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
Offer Description
General Scope: Discovered in 1981 in quantum wells of AlGaAs under a strong magnetic field, the quantum Hall effect manifests itself through quantized plateaus of the transverse electrical conductance, which take integer or fractional values of the quantum of conductance e2/h. The transition between integer plateaus is understood as a percolation transition resulting from the localization of quantum states due to the inevitable presence of disorder in solids. The mechanism of plateau formation in the fractional quantum Hall effect is speculated to be of similar origin, but a verification of this mechanism is lacking, due to the strongly correlated nature of the fractional quantum Hall effect, which complicates the theoretical approach. The lack of control of disorder in solid state platforms makes an experimental approach challenging as well. Ultracold atoms are a promising quantum simulation platform, which could bring a new vista on the fractional quantum Hall effect, with the possibility to control the microscopic Hamiltonian, and access local and time-dependent observables. Topological models such as the Harper-Hofstadter model have been realized in optical lattices, and the first few-atom fractional quantum Hall states have been prepared [1, 2]. There, the Hall conductance has been measured through density measurements available through quantum gas microscopes, using the Streda formula. Interestingly, universal features such as a fractionally quantized Hall conductance emerge even in the experimentally accessible few-atom systems, and theory predicts that even more signatures could be accessible in small systems [3, 4].
PhD Subject: The goal of this theoretical PhD project is to design a cold atom protocol to study the transition between plateaus of the fractional quantum Hall effect. We will use many-body numerical methods (exact diagonalization and DMRG) to simulate realistic optical lattice Hamiltonians, and determine the optimal parameter regimes and observables. Overall, the PhD work will shed some light on the microscopic mechanism of plateau formation, while motivating cold atom experiments to explore this rich physics.
References:
- Realization of a fractional quantum Hall state with ultracold atoms, Léonard, Kim, Kwan, Segura, Grusdt, Repellin, Goldman, Greiner, Nature 2023
- Realization of a Laughlin State of Two Rapidly Rotating Fermions, Lunt, Hill, Reiter, Preiss, Gałka, Jochim, Phys. Rev. Lett. 2024
- Fractional Chern insulators of few bosons in a box: Hall plateaus from center-of-mass drifts and density profiles, Repellin, Léonard, Goldman, Phys. Rev. A 2020
- Spectroscopy of edge and bulk collective modes in fractional Chern insulators, Binanti, Goldman, Repellin, Phys. Rev. Res. 2024
Required Skills: Quantum and condensed matter physics, some computational physics
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%202026/17.%20Reppelin_2026.pdf
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: LPMMC LABORATORY
Country: France
Contact
City: GRENOBLE
Website: https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Street: 621 avenue centrale
Postal Code: 38400
E-Mail: quantum-grenoble-phd@listes.grenoble.cnrs.fr
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