Offre de thèse (M/F) - Chimie organique / Matériaux moléculaires

Organisation/Company: CNRS

Department: Institut des sciences chimiques de Rennes

Research Field: Chemistry, Environmental science

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country: France

Application Deadline: 24 Apr 2025 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 35

Offer Starting Date: 1 Oct 2025

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 group of L Favereau recently contributed to this research area by obtaining the first enantiopure chiral monoradicals displaying SOMO-HOMO inversion (SHI), affording new perspectives for the synthesis of innovative (chiral) open-shell systems (Favereau and co., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020 and J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022). Because of its expertise in studying the magnetic, spin and optical behaviour of organic semiconductors, the group of E. Evans has also recently demonstrated new spin-optical phenomena towards future molecular quantum technology platforms (Gorgon et al, Nature 2023).

We are looking for a highly motivated Ph.D. candidate with a strong background in organic synthesis. Experience/interest in photophysical properties will be an added value but is not a requirement. In addition, a strong motivation for research and good communication skills are required (fluent English or French speaking is mandatory).

This PhD position is within the framework of an ERC project named SHIFUMI (https://www.bretagne-pays-de-la-loire.cnrs.fr/fr/personne/ludovic-faver…).

The candidate must have a Master Degree in chemistry. The position requires knowledge in chirality, sound skills in synthetic chemistry (organic and organometallic), purification methods, characterization techniques, spectroscopic tools, data processing software, a high level of communication skills, both oral and written (French and English required) to be able to present at conferences and write articles in scientific publications, flexibility, adaptability, and creativity. In addition, the candidate must be able to work in a team on multi-disciplinary projects.

Applications must include a detailed CV; at least two references (people who may be contacted); a cover letter of one page; a two-page résumé of the dissertation for the Masters; grades for the Masters 1 or 2 or the engineering degree.

The closing date for sending applications is end of April; the PhD starting date: 1st Oct. 2025.

The PhD will combine the expertise of both groups to develop innovative chiral organic radicals and investigate their unique properties of luminescence by optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The design and synthesis of organic molecular materials is currently experiencing significant interest, aiming to bring about innovations in various technological fields of societal importance such as photovoltaics, displays, information transmission and storage. In this regard, the property of chirality has recently emerged as a promising direction in material science due to their specific interaction with circularly polarized light and the potential of the latter in optoelectronic devices (Fuchter and co., Nat. Rev. Chem. 2017, 1 (6), 0045).

The main part of the project will be devoted to the synthesis of chiral organic molecules with different electronic properties and the study of their photophysical, chiroptical and magnetic properties both in solution and solid state.

Projet: SHIFUMI - SOMO-HOMO Inversion For chiral open-shell p-conjugated systems –
(Grant Agreement number: 101041516—SHIFUMI—ERC starting grant (StG))