M/W PhD in soft matter/liquid crystals « Dynamic of chiral guest-host systems »

Updated: 4 months ago
Location: Montpellier, LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 22 Jan 2024

2 Jan 2024
Job Information
Organisation/Company

CNRS
Department

Laboratoire Charles Coulomb
Research Field

Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Physics » Chemical physics
Physics » Biophysics
Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country

France
Application Deadline

22 Jan 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Hours Per Week

35
Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2024
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

he PhD student will become a member of the Soft Matter team of laboratory Charles Coulomb in Montpellier, which currently include 17 permanent researchers and roughly the same number of PhD students and postdocs. He/she will be fully involved in our scientific activities, such as weekly group meetings and monthly colloquia, and will mainly work in collaboration with local researchers working on liquid crystals (Guilhem Poy, Maurizio Nobili, Christophe Blanc) as well as chemical engineers (Ty Phou, Edward Chauveau) and mechanical engineers (Jérôme Barbat, Alban Bertrand). The PhD thesis will be directed by Maurizio Nobili (professor, specialist of colloidal physics) and supervized by Guilhem Poy (chargé de recherche CNRS, specialist of chiral liquid crystal physics and optics). The financial support from the ANR will facilitate the acquisition of new equipments and the travel fees of the student for conferences.

This PhD position is part of the ANR project CHIRALGHOST. Motivated by recent and engaging results showing the fundamental role of chirality in the dynamic of soft matter systems and the technological need of the pharmaceutical industry for chiral differentiation, this research project proposes to examine new possibilities of achieving the separation of enantiomeric entities of various sizes using chiral soft matter systems. The primary objective of this project is to design and implement new experimental systems and theoretical models, based on confined chiral liquid crystals, allowing to specifically determine how the chirality of a fluctuating host environment interacts with the structural chirality of guest objects at the molecular and mesoscopic scales when these objects diffuse or are dragged. More specifically, the possibility of dynamically separating enantiomeric chiral guest molecules diffusing in a confined chiral liquid crystal host will be examined by using specifically designed chiral fluorescent molecules and a combination of fluorescence and light scattering microscopy observations. Moreover, the diffusive and dynamical properties of colloidal particles with a chiral shape and more complex patterns localized in the orientational field of the CLC molecules will be experimentally characterised and quantitatively described in the same confined chiral liquid crystal systems. With a unique combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, the CHIRALGHOST project will generate new knowledge regarding multiscale chiral interactions in soft condensed matter. A comprehensive description of chirality-tuned diffusive phenomena in liquid crystals will be established, with a direct impact on the understanding of more complex phenomena such as the self-assembly of chiral objects in complex chiral environments.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a M.Sc. in soft matter/condensed matter physics. The ideal candidate will primarily have the profile of a soft matter experimentalist. Any additional proficiencies in numerical simulations and previous experiences with liquid crystal research will be considered as a plus. A good level in English is required. The main activities of this PhD include the development of microscopy experimental setup, the preparation of liquid crystal mixtures and samples, polarised microscopy and optical tweezer experiments, experimental data analysis and basic model simulations with python or equivalent, team collaboration for experiment/theory comparisons, and dissemination of scientific results.


Requirements
Research Field
Chemistry
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Research Field
Physics
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Research Field
Physics
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Languages
FRENCH
Level
Basic

Research Field
Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Years of Research Experience
None

Research Field
Physics » Chemical physics
Years of Research Experience
None

Research Field
Physics » Biophysics
Years of Research Experience
None

Additional Information
Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR5221-GUIPOY-001/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Laboratoire Charles Coulomb
Country
France
City
MONTPELLIER
Geofield


Where to apply
Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR5221-GUIPOY-001/Candidater.aspx

Contact
City

MONTPELLIER
Website

https://coulomb.umontpellier.fr

STATUS: EXPIRED

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