General information
Offer title : New perspectives in electron microscopy for advanced characterization of innovative materials M/F (H/F)
Acronyme : MATEM
Reference : CPJ-2025-052
Supporting establishment : National Center for Scientific Research
President and CEO : Antoine PETIT
Site concerned : Alsace, Côte d'Azur, Grenoble-Alpes, Paris-Saclay
Academic region : Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Grand Est, Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Envisaged partner institution : ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Strasbourg, Université Côte d'Azur
Date of publication : 20 May 2025
Type of Contract : Tenure Track Position
Contract Period : between 3 and 6 years depending on the research project and the profile of the scientist
Proportion of work : Full Time
Remuneration : Annual salary from 54 600 Euros to 57 800 Euros depending on professionnal experience.
Scientific theme : Physics, Energy, Information and Communication Technologies
Section(s) CN : 03 - Condensed matter: electronic properties and structures
Profile Required
Holders of a doctorate or a PhD or equivalent degree or applicants who have gained scientific qualifications or carried out scientific work deemed to be of an equivalent level.There is no restriction on the age or nationality of applicants. All CNRS positions are accessible to people with disabilities, with special arrangements for tests made necessary by the nature of the disability
Institution Strategy
Materials are at the heart of several thematic priorities of the CNRS Contract of Objectives and Performance (2.1.5 Multi-scale characterization of matter; 2.1.3 Materials by design; 2.1.8 Matter, information and quantum technologies). At the heart of technological innovation, materials play an essential role in the development of new technologies and products. CNRS is actively involved in research into advanced materials, such as nanomaterials, composite materials, intelligent materials and more. These innovative materials have potential applications in a wide range of sectors, from aerospace and electronics to energy and medicine.
The design of innovative materials - intrinsically more and more complex - based on efficient materials science and engineering requires advanced characterization using state-of-the-art instruments. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) offers unique possibilities for characterizing matter on a sub-nanometric scale, even down to the individual atom, and in increasingly controlled environments. It is an essential technique for the atomic-scale structural and chemical characterization of functional and structural materials, combining imaging and spectroscopy, but also for the measurement of physical fields. CNRS Physique plays a major role at national level as the pilot of the METSA network.
The MATEM tenure track position aims to attract a talent to one of the four host laboratories that have recently acquired state-of-the-art TEM equipment. The research project will make full use of the functionalities of these instruments, with the dual aim of advancing knowledge, the primary mission of the CNRS, and contributing to the emergence of innovative materials, sources of new application concepts.
Host Lab Strategy
The four laboratories targeted for hosting the MATEM tenure track position are engaged in internationally recognized materials research. They share extensive expertise in advanced materials characterization, and have recently acquired state-of-the-art TEM equipment. Each laboratory has its own specific features, which candidates will be able to draw on to build their research program.
CRHEA (Valbonne) is a center of excellence for semiconductor epitaxy and characterization, with a fast-growing research focus on 2D materials.
IPCMS (Strasbourg) has developed top-level skills and expertise in the fields of ultrafast TEM and in situ/operando TEM.
LEM (Châtillon) conducts research into nanomaterials, 2D materials and structural materials for applications in optoelectronics, nanotechnology and aeronautics, in line with ONERA's strategy.
Institut Néel (Grenoble) has extensive expertise in advanced synthesis and characterization of a wide range of materials, in a unique environment in close proximity with ESRF and ILL major research infrastructures.
International Strategy
CNRS Physique's international policy aims to increase the impact and relevance of its research by promoting exchanges with teams of researchers from all over the world. Today, two-thirds of the scientific publications from CNRS Physique laboratories are the result of international collaborations. The prospective host laboratories all have international collaborative projects in the field of innovative materials, either as part of CNRS collaborative tools (IEA, IRP) or as part of ANR PRCI and Horizon Europe projects.
National Directory of Research Structures (RNSR) of the host laboratory
200017509L, CRHEA, Centre de Recherche sur l'Hétéro-Epitaxie et ses Applications 199712572H, IPCMS, Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg
198819289Y, LEM, Laboratoire d'étude des Microstructures
200717524X, NEEL, Institut Néel
Summary of the scientific project
Candidates must propose an original research project of the highest international standard, to be carried out in one of the four host laboratories: the Centre de Recherche sur l'Hétéro-Épitaxie et ses Applications in Valbonne, the Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux in Strasbourg, the Laboratoire d'Étude des Microstructures in Châtillon, and the Institut Néel in Grenoble. Without targeting any particular class of materials, the project will draw on the possibilities offered by the TEM facilities available in each of these laboratories, and propose new experimental approaches and methodologies for analyzing and understanding the structural and physical properties of the materials of interest.
Summary of the teaching project
Candidates will propose a teaching project (28 hours of lectures or 42 hours of practical work or tutorials) in line with the theme of the MATEM tenure track position. This teaching project will then be discussed and finalized with the university supervising the host laboratory.
Financial Environment
- Total (included package ANR) : 200 k€
- Total financement : k€
Scientific dissemination
The dissemination of the results will be done through world-class scientific productions: publications, patents, software... In addition, the results will be communicated to various targets such as scientific communities, media, decision makers, general public, schools, etc., with an adapted calendar. Specific tools may be developed such as websites, newsletters, meetings, international symposia, summer schools and conferences.
Open Science
The CNRS is developing a strong policy in favor of open science. Open science consists of making research results "as accessible as possible and closed as necessary". As such, the CNRS aims to make 100% of the texts of publications resulting from the work of its laboratories accessible , in particular through deposit in HAL. The data produced must also be made available and reusable, except for specific restrictions. In addition, the guiding principles of individual evaluation have been revised in accordance with the DORA declaration, to be more qualitative and to take into account all facets of the researcher's profession.
Science and society
The relationship between science and society is now recognized as a full dimension of scientific activity. The project will develop this dimension in synergy with all the partners. The resulting research work will contribute to informing public decision-making. Participatory science initiatives may be initiated with actors from the project's socio-economic and cultural eco-system.
Indicators
The activity will be evaluated in particular on the basis of scientific production (publications, software, patents, etc.), on institutional and private partnerships formalized by contracts, on international presence, on the promotion of work to multidisciplinary scientific communities, on innovation and its transfer to society and on scientific dissemination to non-specialist audiences.
Methods of organization of the interviews
Only the candidates selected on file by the selection committee will be invited to the auditions.