Postdoctoral position in Atomic Force Microscopy

France-BioImaging; Montpellier; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

CNRS, Center for Structural Biology (CBS) in Montpellier seeks a motivated scientist to design and develop an Atomic Force Microscope integrated with a Langmuir trough for high-resolution imaging of liquid surfaces.

The role emphasizes advancing AFM technology, observing nanoscale surface phenomena, and collaborating across optics and electronics to push current imaging capabilities. In-person work at CBS is required.

Qualifications

• Master’s and PhD in physics, engineering, or biophysics.
• Experience in Scanning Probe Microscopy with publications.
• Excellent English communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong interest in instrumentation, protocols, and techniques development.
• Experience with lab software and data analysis tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop an AFM integrated within a Langmuir trough.
• Advance microscopy methods to observe nanometric surface phenomena.
• Collaborate across optics, electronics, and instrumentation domains.
• Perform research tasks in-person at the CBS in Montpellier.

Skills

Scanning Probe Microscopy

Instrumentation design

English communication

Publication track record

LabVIEW/Python/MATLAB

FreeCAD/SolidWorks

Optics electronics

Education

Master's & PhD in physics/engineering/biophysics

Tools

FreeCAD

SolidWorks

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Organization

CNRS, Center for Structural Biology (CBS)

Location

29 Rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France

Position Information

What is the smallest thing we can see on the surface of water? The surface of water is the prevalent interface on our planet. Yet, even the most advanced microscopy techniques do not provide nanoscale images of its surface. Yes, reciprocal-space methods such as X-Ray or neutron scattering & reflectivity can provide indirect structural information, but it is an averaged one.

This project aims to develop a novel microscopy approach capable of directly imaging the surface of water with nanometric resolution. We will design and construct an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) integrated within a Langmuir trough, permitting high-resolution and real-time characterization of films directly on liquid surfaces.

Key Responsibilities

In this position, you will go beyond being a typical AFM user who uses a commercial microscope. Instead, you will contribute to advancing AFM and microscopy by designing and developing an instrument capable of observing phenomena that are currently impossible to visualize.

Minimum Qualifications

Motivated and ambitious candidates are encouraged to apply. We require:

• Experience in Scanning Probe Microscopy
• A Master & PhD degree in physics, engineering, or biophysics
• A high level of interest in instrumentation, protocols & techniques development
• Relevant scientific experience supported by publication record
• Excellent English communication skills

Experience in Optics, Electronics

(especially, Lock-In Amplifiers, Phase-Locked Loops, PID controllers, Oscilloscopes, Function generators & Multimeters).

Experience with FreeCAD or equivalent

(i.e. Solidworks).

Computational skills

(i.e. Labview, Python, Matlab).

Position tasks are required to be performed in-person at the Center for Structural Biology.

Apply before November 30, 2026.