Description du sujet de thèse

The candidate will join an ERC-funded project, led by Dr. Patricia Abellan, on the development of experimental workflows and predictive tools for the effects of electron beams on liquid samples observed by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM): aqueous solutions, hydrated materials, and interfaces water/solid. This is particularly important for in situ/operando/in vitro conditions as such obtained using liquid cells or cryogenic temperatures in the TEM. The project aims at developing an essential platform for reliable interpretation of liquid phase electron microscopy observations and robust experimental design.
This project will involve the development of cryo-EELS and EELS-in-liquid methods for radiation chemistry quantification in close collaboration with Prof. Jay LaVerne (radiation chemistry methods and modelling, University of Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory, USA).

Job description / Activities:
The candidate will in particular: develop in situ methods for radiation chemistry evaluation using different cryo-holders and liquid holders for the SEM and for the STEM, glove boxes and transfer holders, optical spectroscopies and water radical chemistry approaches.

She/He will have access to the unique imaging and analytical electron microscopy capabilities of the PLASSMAT platform in the IMN and the dedicated equipment available through the ERC-funded project. The PLASSMAT platform hosts the state-of-the-art Nant'Themis (S)TEM (Thermo Fisher Scientific Themis Z G3), equipped with a monochromator (energy resolution of less than 100 meV), probe corrector (spatial resolution of 60 pm @ 300 kV in STEM), and a variety of detectors and associated analytical capabilities: EDX spectroscopy (SuperX system with 4 detectors), EELS (direct electron detection camera Gatan K2 summit coupled with the Gatan GIF Quantum 966 ERS detector), iDPC, precession (Digistar and Astar from Nanomegas), fast acquisition cameras (Gatan OneView IS). The PLASSMAT platform also host a dual-beam FIB/SEM (ZEISS Crossbeam 550L) microscope and 4 different SEM microscopes, including a newly installed JEOL IT 70 SEM that will be used for this project.
The candiate will also have access to a Vitrobot System (Thermo Fisher Scientific) for reproducible sample preparation for cryo-EM and a variety of newly commissioned sample holders dedicated to the study of aqueous samples and water-solid interfaces. These include a custom-designed liquid holder for the SEM (Norcada Inc.), a cryo-transfer holder with continuously variable temperature capabilities (Gatan), a liquid holder for homogeneous liquid thicknesses (Insight Chips) and a liquid holder with electrochemical capabilities (Hummingbird Sci.)

Profile and requirements:
Requirements:
• Must hold a master 2 (M2) or equivalent with a background in chemistry, materials science, biology or closely related backgrounds
• Background on electron microscopy
• Practical experience on electron microscopy, including SEM, (S)TEM, low-dose imaging of beam sensitive materials and cryogenic techniques
• Computing competences in data treatment
• Problem solving skills

Desirable experience / skills:
• Practical experience on electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)
• Knowledge on/Laboratory experience with water radical chemistry
• Very good English

Contexte de travail

This PhD project is funded as part of a European Research Council, ERC consolidator grant supported by the European Union (DREAM-SWIM project). ERC grants are amongst the EU's most prestigious and competitive programs that support ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.

The host laboratory is the Institute of Materials of Nantes Jean Rouxel (IMN, UMR 6502, http://www.cnrs-imn.fr). The IMN is a joined research centre between CNRS and Nantes University, with over 200 staff members including over 120 permanent researchers, administrative personnel and engineers and around 80 are PhD students, postdocs and fixed-term engineers. The successful candidate will join the PMN (Physics of materials and nanostructures) team, as part of a research axis aimed at the study of interfaces at the nanometer scale, and will benefit from the interaction with many colleagues working in several fields of material sciences. The PhD position is based at the Center of Microcharacterization (CMC) of the IMN and le (la) candidat(e) will also interact with other researchers, engineers and graduate students working on electron microscopy on a myriad of different problems.

This project will be done in strong collaboration with the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory (NDRL) located at the University of Notre Dame, in Indiana, USA (https://rad.nd.edu/ ), and in particular with Prof. Jay LaVerne. NDRL is a world-renowned center for both radiation chemistry and solar photochemistry.

The PhD candidate will be associated to the 3MG (Matériaux Matières Molécules Géosciences) doctoral school.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

Short visits at the NDRL in USA may be possible.

Informations complémentaires

Additional information: All applications must be sent through the “portail emploi CNRS” and must include a CV and a cover letter outlining your motivation.