Postdoctoral position - Developement of an electrostatic ion beam trap to perform ion pump laser probe experiments with complex molecular systems
16 Jan 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
Université de Caen Normandie- Research Field
Chemistry
Physics- Researcher Profile
Recognised Researcher (R2)- Positions
Postdoc Positions- Application Deadline
16 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (UTC)- Country
France- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Offer Starting Date
1 Apr 2026- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The postdoctoral researcher will integrate the Atoms, Molecules and Aggregates (AMA) team of CIMAP laboratory - Centre de recherche sur les ions, les matériaux et la photonique (Caen, France). She/he will be involved in research activities related to the SMILEI project (Storage of Molecular Ion in a Linear Electrostatic Ion beam trap) implemented at the GANIL facility (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds, Caen, France). This project is funded within the Caen, strategy for accelerating research (CaeSAR) supported by supported by the French government under the France 2030 initiative and by the Normandy region.
The SMILEI project aims to develop a linear electrostatic ion beam trap allowing to prepare complex molecular systems and opening the possibility of spectroscopy of well prepared species with application foreseen in molecular physics and in nuclear physics. In particular it will be possible to perform the first ever ion pump-laser probe experiments with complex molecular systems
The postdoctoral researcher's mission will be to commission the new experimental setup. This device is coupling a pulsed valve to generate neutral beam of complex molecular systems, an ion beam to ionise and excite the target system, an electrostatic ion beam trap to trap the cationic products of the ion collision, and a UV laser to probe this products.
Additionally she/he will be engaged in supervising undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students involved in the project. She/he will be involved in other research programs of the host group including experimental campaign at large scale facilities delivering ion beams (GANIL, DESIREE) or synchrotron light (SOLEIL, MaxIV).
Shorts periods of travel in France and abroad could be expected.
Where to apply
cimap@ensicaen.fr
Requirements
- Research Field
- Chemistry
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
- Research Field
- Physics
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
A doctoral degree in physics/chemistry is required. Practical experience with electrostatic ion beam trap will be an asset. Knowledge in ultra-high vacuum systems, molecular beam production, and ion optics simulations is necessary. Additionally, proficiency in developing acquisition systems using C++ (ROOT) is highly desirable.
The candidate must have strong teamwork skills and the ability to work in collaborative, multidisciplinary projects, as well as the capacity to work independently. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
- Research Field
- Chemistry
- Years of Research Experience
- 1 - 4
- Research Field
- Physics
- Years of Research Experience
- 1 - 4
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
PhD in Physics / Chemical physics.
First experience in the field will be appreciated.
Selection process
Email your CV to cimap@ensicaen.fr , patrick.rousseau@ganil.fr , sarah.colineaux@ensicaen.fr .
The selection will be done with a committee composed by two persons from the CIMAP. It can be in person or remote.
Additional comments
This research position is funded by the université Caen Normandie through the CaeSAR program "Caen, Strategy for Accelerated Research". The candidate will be affiliated with the CIMAP laboratory in Caen, France.
The CIMAP laboratory is a multidisciplinary research laboratory where scientific areas span from ion-matter interaction to materials for lasers, photonics and electronics. The proposed project is related to the research activity of the AMA team which is specialized in studies of relaxation mechanisms of excited molecular systems in the gas phase under ion bombardment (stability, dissociation of molecules and clusters, etc). CIMAP is situated in the proximity of different ion beam lines of GANIL – a unique tool to study ion interactions with matter. Experimental set-ups developed at CIMAP can be used at different available beam energies. Moreover, CIMAP is a user facility which means that local scientists assist external researchers in using the irradiation facilities of GANIL for studies in atomic and molecular collisions, material science, etc.
Caen is a pleasant city of about 100.000 inhabitants with an urban area of 220.000 inhabitants situated in Normandy. It is located about 250 km west of Paris. It can be reached by car, train or plane; mostly passing through Paris. In addition, connections with England are available via ferry.
- Website for additional job details
https://cimap.ensicaen.fr
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Université de Caen Normandie - GANIL research centre
- Country
- France
- City
- Caen
- Postal Code
- 14076
- Street
- Boulevard Henri Becquerel
- Geofield
Contact
- City
Caen- Website
http://www.unicaen.fr- Street
Esplanade de la Paix 14032 CAEN CEDEX- Postal Code
CS 14032
patrick.rousseau@ganil.fr
STATUS: EXPIRED
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