SoftComp

PhD in Soft Matter physics: Dynamics of chiral guest-host systems based on liquid crystals
2024-02-22 08:00 - 2024-04-30 17:00 (Europe/Berlin)
Dear colleagues,
I’m looking for a motivated student to join as a PhD candidate our Soft Matter team at Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Montpellier (France), in the context of my project “CHIRALGHOST” newly funded by the french Agence Nationale de la Recherche via the call ANR JCJC 2023. This project will focus on the dynamics of chiral guest-host systems in frustrated chiral liquid crystal systems, for more details please refer to https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/196425.
The project will take place entirely in Montpellier, L2C. The candidate will perform mainly experiments (polarized microscopy in transmission or fluorescence, optical tweezers, electrical driving, etc), data analysis using standard software or scripting languages, and, depending on the candidate skills, will also perform supporting simulations using in-house finite element and optical simulation codes. The PhD will be directed by Maurizio Nobili (full professor at L2C) and supervised by myself (CNRS permanent researcher).
The deadline for application is April 30th. The position is for 36 months and must start by September 1st, 2024, at the latest. Interested candidates can contact me directly at the email address given in the above link.
Best regards,
Guilhem Poy

Full Professor position at ESPCI
2024-02-27 08:00 - 2024-07-31 17:00
ESPCI Paris-PSL is recruiting a Professor in the field of polymer physics and soft matter in the broadest sense.
Since the days of Georges Champetier and Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, the ESPCI (https://www.espci.psl.eu/fr/) has been a center of excellence for polymers and soft matter in the center of Paris. It is constantly adapting its activities with a recent focus on sustainability issues.
Research profile: The research will take place in the ESPCI Soft Matter Science and Engeenring et laboratory (SIMM, UMR CNRS 7615, https://www.simm.espci.fr/). This laboratory is unique in that its research activities bring together physicists, physical chemists and mechanics. The subjects covered, often related to industrial processes, are all those that mobilize the fundamental knowledge of soft matter, such as rheology, flows, wetting, adhesion, mechanical properties, including fracture and adhesion, but always in relation to the physical chemistry of the system. The candidate’s activity and expertise profile is therefore broad, but the core competence is that of soft matter physics, with a strong ability to integrate into multi-disciplinary research activities linked to chemistry, physical chemistry, mechanics and industrial processes in the broadest sense.
Teaching profile: As a Professor, you will mainly teach in the engineering cycle at ESPCI Paris-PSL, and in part in PSL masters programs.
In the 2nd year of the curriculum, you will be asked to propose an introductory course in the physics and physical chemistry of polymers and soft matter, focusing on structure-property relationships. This physics course should fit in with existing courses in polymer chemistry and physical chemistry.
Requirements: PhD in Physics or Materials Science. Significant research experience in one of the fields defined in the research profile. A reasonable command of the French language is required.
Timetable: Position opening not yet determined, but probably early April. Employement is expected to begin at the start of the 2024 academic year.
Contact : Jean-Baptiste d’Espinose <jean-baptiste.despinose@espci.fr>, deputy directeur of the SIMM laboratory.

15 PhD Fellowships funded by the Marie-Curie Industrial DN "CoCoGel"
2024-03-10 08:00 - 17:00
15 PhD Fellowships in Soft Matter funded by EU research project CoCoGel:
“Controlling Colloidal Gels for Novel Sustainable Materials”
https://cocogel.iesl.forth.gr/
CoCoGel is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Industrial Doctoral Network (DN) (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01-01) aiming to provide integrated training for early career researchers, enabling them to achieve scientific excellence and set the foundations of their future careers.
CoCoGel is seeking 15 motivated PhD Candidates (DCs) in the field of Soft Condensed Matter. The Network involves leading experts in 6 academic and 6 industrial nodes. The network provides state-of-the-art expertise in experimental techniques, computer simulations, and industrial systems which will provide a collaborative and stimulating environment for the candidates. Applicants must hold a Master’s Degree in Physics/Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Materials science or other relevant disciple. Each DC will be enrolled in the PhD program of one of the academic partners. A very competitive EU funding is offered for 36 months.
To qualify for the positions, you cannot have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceding the recruitment start date.
CoCoGel overarching goal
Transformative advances in product formulation are required to meet the demand for sustainability across a wide range of EU-priority industrial areas. Colloidal gels – complex, out-of-equilibrium soft matter systems – are core components in many formulations, including building materials (e.g. cement), energy materials (e.g., batteries and fuel cells), consumer care and food products, and medicine. Because of their complexity, current industrial practice in product formulation remains limited to trial and error. Recent advances in colloidal-gel physics strongly imply that the rational design of colloidal gel properties is within reach. This design is based on tuning gel microstructure via external stimuli, such as shear, ultrasound, and (magnetic/electric) fields, and the addition of non-Brownian inclusions.
The CoCoGel doctoral network will focus on these new routes to controlling colloidal gel microstructure, and will enable the translation from the current academic state of the art to industrial practice. We will bring together academic and industrial partners to realize the creation of new sustainable materials and production processes. The CoCoGel industrial doctoral training network will leverage and extend existing collaborations, to train a new generation of researchers with both multi-disciplinary expertise in soft materials and practical experience engaging with industry. These will drive further sustainable development over a wide range of European industries.
For details of each PhD project see: https://cocogel.iesl.forth.gr/esr-projects
Enquiries should be addressed to the CoCoGel Project Manager Dr. D. Ljumovic (cocogel@iesl.forth.gr) and to the relevant partner contact below:

FORTH, Greece (coordinator, G. Petekidis, georgp@iesl.forth.gr )
University of Granada, Spain (J. de Vicente, jvicente@ugr.es )
Delft University of Technology, Netherlands (V. Garbin, Garbin@tudelft.nl )
CNRS, Lyon, France (T. Divoux, divoux@ens-lyon.fr )
Utrecht University, Netherlands (J de Graaf, degraaf@gmail.com )
Edinburgh University, UK (W.C.K. Poon, Poon@ed.ac.uk )
Sunlight, Greece, (N. Tsiouvaras, tsiouvaras@sunlight.gr )
InProcess, Netherlands, (R. Besseling, besseling@inprocess-lsp.com )
Nanogetic, Spain, (R. Naselli, naselli@nanogetic.es )
Advent, Denmark (S. Andreasen, Andreasen@advent.energy )
Holcim, France (F. Toussaint, toussaint@holcim.com )
Unilever, Netherlands (K. Velikov, Velikov@unilever.com )

Fully Funded PhD Position in Bio and Nanomaterials
2024-04-19 08:00 - 2024-05-22 17:00
A fully funded position is available at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice supported by EU next-generation funds with the title:

Computational design and screening of cyclic peptides for precision delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids
The goal of the present project is to develop novel cyclic peptides capable of binding with high affinity and selectivity cell surface tissue-specific receptors that have historically been resistant to conventional modalities ultimately enabling the generation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics with better tissue-selectivity, lower toxicity, and superior efficacy.
We are seeking a motivated and resourceful student with an interest in Computational Biology/Chemistry/Physics and a related background. A familiarity with programming languages (python, Fortran, C++, etc) and HPC environments is desirable. Good knowledge of fundamentals of peptide and protein chemistry is highly recommended. The project is highly interdisciplinary and involves personnel involved in both computational and experimental aspects, so the candidate will be expected to work closely and fruitfully with the experimentalists. We welcome enquiries from all interested candidates. Starting date is 1stSeptember 2024.
For formal enquires please contact Prof. Achille Giacometti (achille.giacometti@unive.it).

Expresion of interest - Postdoctoral Fellowships programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01)
2024-06-21 08:00 - 2024-09-01 17:00
Within the framework of the MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE ACTIONS – POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01) CINBIO, acting as a host institution, welcomes applications from researchers in the following main areas:
– Nanomaterials
– Biomedicine
The MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS are available for experienced researchers, of any nationality, who must have, at the date of the call’s deadline, a doctoral degree or at least four years of full time equivalent research experience. Eligible candidates must comply with MSCA MOBILITY RULES.
Please, contact us (cinbio.eup@uvigo.es), if you have a PhD related to our research lines, you comply with the mobility rule of the MSCA; and you choose CINBIO, at University of Vigo, as your Host Institution. Send the following information, before 31st of July 2024:
Deadline for applications: 31 July 2024 / MSCA call deadline: 11 September 2024
Requested: Doctoral degree/PhD or at least four years of full time equivalent research experience in areas related to Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Informatics, Engineering, Physics, or Medicine.
Skills:

Excellent academic record, and strong interest in research, to join an established center with multiple lines of biomedical research, that will sure suit your curiosity.
Highest motivation to carry out scientific experiments in a reliable and efficient way, excellent communication skills; and willing to advance on their research pursuit.
Focus on the daily work, proactive, attentive to detail, autonomous, and able to collaborate in the lab tasks.
Participation on dissemination activities.
Command of English language.

Candidates should send before deadline, 31.07.2024:

Title and summary of the work plan (written in English); (filename CINBIO-MSCA_YourName_WP.pdf).
A detailed CV / Professional experience (filename CINBIO-MSCA_YourName_CV.pdf).
A motivation letter explaining your trajectory in the last five years and explaining the relevance of your achievements (max. 5000 characters); (filename CINBIO-MSCA_YourName_LETTER.pdf).
Academic record, including one copy of relevant publication written in English (filename CINBIO-MSCA_YourName_DEGREE.pdf).

Doctoral candidate opening at IBI-4 of Forschungszentrum Juelich
2024-09-18 08:00 - 2025-03-31 17:00
Dear all.
At IBI-4 of Forschungszentrum Juelich we are looking for a doctoral candidate to work in the framework of the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Network BIOMAC-BP. This consortium aims to develop fully bio-sourced formulations as carriers for bio-pesticides.
Further details can be found here: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/careers/jobs/2024D-097

Ideal candidates hold a M.Sc. degree in physics, physical chemistry, chemical engineering or a related field with a specialization in soft matter science. In addition they have experience in scientific programming. Experimental experience with light scattering and/or microscopy is not mandatory, but would be very helpful.
According to the mobility regulations of Marie-Sklodowska-Curie actions they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months during the last three years.

I would be grateful if you could pass this information on to potential applicants.
Kind regards
Peter Lang

12 positions for PhD Students in BIOMAC-BP
2024-10-15 08:00 - 2025-04-30 17:00
Purpose:
The Marie-Sklodowska-Curie doctoral network BIOMAC-BP (Bio-Stabilized Multi-Phase Materials as Carriers for Biopesticides) sets out to address the issue of synthetic pesticide use by developing sustainable biopesticide formulations. That is, suspensions of bacteria capable of producing biopesticides that combat pests in a natural manner, whilst leaving other species unaffected. This EU funded project aligns with the Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals. We bring together experts from soft-matter physics, physical chemistry, chemical engineering, microbiology, biophysics and agricultural science, to achieve our goals. Within our doctoral network, industrial and academic perspectives are combined to come to a real-world solution.
Positions:
We are recruiting 12 doctoral candidates (DC) to work on individual PhD-projects at seven research institutions and to tackle the tasks of BIOMAC-BP as a team at the following institution:

Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich, Germany
ESPCI, Paris, France
KU Leuven, Leuven Belgium
FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Unilever Innovation Center, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Sysenqo (formerly Solvay) Specialty Operations France, Aubervilliers, France

For detailed information about the individual PhD projects and application procedures please visit the add on the EURAXESS platform: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/271696
All positions are full time and for a fixed term of 36 months. Pay will be in accordance with rules of the Horizon Europe, Work Programme 2021-2022, 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and national tax and social security regulations applicable at the recruiting institution.
Requirements:
Apart from their scientific qualifications as specified in the description of the individual PhD projects, candidates have to meet the following requirements:

They must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree and they must hold a MSc degree which qualifies them for the enrollment in a doctoral programme.
They must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Post-Doc Position in Singapore: Research Fellow in Soft Materials Science (Structural Characterisation of Protein-based Food Textures)
2025-06-09 08:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00
Dear Soft Matter Community,
please find here below an announcement for a postdoctoral researcher (Research Fellow) to join the team at TUMCREATE in Singapore.
The focus will be on the structural characterisation of protein-based food texture as part of the Proteins4Singapore project. Experience with scattering techniques (e.g., SAXS, SANS) or imaging methods (e.g., confocal microscopy, AFM, X-ray tomography) would be particularly valuable.
This position sits at the interface of soft matter, food physics, and materials science, and is based at the unique CREATE campus at the National University of Singapore, where TUM is co-located with institutions such as MIT, ETH Zurich, Imperial College, University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, University of Illinois, and Hebrew University, among others.
More info on: https://jobrxiv.org/job/tumcreate-27778-research-fellow-in-soft-materials-science-2/.
Please do not hesitate to contact Stefan Guldin (stefan.guldin@tum-create.edu.sg) for any information and to forwarding this to potentially interested candidates.

PhD position on self-assembly dynamics at fluid-fluid interfaces @Wageningen University
2025-09-02 08:00 - 2025-10-02 17:00
We have an open PhD position on self-assembly dynamics at fluid-fluid interfaces. Please see the following links for further details:
https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-position-in-evaporation-driven-self-assembly-at-fluid-fluid-interfaces.htm
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/637df0f9710645120109b63b/t/68b6c8e804b48618b979c188/1756809448309/vacancy-phd-superassembly.pdf

W3-Professorship in Machine Learning in Physics
2025-12-18 08:00 - 2026-02-16 17:00
The professorship is embedded within the Excellence Cluster “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for
Science”, which is now entering its second funding phase. The successful candidate is expected to have an
established research profile in a core area of physics, as well as a strong track record in research questions
related to machine learning and/or artificial intelligence.
Core areas of physics include the structure of condensed matter (description of many-body systems), quantum
physics (characterization of quantum states in many-body systems), and theoretical particle physics. In all of
these areas, methodological development through machine learning is taking place — for example, in predicting
the evolution of complex molecular systems over long timescales, investigating quantum mechanical effects in
information processing within (quantum) neural networks, or in elementary particle physics at high-energy
accelerators.
The aim of the professorship is to closely integrate research at one of the Department of Physics’ research
centers (BioNanoPhysics Center, Center for Quantum Science, or Kepler Center) with ongoing machine
learning research activities in Tübingen. The appointee is expected to be actively involved in the Department
of Physics and in the Excellence Cluster, inter alia by pursuing collaborative research projects at the interface
of machine learning and physics, as well as by committing to organizational and implementation-related tasks
within the Excellence Cluster. Further information about the Excellence Cluster can be found at: http://www.ml-in-science.uni-tuebingen.de/
In terms of teaching, the professorship is expected to offer courses within the Department of Physics and also
contribute to the international Master’s program “Machine Learning” offered by the Department of Computer
Science.
Required qualifications include a PhD or equivalent degree as well as postdoctoral qualifications and teaching
experience equivalent to the requirements of a full professorship.
The University of Tübingen is committed to equity and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities.
Female academics, in particular, are explicitly invited to apply, as are applicants from outside Germany.
Applications from equally qualified candidates with disabilities will be given preference.
General information on professorships, hiring processes, and the German academic system can be found here:
https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/213700
Please submit your full application through the application site of the University of Tübingen at
https://berufungen.uni-tuebingen.de by 15 February 2026. Questions concerning the call for applications and
the application portal can be directed to the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Tübingen,
Professor Dr. Thilo Stehle (career@mnf.uni-tuebingen.de).

Tasso Springer Fellowships - Six PhD Positions in Neutron Research
2026-03-18 08:00 - 2026-06-18 17:00
Are you interested in performing exciting research with neutrons and working together with scientists from all over the world? The Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) develops and operates high-performance neutron scattering instruments at some of the best neutron sources worldwide. Our main outstation is located at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching near Munich, where we operate 11 instruments in a user program and for our own research in the fields of “Neutron Scattering and Soft Matter (JCNS-1)”, “Quantum Materials and Collective Phenomena (JCNS-2)” and “Neutron Analytics for Energy Research (JCNS-3)”. JCNS invites applications for the Tasso Springer Fellowship Program, named after the outstanding neutron scientist who in his career was bridging neutron research in Jülich to Garching and Grenoble. The PhD fellowships aim at educating the next generation of researchers in neutron scattering. The successful candidates will be jointly supervised by scientists based at the outstation in Garching and at the JCNS institutes in Jülich.

Phd Position: MXene-based bijels for functional materials
2026-04-08 08:00 - 2026-05-01 17:00
In this PhD project, we will develop MXene-based bijels aimed at electromagnetic shielding functionality. The research project will start with material formulation. Subsequently, a fundamental study of the factors governing the bijel microstructure, including temperature and external flow fields, will be performed. Subsequently, the relations between bijel microstructure and electrical properties of the resulting materials will be investigated. Selective localization of the MXene particles at a liquid-liquid interface will lead to hierarchically structured materials for which the properties can be engineered by means of the microstructure in combination with the particle organization at the interface. With these conductive MXene particles, the particle-filled interface has the double functionality to provide mechanical stability to the bijel as well as to generate electrically conductive pathways through the material. Therefore, it will be investigated how various material formulation and processing conditions affect the viscoelastic and dielectric properties. At the end, the aim is to generate bijels with electromagnetic shielding functionality. The main techniques that will be used in the project are particle synthesis, bulk rheology, microscopy, dielectric characterization and electromagnetic shielding characterization.
