Post-Doctoral Fellowship - Synthesis, structural, physical characterization

The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), situated in Grenoble, France, is Europe's leading research facility for fundamental research using neutrons. The ILL operates the brightest neutron source in the world, reliably delivering intense neutron beams to 40 unique scientific instruments. The Institute welcomes over 2000 visits of scientists per year to carry out world-class research in solid-state physics, crystallography, soft matter, biology, chemistry and fundamental physics. Funded primarily by its three founder members: France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the ILL has also signed scientific collaboration agreements with 10 other countries. The Science Division currently has a vacancy:

Post-Doctoral Fellowship - Synthesis, structural and physical characterization of novel skyrmion-hosting materials

Duties:
Within the Diffraction (DIFF) Group, the position is to work under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Alaria (University of Liverpool, UK) and Dr. Stanislav Savvin (ILL) on synthesis, structural and physical properties of new skyrmion-hosting materials.
Skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures occurring when a balanced competition between ferromagnetic and antisymmetric exchange interactions is present in a magnetic material and therefore requiring that both time reversal and spatial symmetry are broken. The Post-Doctoral Fellow will investigate the possible emergence of a skyrmion phase in a series of previously unexplored bulk magnetic materials. To achieve this the successful candidate is expected to take on the following duties:

Single crystal growth and polycrystalline sample synthesis in collaboration with experimentalists from the University of Liverpool.

Extensive physical characterization of the samples prepared, including but not limited to X-ray diffraction, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, torque magnetometry, etc.

Determination of the low-temperature nuclear and magnetic structures of the samples at the ILL using several powder (D2B, D20) and single crystal (D3, D9, D10) diffractometers.

SANS study of the possible emergent skyrmion state in the samples at the ILL.

Micromagnetic simulations by Monte Carlo method to establish the theoretical phase diagrams for the same compositions in collaboration with computational chemists from the University of Liverpool.

Qualifications and experience:
PhD in physics, chemistry, materials science or equivalent qualification
X-ray and neutron crystal structure determination and refinement
Knowledge of magnetic crystallography and group theory
Low-temperature bulk physical measurements, i.e. electrical transport, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and magnetization
Past experience in single crystal growth, powder sample synthesis as well as DFT and Monte-Carlo simulations would be an advantage.

Language skills:
As an international research centre, we are particularly keen to ensure that we also attract applicants from outside France. You must have a sound knowledge of English and be willing to learn French (a language course will be paid for by the ILL). Knowledge of German would be an advantage.

Notes:
This post is located in GRENOBLE, France and subject to administrative screening.
Starting date is ideally August 2020.

Post-doctoral contract of 18 months renewable for a 6 months period. Only candidates holding a PhD obtained less than 2 years ago are eligible for post-doctoral positions at ILL.
Medical fitness for work under ionising radiation is required.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Dr. Stanislav Savvin, tel. : +33(0)4.76.20.78.05, e-mail: savvin@ill.eu (please do not send your application to this address).

Benefits:
Generous company benefits (expatriation allowance), relocation assistance and language courses may be offered (for more information, please consult our employment conditions).

How to apply:
Please submit your application in English on line with a list of publications, a two pages research statement and the names of 3 references, including one from your present work place, no later than 14.06.2020, via our website: www.ill.eu/careers (vacancy reference: 20/24).
We care about Equal Opportunity and Diversity; therefore we encourage both men and women with relevant qualifications to apply.