PhD in Soft Matter physics: Dynamics of chiral guest-host systems based on liquid crystals

16 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Laboratoires Charles Coulomb

Department

Soft Matter Team

Research Field

Physics » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

30 Apr 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

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

This PhD position is part of the ANR project CHIRALGHOST and will start at the beginning of September 2024. 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 for 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 us 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, directly impacting the understanding of more complex phenomena such as the self-assembly of chiral objects in complex chiral environments.

[1] M. Quemener, T. Galstian, T. Marmin, V. Laroche, and Y. L. Dory, Physical Review E  95, 052701 (2017).
[2] Y. Yuan, A. Martinez, B. Senyuk, M. Tasinkevych, and I. I. Smalyukh, Nature Materials  17, 71 (2018).
[3] I. I. Smalyukh, Y. Lansac, N. A. Clark, and R. P. Trivedi, Nature Materials  9, 139 (2010)

Requirements

Research Field

Physics » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a M.Sc. in soft matter/condensed matter physics. This PhD position is a full-time employment with a monthly salary of 2135 € for 3 years, starting in September 2024. The ideal student 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 of English is required. The main activities of this PhD include:

• development and interfacing of microscopy-based experimental setup   
• preparation of liquid crystal mixtures and samples
• polarized microscopy experiments in transmission, reflection, fluorescence, etc
• manipulation of colloids and optical solitons with an existing optical trap setup
• experimental data analysis and basic model simulations with Python or equivalent scripting language
• team collaboration and interaction with other researchers for comparisons between experiments and advanced simulations/theoretical models
• dissemination of results in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences

The financial support from the ANR will facilitate the acquisition of new equipment and the travel fee of the student for conferences.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Research Field

Physics » Other

Additional Information
Benefits

The PhD student will become a member of the Soft Matter team of laboratory Charles Coulomb (L2C) in Montpellier, which currently includes 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 supervised by Guilhem Poy (chargé de recherche CNRS, specialist of chiral liquid crystal physics and optics).

Selection process

To apply for this job position, please contact directly guilhem.poy[at]umontpellier.fr with a CV, motivation letter and transcript of bachelor/master grades. Selected candidates will be interviewed during the next months by Guilhem Poy and Maurizio Nobili.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Laboratoire Charles Coulomb

Country

France

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Montpellier

Website

https://www.softmatter-l2c.fr/
https://coulomb.umontpellier.fr/?lang=en

Street

Place Eugène Bataillon

Postal Code

34000

STATUS: EXPIRED