The European Synchrotron (ESRF)

Diamond Light Source Ltd; Grenoble; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support to Grenoble

Competitive compensation

Job summary

ESRF, the European Synchrotron, based in Grenoble, France, is offering a PhD position in 4D diffraction imaging of grain growth in metals using pink-beam topotomography. You will investigate grain growth in polycrystalline metals, reconstruct 4D datasets, and collaborate with INSA Lyon and CEMEF for simulations.

Enrolment at Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) on a 3-year contract. You will prepare samples, perform in situ experiments at ID03, analyze data, and contribute to a doctoral thesis.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in materials science, physics, physical metallurgy or related field by contract start.
• Knowledge of crystallography and diffraction.
• Interest in physical metallurgy, grain boundaries and grain growth.
• Solid programming experience (Python or MATLAB) and data analysis.
• Lab experience (sample prep, EBSD or XRD); synchrotron experience is a bonus.
• Good communication and ability to work in an international team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare polycrystalline aluminium, iron and nickel samples and select target grains.
• Design and perform in situ high-temperature grain growth experiments at ID03.
• Reconstruct and analyze 4D datasets to quantify grain boundary velocity and curvature.
• Provide experimental input to full-field simulations of grain growth.
• Publish results, present at conferences, and defend a doctoral thesis at UGA.

Skills

Crystallography

Diffraction

Programming (Python/MATLAB)

Image processing

English communication

Education

Master’s degree in materials science/physics/metallurgy

Tools

3DXRD

DCT

DFXM

pink-beam topotomography

Job description

• Job title: PhD student in 4D diffraction imaging of grain growth in metals using pink-beam topotomography
• Ref.: CFR506
• Contract type: Time-limited contract
• Working time: Full-time job
• Salary range: 33,4K€
• Publication start on Front Office : Site internet: 08/10/2026
• Contract duration: 2-year contract, renewable 1 year

Context & Job description

As a PhD student at the ESRF, you will investigate grain growth in polycrystalline metals by 4D (3D + time) synchrotron diffraction imaging within the project 4DGG, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and coordinated by the ESRF in partnership with the MATEIS laboratory at INSA Lyon (Wolfgang Ludwig) and CEMEF at Mines Paris, PSL University (Marc Bernacki). Classical models treat grain growth as curvature-driven boundary migration, yet 3D studies show that boundary velocity and curvature are often poorly correlated, pointing to contributions from elastic strain and dislocation substructures that remain to be measured directly in 3D during growth. You will use pink-beam topotomography, developed within the project at beamline ID03, in which rotating the sample about the diffraction vector of a selected grain keeps it in diffraction condition and enables time-resolved 3D imaging of grains and their boundaries during in situ annealing. Combined with dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM), 3DXRD and diffraction contrast tomography (DCT), these measurements will follow normal and abnormal grain growth in aluminium, iron and nickel, and provide quantitative input for full-field grain growth models. You will be enrolled in the École Doctorale de Physique at Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) on a 3-year contract, with Can Yildirim (ESRF) as main supervisor.

Your responsibilities include:

• Preparing polycrystalline aluminium, iron and nickel samples and selecting target grains by 3DXRD and DCT.
• Designing and performing in situ high-temperature grain growth experiments at ID03 combining pink-beam topotomography, DFXM and 3DXRD/DCT.
• Reconstructing and analysing the 4D datasets to quantify grain boundary velocity, curvature, misorientation and elastic strain, in close collaboration with INSA Lyon on topotomographic reconstruction.
• Providing experimental input to the full-field simulations of grain growth performed at CEMEF, and comparing measured and simulated microstructure evolution.

Publishing the results, presenting at international conferences, and writing and defending a doctoral thesis at UGA.

Expected profile

You are enthusiastic about physical metallurgy and X-ray science, and motivated by experimental work at a large-scale research facility. You are curious and keen to learn new experimental and data analysis methods, and you enjoy working in a collaborative, international environment. To be considered for this position, you should have:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in materials science, physics, physical metallurgy or a related field, obtained by the start of the contract and meeting the admission requirements of the UGA École Doctorale de Physique.
• Knowledge of crystallography and diffraction.
• An interest in physical metallurgy, in particular grain boundaries and grain growth.
• A solid programming experience (for example Python or MATLAB) and an interest in image processing and data analysis.
• Laboratory experience, for example from a Master’s project or internship (sample preparation, EBSD or XRD), is welcome; prior synchrotron experience is an asset
• Good communication skills and motivation to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Good command of English (working language at the ESRF).

Working conditions

Your shall be enrolled in UGA University / Doctoral School as a condition of your hiring.

Contract of two years renewable for one year.

• competitive compensation
• allowances package
• financial support for your relocation to Grenoble

For further information on employment terms and conditions, please refer to "What we offer" section of our Careers page https://www.esrf.fr/Jobs

The ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from disabled persons.

What makes the ESRF experience unique…

Company description

The European Synchrotron, the ESRF, is an international research centre based in Grenoble, France.

Through its innovative engineering, pioneering scientific vision and a strong commitment from its 700 staff members, the ESRF is recognised as one of the top research facilities worldwide. Its particle accelerator produces intense X-ray beams that are used by thousands of scientists each year for experiments in diverse fields such as biology, medicine, environmental sciences, cultural heritage, materials science, and physics.

Supported by 19 countries, the ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity.