Job Information
Organisation/Company: COFUND QuanG
Research Field: Physics
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 7 Sep 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)
Country: France
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Offer Starting Date: 1 Feb 2027
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe – COFUND
Reference Number: [contact details available in the full listing]
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
General Scope:
This thesis project, conducted at the Institut Néel, aims to study InAs/Sn nanostructures—developed for tunable Josephson junctions in quantum devices—using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Currently, quantum processors suffer from short coherence times due to the quality of the interfaces and materials, particularly the presence of an amorphous oxide in the junction. To address this challenge, InAs nanostructures coated with Sn are being developed to fabricate tunable Josephson junctions incorporated into transmon qubit, using the InAs semiconductor as the weak link. InAs two-dimensional electron gases coated with tin are fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy. The mechanisms governing the growth of Sn on InAs and other III-V semiconductors remain poorly understood. Imaging Sn/InAs interfaces at atomic resolution using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) gives crucial information on material quality, structure, and chemistry, in particular when coupled with X-ray diffraction studies and low-temperature transport properties. Importantly, in situ TEM measurement of electronic transport through metal/semiconductor junctions is a revolutionary approach that will be used to correlate atomic-scale interface properties with macroscopic transport properties.
PhD Subject:
The objective of this thesis is to characterize the atomic and chemical structure of the aforementioned interfaces and analyze the impact of surface preparation and growth conditions to improve the performance of Josephson junctions. The methodology combines TEM, geometric phase analysis (GPA), chemical analysis (EDX), and growth modeling. Experiments using 4D-STEM coupled with electron ptychography will provide further insight into the distribution of chemical elements and 3D strain around the interfaces in these structures. The expected results include a better understanding of the growth mechanisms of Sn on III-V’s, the identification of optimal conditions for minimizing defects, and the optimization of strain distribution, paving the way for more stable and high-performance quantum devices. Structural properties will be investigated using state-of-the-art high-resolution TEM at the Institut Néel to guide the optimization of growth conditions and the development of growth models. As a powerful and complementary technique, X-ray diffraction experiments performed at PHELIQS will provide complementary information on the structural properties. Finally, in collaboration with international partners in the UK, electrical transport measurements will be performed to determine carrier properties in the structures.
Required Skills:
- Semiconductor and solid-state physics
- Data analysis and problem solving
- English speaking and scientific writing
Where to apply
Website: https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/phd-application/application-form-spring-2026
Requirements
Research Field: Physics
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification by the application deadline and must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants must also comply with the MSCA mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the application deadline. Applicants must not be current employees of the host laboratory. There are no nationality or age restrictions.
Selection process
Applications must be submitted through the QuanG2 online application platform by 7 September 2026 at 12:00 PM (Paris time). After the application deadline, all applications will first undergo an eligibility check. Eligible applications will then be reviewed during the pre-selection phase, scheduled for mid-October 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to online interviews at the end of October 2026. Candidates selected following this first interview stage will then be invited to in-person interviews in Grenoble in early December 2026, with the final selection taking place after these interviews. All candidates will be informed of the outcome of the selection process following the final stage.
Additional comments
About the QuanG2 PhD Call
This PhD position is offered as part of the QuanG2 PhD Call for Applications, a doctoral programme coordinated by Université Grenoble Alpes and dedicated to training the next generation of researchers in quantum science and technology. The programme offers fully funded three-year PhD positions within the Grenoble quantum research ecosystem, providing doctoral candidates with a high-level international research environment and dedicated funding for their research and training activities.
Website for additional job details
https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/sites/default/files/Mediatheque/default/PhD%20Topics%20-%20Autumn%202026/32.%20Quantim%20Tem_%202026.pdf
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: NEEL INSTITUTE
Country: France
City: GRENOBLE
Contact
City: GRENOBLE
Website: https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Street: 621 avenue centrale
Postal Code: 38400
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