It jobs in France

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.

You will participate in the operation of the beamline, ongoing in‑house research programmes, provide support to external users as local contact, and develop your own research programme.

ID09 is a beamline dedicated to time‑resolved X‑ray studies in physics, chemistry and biology using state of the art instrumentation. Through short X‑ray pulses we monitor the structural changes taking place at the atomic/molecular level in different kind of systems (solid‑state materials, transition metal complexes, biomolecules in solution, etc.) after laser photoexcitation with either X‑ray diffraction/scattering or emission spectroscopy.

Current research topics include the study of functionally relevant protein intramolecular motions, fast phenomena in solid‑state materials, and the investigation of chemical reactions in solution.

Inhouse research projects are performed in collaboration with international research groups leader in the field of ultrafast structural dynamics of matter.

• De Bei et al., Time‑resolved X‑ray solution scattering unveils the events leading to hemoglobin heme capture by staphylococcal IsdB. Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54949-w
• Prabudiansyah et al., Dephosphorylation and ion binding in prokaryotic calcium transport, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp2916
• Amano et al., Propagation of insulator‑to‑metal transition driven by photoinduced strain waves in a Mott material. Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02628-4
• Pepin et al., Metastable water at several compression rates and its freezing kinetics into ice VII, Nature Communication (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52576-z
• Plech et al., Physical Regimes and Mechanisms of Picosecond Laser Fragmentation of Gold Nanoparticles in Water from X‑ray Probing and Atomistic Simulations, ACS Nano (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12314

• PhD in Physics, Chemistry or Biophyics obtained less than 3 years ago
• Ability to interact with colleagues and users from different countries and with different scientific backgrounds
• Interest in instrumentation and data analysis
• Proficiency in the use of ultrafast laser (optional asset)
• Experience in time‑resolved X‑ray methods including scattering/diffraction or spectroscopy (optional asset)
• Experience in time‑resolved optical spectroscopy (optional asset)

Contract of 18 months, renewable for a further 6 to 18‑month period.

Do you recognize yourself in this description? Apply now for your next professional adventure!

• Join an innovative international research institute, with a workforce from 38 different countries
• Collaborate with global experts to advance science and address societal challenges
• Come and live in a vibrant city, in the heart of the Alps, and Europe's Green Capital 2022
• Enjoy a workplace designed to support your quality of life
• Benefit from our competitive compensation and allowances package, including financial support for your relocation to Grenoble

For further information on employment terms and conditions, please refer to https://www.esrf.fr/home/Jobs/what-we-offer.html

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

The ESRF is an X‑ray light source for Europe. It is located in Grenoble, France, and supported and shared by 20 countries.