- Home
- Jobs
- All our job opportunities
- PhD student at ILL studying picosecond diffusion during crystallisation processes
PhD student at ILL studying picosecond diffusion during crystallisation processes
At a glance
- Job title: PhD student at ILL studying picosecond diffusion during crystallisation processes
- Ref.: NS25-ILL25
- Contract type: Time-limited contract
- Salary range: 32.7K€
- Deadline for applications: 02/05/2025
- Expected deadline of applications: 02/05/2025
- Publication start on Front Office : Site internet: 03/03/2025
- Contract duration: 3 years (1 year renewable 2 years)
Context & Job description
Thesis subject: Diffusive dynamics of crystallization processes of organic molecules
You will join the spectroscopy group at the ILL, Grenoble, France, with specific focus on short-time spectroscopy of organic molecules in solution. You will use quasi-elastic neutron scattering with and without polarisation analysis to follow all or parts of solutions during crystallisation.
Crystallization is one of the most essential unit processes in the chemical sector, and its control would unlock a faster process to safer medicines, cheaper fine chemicals, more efficient agrochemicals, and will lead to a greener manufacturing process. However, crystallization control is currently hampered by a lack of fundamental knowledge of the nucleation process. In this project, you will follow the molecular diffusion during crystallization to obtain further insight into the nucleation pathway. Using quasi-elastic neutron scattering to give information about self- and collective diffusion, you will follow diffusion of single molecules, molecular aggregates leading to crystal nucleation, and of single molecules within these molecular aggregates. You will investigate disordered systems of the neat molecules (melt/glass) and solutions. A holistic approach is given using polarisation analysis allowing you to follow the change in diffusion of both solute and solvent at the same time. With the information gathered in this project we aim to observe experimentally the formation of liquid dense phases for small molecules and resolve a long-standing debate over the nucleation pathway in these systems. As additional method complementary to neutrons, you will also employ X-ray scattering, including notably small angle scattering using synchrotron radiation.
Further information may be obtained from: Dr. Tilo Seydel (tel.: +33 (0)4 76 20 7579, email: Seydel@ill.eu), from Prof. Katharina Edkins (+44 (0)141 548-2510, email: Katharina.Edkins@strath.ac.uk) and from Dr. Lucile Mangin-Thro (+33 (0)4 76 20 7571), email: Mangin-Throl@ill.fr
Expected profile
- Degree allowing enrolment for a PhD (such as MSc, Master 2 de Recherche, Laurea or equivalent) in chemistry, physical chemistry, or a closely related field like physics, materials sciences, nanotechnology, etc. Degrees must have been granted by European universities or already recognised as equivalent.
- A background in [experimentation is desirable, and knowledge of scattering techniques, crystallisation as well as programming would be an advantage. It will be expected from the thesis student to acquire skills in coding in python to analyse data.
- Manual skills and rigorous attention to detail are essential in this work environment.
- Proficiency in English (A proof of upper-intermediate level must be included in the application. Applicants originating from native-English-speaking countries can apply without the need for proof of level. An official degree conducted in English will be also accepted as a proof). If the applicant is unable to provide proof, an English test (free of charge) will be requested.
- Compliance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule: candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host institute’s country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the application deadline.
- All researchers recruited must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already working towards or in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
- Candidates must satisfy the conditions for enrolment in a doctoral programme.
Working conditions
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral school at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (United Kingdom) and based full-time at the ILL (Grenoble, France), other than at least two months of secondment to AstraZeneca (Macclesfield, United Kingdom). Additional visits may be made to the University of Strathclyde when needed. Furthermore, the successful candidate will enrol on the Strathclyde Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development. A varied pedagogical training programme will be offered in addition throughout the 3-year PhD project.
Company description
NEXTSTEP will train 36 young and enthusiastic researchers to exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of analytical research infrastructures in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy and Mobility” and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”, which are at the heart of Horizon Europe. Host laboratories: ESRF and ILL (France), FZJ (Germany), AREA (Italy), NTNU (Norway).