Job offer

Organisation/Company: ENSICAEN

Department: Management

Research Field: Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Country: France

Application Deadline: 30 Apr 2025 - 20:50 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

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

Key-words: multi-step synthesis, reaction cascade, pericyclic reactions, nanographenes, photophysical studies, materials for energy

Our world experiences a period of energy transition aiming to reach low or zero carbon technology. For this purpose, the field of low-cost and lightweight organic materials with semiconductor properties, that are used as key materials in energy converting and saving devices such as solar cells (OPVs) and new lighting and display technologies (OLEDs), is essential for sustainable development and for reaching future goals of energy production without combustion and CO2 emissions. Graphene-type polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heteroacenes are key materials for organic electronics and materials with semiconductor properties. However, the synthesis of well-defined (hetero)graphenic materials on the molecular level is far from being trivial.

The project aims to address this challenge by developing novel cascade reactions: these reactions consist of multiple C-C bond formation processes in a single synthesis step, and include consecutive sequences of isomerization and electrocyclic annulation reactions. Those cascade reactions are designed to enable the direct transformation of structurally simple precursor molecules into defined nano-sized (hetero)graphenic materials. The project implies not only the complete structural characterization of the synthesized (hetero)acenes but also the systematic evaluation of their photophysical and electrochemical properties.

Where to apply

E-mail: carole.witulski-alayrac@ensicaen.fr

Requirements

Research Field: Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The candidate must hold a research Master's degree in chemistry and have a solid knowledge and motivation for organic synthesis. The candidate should have good organization, communication skills, and independence in his/her research work. Good skills in maintaining lab-book, scientific documentation, report writing, and literature survey – as well as soft skills such as oral presentations and communications, are required.

Languages: ENGLISH Level Good

Additional Information

Selection process

Interested and qualified candidates should send as soon as possible a detailed CV, a motivation letter, the M1/M2 transcripts with marks and ranking, as well as letters of recommendation or the name of academic referents (address, e-mail, and phone number).