A post-doctoral research position is open, starting from September 1st 2026 within the VUV beamline DESIRS group (L. Nahon, G. A. Garcia, N. de Oliveira & A. Giuliani) at Synchrotron SOLEIL, on a PEPICO/molecular beam machine.
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.
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.
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.
GEFAM 