PhD offer (M/F) - Quantum sensing with spin defects hosted in a two-dimensional material

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 21 000 - 27 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The PhD position at CNRS’ Solid-state Quantum Technologies team (S2QT) in Montpellier will explore quantum sensing with atomically thin 2D materials. Supervised by Vincent Jacques, you will conduct hands-on research, weekly progress meetings, and interim reporting to advance understanding of VB defects in hBN at cryogenic temperatures.

The project aims to integrate 2D quantum sensors into van der Waals heterostructures, studying interfaces in 2D magnets and superconductors, contributing to

Qualifications

• Candidate should be pursuing a PhD or hold a Master’s in Physics or a related field.
• Strong interest in quantum sensing and 2D materials.
• Experience with data analysis and publication-ready reporting.

Responsabilités

• Carry out PhD research on ultrathin hBN with VB centers for quantum sensing.
• Analyze spin and optical properties of VB defects in 2D materials.
• Prepare interim reports and participate in weekly progress meetings under supervision.

Connaissances

Quantum sensing

2D materials

Solid-state physics

Spin defects

Research planning

Formation

Master's degree in Physics

Outils

Python

High-Performance Computing

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire Charles Coulomb Research Field Physics Physics Solid state physics Physics Surface physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 25 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 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 PhD thesis will be carried out within the Solid-state Quantum Technologies team (S2QT – https://solidstatequantumtech-l2c.fr/ ) of the Charles Coulomb Laboratory in Montpellier. The doctoral work will be supervised by Vincent Jacques through daily discussions, weekly meetings to assess scientific progress, and the preparation of interim reports.

Quantum sensing technologies powered by solid-state spin defects have already shown a huge potential for covering the growing need for high-precision sensors, both for basic science and for industrial applications. State-of-the-art quantum sensing methods rely on spin defects hosted in three-dimensional (3D) materials which are facing several obstacles including (i) a limited sensitivity resulting from the dim proximity that can be achieved between the quantum sensor and the target sample, and (ii) the inability to engineer ultrathin and flexible quantum sensors that could be easily transferred onto the samples to be probed or integrated into complex multifunctional devices. The objective of this research project is to overcome these limitations through the design of a flexible, quantum sensing foil based on an atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) material.

Our approach consists in using optically-active spin defects hosted in 2D hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a widebandgap material which is a key building block of van der Waals heterostructures. More precisely, the work will be focused on the study of the spin and optical properties of the boron vacancy (VB) defect in hBN, in order to assess its potential for quantum sensing applications, with a focus on magnetic field detection. The objective of the PhD will be to analyze the performances of ultrathin hBN flakes (down to the monolayer limit) doped with VB centers for quantitative magnetic field imaging at cryogenic temperature (4K). The 2D quantum sensor will then be integrated into van der Waals heterostructures in order to probe, in situ, the physics occurring at the interfaces between atomically thin 2D materials assembled in vertical stacks, with a focus on 2D magnets and 2D superconductors.