The research team Functional material and nanomaterials, located in the SYMME laboratory, is an interdisciplinary group working at the intersection between nonlinear optical physics and nanoparticles chemistry. In particular, we are interested in developing new techniques to study the nonlinear properties of polar oxide nanoparticles (LiNbO3, BiFeO3, LiTaO3…), to apply these techniques to gain insights in their nonlinear optical properties and to establish new synthesis methods of the above-mentioned nanoparticles to better control size and shape.

Some (non-exhaustive) references on the research team work:

• Nanoscale, 2024,16, 6739-6747 DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR00431K
• Opt. Mater. Express 9, 1955-1966 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1364/OME.9.001955
• Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3193; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123193 

The laboratory SYMME has particular attention on the balance between life and work and on the quality of life at work via dedicated activities.

The group welcome expression of interest from PhD-holders in the nonlinear optical field to apply for a MSCA European Post Doctoral Fellowship. 

The group offers academic mentoring and grant-writing support to the candidates who wish to join the laboratory with a project falling under the group research areas. If the project is rated with a Seal of Excellence the group can offer one-year post-doc position (salary according to the French rules).

The available equipment includes a nonlinear optical microscope, the Hyper Rayleigh Scattering technique, XRD, AFM and synthesis related equipment.

Eligibility and Candidate qualifications 

Candidates should:

• hold a PhD degree on the closing date for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are also eligible to apply.
• have a maximum of eight years of experience in research from the date of the award of the PhD degree – the following experience will not be counted towards this maximum:
  • years of experience outside research and career breaks;
  • years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Countries who wish to reintegrate.
• comply with mobility rules: at the time of the call deadline (10 September 2025) researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies etc) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Be able to work independently.

Application and Assessment process

Applicants should submit: 

• A CV highlighting their academic background, as well as relevant skills and experience and up to 5 most important publications.
• An outline of the proposed research (maximum 1,500 words). This must clearly outline the objectives, as well as the importance and impact of the proposed research, its contribution to the state-of-the-art. It must inform of the proposed methodology and explain why the SYMME is an appropriate host institution. The feasibility of the proposed research within the time-frame of the fellowship is an evaluation criterion.

If you need additional information to write the proposed research or have any questions, write to Jun. Prof. Laura Vittadello (laura.vittadello@univ-smb.fr) with subject ‘MSCA Post Doc Applications  - Request info‘

Please submit project outlines in PDF format by the 04 may 2025 to Jun. Prof. Laura Vittadello (laura.vittadello@univ-smb.fr) in an email with subject ‘MSCA Post Doc Applications ‘

All documents that you submit, including your proposal idea, will be handled in full confidentiality. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of this first stage application no later than mid-May 2025.

Successful candidates will be invited to develop a full MSCA PF application in collaboration with the group. The final proposal will be submitted by the deadline of 10 September 2025. Applicants who are successful in receiving EU funding must relocate to Annecy to work as a postdoctoral fellow.