Description du sujet de thèse

Spin and orbital transport in Van der Waals Multiferroic Devices for Logic-in-Memory Architectures
CONTEXT:
A new interdisciplinary research initiative—MULTISPIN, part of the national PEPR SPIN program—brings together experimentalists and theorists in spintronics to develop multiferroic heterostructures entirely composed of van der Waals 2D materials. These materials offer exceptional tunability, including gate-controlled magnetism, strong interface coupling, spin filtering, and magnetoelectric functionalities.
This experimental PhD project aims to uncover the fundamental spin and orbital transport properties of these novel 2D multiferroic devices, explore their magnetoelectric control mechanisms, and demonstrate their potential in neuromorphic and in-memory logic architectures.
COLLABORATION :
This position is at the heart of a strong collaborative network:
• CINaM, Aix-Marseille University (Prof. Aurélien Manchon) – Theoretical modeling of spin and electroresistive transport.
• INL, Lyon (Prof. Ian O'Connor, Dr. Cédric Marchand) – Circuit modeling and logic-in-memory architectures.
• Laboratoire Albert Fert (Dr. Pierre Seneor, Dr. Bruno Dlubak) – Growth and characterization of 2D materials and multiferroics.
• Several european laboratories within the framework of the EIC Pathfinder 2DFERROPLEX.
SCOPE OF THE WORK:
The rising energy demands of microelectronics—especially in AI and edge computing—require a paradigm shift toward frugal, non-volatile, and multifunctional devices. Spintronics and ferroelectricity independently offer scalable, low-power solutions. Their integration in Multiferroic Tunnel Junctions (MFTJs), particularly with van der Waals (vdW) materials, enables disruptive computing schemes beyond CMOS limits.
The PhD candidate will:
• Use advanced dry transfer techniques in a glovebox environment for assembling air-stable heterostructures.
• Employ cutting-edge nanofabrication tools, including laser and e-beam lithography, reactive ion etching, and atomic layer deposition (high-k material).
• Investigate structural and ferroelectric properties using techniques such as PUND and Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM).
• Measure magnetotransport and magnetoelectric responses over a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields (1–400 K, up to 9 T, angular rotation, light excitation, AC/DC measurements).

Contexte de travail

The candidate will joign the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials of Strasbourg (a joint research unit CNRS-University of Strasbourg of 230 collaborators), more precisely a dynamic team of condensed matter experimentalists at IPCMS with Dr. Bohdan Kundys, Prof. Bernard Doudin and Prof. Jean-François Dayen.
Her or his main responsibilities will include:
• Fabrication and characterization of 2D vdW multiferroic tunnel junctions.
• Collaborative work with theorists and engineers on modeling and device integration.
• Participation in team meetings, joint laboratory visits, and international conferences.
We are looking for a candidate who is:
• highly motivated with a passion for both fundamental and applied experimental physics.
• endowed with team collaborative spirit and a strong sense of scientific curiosity.
• skilled (or willing to learn) in nanofabrication, 2D materials stacking, and cryogenic measurements.

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.