PhD Projects

Join an exciting interdisciplinary research project on the ID01 beamline at the ESRF (France) in collaboration with Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) (Germany). This project aims to understand the biomineralization mechanisms that lead to the formation of highly ordered silica structures in marine sponges, bridging concepts from physics, materials science, and biology.

You will join a collaboration between ID16B beamline at the ESRF and the SyMMES laboratory from the University Grenoble Alpes / CEA Grenoble (France) and the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), to explore the solid-state battery microstructures evolution under operando conditions. The project aims to understand electrolyte degradation using nano-X imaging and AI solutions.

This PhD project, in collaboration with ESRF and The University of Oxford, aims to improve understanding of the safety of high-energy density batteries during real-world cycling. Using advanced X-ray imaging at ESRF's ID19 beamline, the project will investigate how battery safety changes as cells age and degrade. The research includes three main work packages: developing correlative imaging methods, establishing safety benchmarks for new cells, and conducting accelerated ageing tests to simulate real-world battery use. The project also involves international partnerships with Fraunhofer EMI, NREL, and CEA.

This PhD project aims to measure the development of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in dense plasmas and convergent geometries, crucial for optimizing targets for Inertial Fusion Energy. It will use the unique pulsed power platform at ID19 and high-resolution X-ray imaging to study these phenomena at ESRF (France). The project also benefits from an industrial partnership with First Light Fusion exploring fusion-scale conditions, while studying at Imperial College London (United-Kingdom).

The aim of the PhD project is to explore the process-microstructure-property/functionality-performance relationship in novel aluminium alloys using advanced synchrotron techniques. This will drive the science of future alloys and transform Europe’s capacity in advanced metal manufacturing towards a greener future.The successful candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral school at University of Kassel (Germany) and RMIT University (Australia) and based full-time at the ESRF (France), other than a 3-month secondment at Constellium (France).

You will join ID32’s team at the ESRF (France), and the group of Prof. Cornelius Krellner at Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany). The aim of this PhD project is to explore these new opportunities on the compelling scientific case of multi-site magnetic systems at the ESRF. Besides the experimental work itself, data analysis and X-ray spectroscopy calculations will be an integral part of this project.

This project will explore “f-block” molecules composed of lanthanides (La to Lu) and actinides (U, Th) as quantum bits due to their controllable quantum spin-states and chemistry that can be tuned to couple with their surrounding environment or mimic free-ion behaviour. High-energy-resolution X-ray spectroscopy (ID26, ID20 and ID32) at the ESRF and inelastic neutron spectroscopy (IN4 and IN5) at ILL (France), and electron paramagnetic resonance at University of Manchester (United-Kingdom) will reveal how electronic structure can be engineered to control quantum spin dynamics.

Development of in situ experiments to investigate the synthesis of battery materials, from electrodes to electrolytes, employing solid state synthesis and establishing further synthesis methods. You will join D2B-D20’s team at the ILL (France). Instruments D2B and D20 are specialised for diffraction experiments, covering both high resolution and high intensity experimental ranges. We will focus on the time-resolved structural investigations of synthesis reactions. The aim of the PhD project is to a) further establish the methodology for investigating solid-state synthesis reactions of ceramic oxides, b) exploit this methodology towards a broader materials class, including sulphides and halides used as electrolytes in solid state batteries, and also beyond battery-related materials, and c) expand the methodology towards different synthetic methods, including ball milling.

You will develop, implement, test, and apply a robust fully automated AI assisted SAXS/SANS/PCS data evaluation software which will allow for an effective analysis of the complex mesoscopic structure of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for parenteral drug delivery. Such systems are currently being intensively developed worldwide and undergoing clinical trials. However, knowledge of the structure-function relationships of those but also corresponding systems that are already available on the market is very limited. You will closely work together with another PhD student who will work on self-prepared but also commercially available drug-free and drug-loaded LNP dispersions and, beside other methods, perform SAXS/SANS/PCS experimental studies.

Magnetic hopfions are three-dimensional localized magnetic topological solitons, which can exist in the bulk of magnetic materials. Hopfions may be seen as the three-dimensional analogue to the magnetic skyrmion. They are promising building blocks for novel, brain-mimicking computing architectures, which have so far been confined to two-dimensional structures. The recent experimental realisation of magnetic hopfions opens the door for such applications in three dimensions. Based on our previous theoretical work, where we have calculated the magnetic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) cross section of hopfions, we will embark on the experimental search for hopfions in the SANS observables. In this PhD project, you will learn about neutron scattering and especially SANS. You will establish SANS as a quantitative method to investigate hopfions and establish their characteristics by carrying out experiments on hopfion containing crystals.

The aim of the PhD project is to utilize small-angle neutron scattering to map the position of the N-terminal double-stranded RNA binding domains with respect to the helicase core domain in different conformational states adopted during the helicase cycle. For this, we will apply segmental deuteration of specific DHX9 domains, in combination with NMR, SANS and solvent contrast variation. You will join the D-Lab team within the BDCS group at ILL, Grenoble, France. The BDCS group is responsible for operating the deuteration-, lipid-, chemistry- and soft matter-laboratories at ILL. Senior members of the group are involved in a number of scientific collaborations and supervision of students, spanning the fields of biology, chemistry and soft matter. At the D-Lab, in addition to the user program, we are also developing novel deuteration approaches for neutron scattering techniques (SANS, reflectometry, crystallography and spectroscopy).

Crystallization is one of the most essential unit processes in the chemical sector, and its control would unlock a faster process to safer medicines, cheaper fine chemicals, more efficient agrochemicals, and will lead to a greener manufacturing process. However, crystallization control is currently hampered by a lack of fundamental knowledge of the nucleation process. In this project, you will follow the molecular diffusion during crystallization to obtain further insight into the nucleation pathway. Using quasi-elastic neutron scattering to give information about self- and collective diffusion, you will follow diffusion of single molecules, molecular aggregates leading to crystal nucleation, and of single molecules within these molecular aggregates. You will investigate disordered systems of the neat molecules (melt/glass) and solutions. A holistic approach is given using polarisation analysis allowing you to follow the change in diffusion of both solute and solvent at the same time.

The STRAIGH2T-AC project aims to explore the mechanisms of hydrogen (H₂) adsorption on activated carbon (AC) surfaces at cryogenic temperatures near the H₂ boiling point (around 20 K). This project has significant industrial and academic implications, focusing on enhancing hydrogen storage efficiency. The study seeks to clarify how key properties of ACs, such as surface area, pore size distribution, and N content, affect the density, arrangement, and stability of cryo-adsorbed H₂ molecules. This investigation will determine if high surface area is essential for extending liquid H₂ (LH₂) dormancy or if materials with specific porosity or N- functionalities can achieve similar or improved storage outcomes.

The aim of the PhD project is to systematically design and characterize lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) for targeted antimicrobial peptide (AMP) delivery. The project seeks to develop LNPs with high loading capacity and stability by considering factors such as polymer coating, lipid composition and targeting ligands. Advanced techniques will be employed to characterize the formation of these LNPs, stability reflected in e.g. lipid/peptide exchange and how these carriers interact with model membranes and bacterial cells. The goal is to optimize the delivery systems by mitigating challenges related to AMP stability and toxicity leveraging the transport capabilities of LNPs. Ultimately, the project aims to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of these LNPs and help enhance AMP applications in medical treatments against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

This Ph.D. project aims to study novel magnetic configurations in two-dimensional materials using advanced (S)TEM techniques. The goal is to understand how growth methods impact chemical composition, crystal structure, and local electronic and magnetic properties. The project is a collaboration between the Ernst Ruska-Centre, Germany and the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, combining material synthesis and advanced characterization. The candidate will gain expertise in both material growth and cutting-edge microscopy.

 This PhD project has for goal the design of intrinsically functional ordered mesoporous materials via one-pot syntheses, using double hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC), made of a neutral block and an amine-rich positively charged block, as structure-directing and functionalization agent. We will study the structure of the polyion complex micelles (PIC micelles) made by coacervation of this DHBC with negatively charged polyanions, using a combination of SAXS and SANS coupled with contrast variation techniques. This technique will allow a complete characterisation of their shape, size and interactions, before exploring their phase diagram with concentration. These micelles will then be used for the sol-gel synthesis of mesostructured silicic materials, studying notably the role of pH on the material organisation. In situ SAXS/SANS during the sol-gel process will allow describing their formation mechanisms and rationalize the micelle and material design. Selective elution of polyanions from the pores of the mesostructured materials will give mesoporous silicic materials that are intrinsically, homogeneously and densely functionalized by polyamines within their pores. Their CO2-sorption properties will be assessed and compared to non-functional mesoporous materials.

This project investigates chiral spin textures, like skyrmions, for memory and quantum computing applications using van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. The PhD candidate will use advanced microscopy techniques to study the relationship between magnetic and electronic properties at the nanoscale. Hosted at the Ernst Ruska Centre in Germany, the project offers opportunities for research stays at global partner institutions to gain experience with X-ray and momentum microscopy.

The aim of the PhD project is to understand the mechanical behaviour of steel and aluminium alloys at cryogenic temperatures. This projects enhances the bridging of fundamental material science to a field of high technological and societal relevance concerning the green transition (Liquid Hydrogen) and European sovereignty regarding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Specimen preparation and traditional laboratory material characterisation will be conducted at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) at the Chair of Metal Forming and Casting (utg). Neutron in-situ tensile characterisations at cryogenic temperatures will be conducted at ILL-SALSA in collaboration with STFC-ENGINX and FRM II. Data analysis will allow for a correlation of the mechanical properties at different scales to determine the responsible mechanics at the atomic level of the cryogenic change in mechanical properties. 

This PhD project uses Dynamic TEM to study real-time microstructural changes in materials under ion irradiation, focusing on displacement cascades, defect dynamics, and phase transitions. The research combines experiments and simulations to improve materials design for energy, aerospace, and nuclear applications, in collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich and ETH Zurich.

This PhD project focuses on cross-scale chemical imaging of soft matter using correlative mass spectrometry and electron spectroscopy. The goal is to develop advanced imaging techniques and data analysis to study biological systems and soft matter. It is based at the ER-C and M4i Institute, offering training in both mass spectrometry and electron microscopy.