process: SecretariatDG-Soleil@synchrotron-soleil.fr.

The application process will be in two steps. A letter of interest (1-3 pages including a short CV, a description of competencies and the motivation to apply for the position) is to be sent to SecretariatDG-Soleil@synchrotron-soleil.fr for preselection before September 30, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will have to submit a complete application file.