Missions

The electronic structure of two-dimensional (2D) materials can be selectively modified by controlling their strain, thereby opening new perspectives in microelectronics. In this context, we are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher (M/F) to develop a “bottom-up” approach for transferring strain to these materials through the formation of pressurized blisters, generated at the surface of a substrate by ion implantation and annealing.

In practice, the 2D material will be deposited on a substrate previously implanted with H⁺ and/or He⁺ ions, then subjected to annealing. This process will induce anisotropic deformation of the substrate surface and, consequently, of the 2D material, leading to a modification of its electronic structure.

The contract is for a duration of 12 months, starting in January 2026, with the possibility of renewal for an additional 6 to 12 months.

Activities

We are seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher (M/F) to join the MEM group at CEMES-CNRS (Toulouse, France). In collaboration with the group's physicists and engineers, the successful candidate will contribute to the development of an ambitious research program, making use of the available technological facilities (cleanroom lithography, ion implantation, annealing furnaces, and characterization tools such as Raman spectroscopy, AFM, and electrical measurements) to fabricate blisters and demonstrate their effectiveness in modifying the electronic structure of 2D materials.

The activities will include, in particular:

- Developing a methodology based on cleanroom lithography processes, H⁺/He⁺ ion implantation, and annealing to fabricate blisters with controlled dimensions and morphologies;
- Developing a methodology for transferring 2D materials and locally bonding them onto pre-implanted silicon substrates;
- Characterizing blister dimensions using AFM and SEM, as well as the strain transferred to 2D materials using spectroscopy (Raman);
- Implementing analytical and numerical (finite-element) approaches to analyze the transferred strain;
- Performing the nanofabrication of field-effect transistor prototypes (four-probe devices) and evaluating the electronic structure of strained 2D materials through electrical measurements.

Skills

Required qualifications and skills:
- Proficiency in lithography processes, mask design, and use of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) techniques;
- Expertise in 2D materials, particularly graphene;
- Strong skills in spectroscopy (Raman, instrumentation, data processing and analysis);
- Experience in electrical measurements on nanodevices and 2D materials;
- Knowledge of radiation–matter interactions;
- Solid background in elasticity, strain engineering, numerical simulation tools (COMSOL), and analytical methods for data analysis.

Additional desirable skills:
- Ability to work effectively in a team and in an international collaborative environment;
- Strong sense of rigor and organization;
- Autonomy, initiative, and creativity;
- Excellent scientific communication skills.

Work Context

The postdoctoral researcher (M/F) will be hosted at CEMES, a CNRS laboratory affiliated with the University Paul Sabatier of Toulouse and the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA). CEMES is a fundamental research laboratory in solid-state physics, nanoscience, molecular chemistry, and materials science. Its activities range from the synthesis of (nano)materials and molecular systems to the study and modeling of their structures and physical properties (optical, mechanical, electronic, and magnetic), as well as their integration into devices. A significant part of its research is dedicated to the study and manipulation of individual objects at the nanometer and atomic scales.

The successful candidate will join the MEM group (Materials and Devices for Electronics and Magnetism), which brings together more than 20 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and 9 permanent staff members, in close collaboration with engineers responsible for the facilities (cleanroom, ion implantation, characterization). The group investigates the relationship between atomic structure and the electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of nanomaterial assemblies, with the aim of understanding the underlying physical mechanisms. Its research is based on recognized expertise in synthesis, structural and chemical characterization at the nanoscale, micro- and nanomagnetism, spin dynamics, and atomic-scale modeling.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

The successful candidate (M/F) must be authorized to work in a cleanroom environment, under supervised and controlled conditions, in compliance with applicable safety regulations and procedures.

Additional Information

The contract is for a duration of 12 months, starting in January 2026, with the possibility of renewal for an additional 6 to 12 months.