ESRF: Postdoc on Beamline ID10-SURF
Job Description
Post-doc (f/m) on Beamline ID10-SURF in the X-ray Diffraction and Scattering Group
Organization: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
Faculty/Department/Division: X-ray Diffraction and Scattering Group, Beamline ID10-SURF
Location: Grenoble, France
Position: Post-doctoral Researcher
Project Overview
The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) is an international research centre based in Grenoble, France. It is recognized as one of the world’s leading research facilities, with approximately 700 staff members from 38 countries. Its particle accelerator produces intense X-ray beams used by scientists in fields including biology, medicine, environmental sciences, cultural heritage, materials science, and physics.
The successful candidate will contribute to the operation of beamline ID10-SURF and its ongoing in-house research programmes. The research will focus on interactions between biological membrane mimics at liquid interfaces and macromolecules, including polymers and proteins, using X-ray surface scattering techniques.
The ID10 surface scattering station investigates hard and soft condensed matter surfaces and interfaces using X-ray reflectivity (XRR), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES).
The beamline also features a double crystal deflector (DCD), which enables studies of liquid surfaces, including buried interfaces. Available sample environments include a Langmuir trough and a reactor for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) growth of two-dimensional materials on liquid metal catalysts.
Current in-house research topics include Langmuir films that mimic cell membranes, nanoparticle assembly at liquid interfaces, and catalysis.
Key Responsibilities
- Participate in the operation of beamline ID10-SURF and its in-house research programmes.
- Support external users as a local contact during experiments.
- Develop an independent research programme focused on biological membrane mimics at liquid interfaces and their interactions with macromolecules.
- Apply X-ray surface scattering techniques to investigate relevant systems.
- Develop advanced data-analysis strategies that are chemically and physically consistent with surface X-ray scattering data.
- Contribute to the development of sample cells specific to the beamline.
- Work with beamline scientists on experimental methods, data interpretation, and research activities.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related field, obtained within the last three years.
- Strong aptitude for instrumentation and data analysis.
- Knowledge of research topics relevant to surface science, liquid surfaces, soft matter, or solid-state physics.
- Experience applying X-ray or neutron scattering techniques to soft matter or related systems.
- Basic knowledge of scattering data modelling.
- Data-analysis skills and programming experience in Python or MATLAB.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary staff and facility users.
Preferred Qualifications
The announcement does not provide a separate preferred-qualifications list. Experience relevant to surface science, liquid interfaces, soft matter, scattering methods, and data modelling is emphasized in the requirements.
Employment Details
- Position type: Postdoctoral research position.
- Contract duration: 18 months.
- Extension: Renewable for a further period of 6 to 18 months.
- Start date: Not specified.
- Application deadline: Not specified.
- Working hours: Not specified.
Salary & Benefits
ESRF offers a competitive compensation and allowances package. Benefits described in the announcement include financial support for relocation to Grenoble, an international research environment, opportunities to collaborate with experts, and a workplace designed to support quality of life.
Exact salary figures and detailed allowance amounts are not specified.
Further information on employment terms and conditions is available at the ESRF employment information page.
Application Documents
The supplied announcement directs applicants to apply online. A specific list of required application documents is not included in the provided text.
English Language Requirement
No specific English-language certificate or minimum proficiency score is stated in the announcement.
Research Areas
- X-ray diffraction and scattering.
- X-ray surface scattering.
- Surface science and liquid interfaces.
- Soft matter and solid-state physics.
- Biological membrane mimics.
- Polymer and protein interactions.
- X-ray reflectivity (XRR).
- GIWAXS and GISAXS.
- X-ray fluorescence (XRF).
- X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES).
- Data analysis and scattering modelling.
- Nanoparticle assembly and catalysis.
Supervisor(s)
Not specified.
Contact
Dr. Oleg Konovalov
Email: [email protected]
Application Deadline
Not specified in the supplied announcement.
Starting Date
Not specified.
Reference
Job ID: 1998, based on the supplied application URL.
