Job Information
Organisation/Company: Institute for the Sciences of Light (Institut d’Optique Graduate School)
Research Field: Physics, Engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 21 Sep 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)
Country: France
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2027
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe – COFUND
Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: 101177177
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
The LIGHTinPARIS programme has launched its 3rd call for PhD Fellowships with up to 6 fully funded positions starting on 1 January 2027. The PhD projects on offer fall in the domain of the Institute for Sciences of Light (Université Paris-Saclay) covering photonics, optics, imaging, materials (chemistry), lasers, instrumentation, information, quantum technologies and more. The programme is cofunded by the European Union under Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND call and co-financed by Université Paris-Saclay and two non-academic partners IMAGINE OPTIC and ONERA.
This is an announcement for one of the 10 PhD projects on offer.
UltrafastCARS: High-speed coherent Raman metrology for the study of transient and non-equilibrium reactive flows (Description on Web page and PDF)
Femtosecond Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) spectroscopy allows for probing the population distribution of ro-vibrational levels in a molecular medium and thus provides a precise and non-invasive way to measure temperature within reactive media such as combustions and plasmas. To provide a new understanding of the turbulent or transient phenomena occurring in reactive flows, like rotating detonation combustions, which represent a major potential advance in aeronautical and space propulsion, or of the non-equilibrium plasmas and their related applications in energy and environment domains. ONERA is developing a very high-speed instrument based on femtosecond ultrashort laser technology. This thesis will focus in particular on optimizing light-matter interaction, developing ultrafast data processing algorithms, moceling non-equilibrium media, and experimentally validating the instrument's performance in representative flow conditions.
Keywords: Femtosecond lasers; Raman Spectroscopy; Plasma; Combustion; Ultrafast algorithms
PI/Thesis Supervisor and team: Myriam RAYBAUT at the Laser Sources and Metrology (SLM) team in DPHY laboratory / department: www.onera.fr
Every LIGHTinPARIS PhD project includes a “3i” dimension (interdisciplinary, intersectoral, or international collaboration) and all fellows will benefit from secondment opportunities for 2 to 12 months at the 3i partner lab under the supervision of the "3i" co-supervisor.
3i dimension(s) for project UltrafastCARS: intersectoral @ONERA and interdisciplinary at EM2C laboratory, Centrale Supélec
* The requirements for obtaining access authorisation to the DPHY laboratory are very strict as ONERA (the employer) is a research centre under the supervision of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
APPLICATION PROCESS - Guide for Applicants
- Applications must be submitted electronically via the LIGHTinPARIS application portal.
- Deadline for applications: 21 September 2026 12:00 noon Paris time (UTC + 2)
- Deadline to start an application (registration on portal): 15 September 2026 12:00 noon Paris time (UTC + 2)
PRIOR TO STARTING AN APPLICATION,
- Step 1. Verify and test your eligibility: https://lightinparis.eu/eligibility/
- Step 2. Find a PhD project of interest https://lightinparis.eu/thesis-subjects
Contact the proposed thesis supervisor to discuss the research project and scientific background and experience needed to fulfill the PhD position.
YOU MAY THEN PROCEED TO,
- Step 3. Register on the application portal and receive link to application portal (you will complete an eligibility test first). You may prepare your application Offline.
- Step 4. Submit your application
Detailed information and instructions are provided in the official Guide for Applicants and on the programme website (lightinparis.eu).
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
- Contract: Full-time, 36-month fixed-term doctoral employment contract. Employer: ONERA
- Salary: Competitive gross monthly salary (before taxes) for a LIGHTinPARIS PhD fellow at ONERA, for a doctoral contract, is a minimum of 2400 € (see application guide for specific employers)
- Allowances: Monthly travel and mobility allowance (€200).
- Annual enrolment fees at the doctoral school (394 €) covered for 3 years.
Additional benefits and opportunities
- Opportunities for professional experience (such as teaching activities)
- Comprehensive training in research, innovation, and transferable skills
TIMELINE
- Call Open: Week 29 (2026) to Week 39 (2026). Publication of Call: 15 July 2026 (On website). Application portal open: 21-23 July 2026.
- Registration (to start an application) deadline: 15 September 2026 12:00 noon Paris time (UTC +2). No new applications can be registered after this date. Selected PhD project cannot be modified after this date
- Submission deadline: 21 September 2026 12:00 noon Paris time (UTC +2)
- Validation of application dossiers and evaluation by external experts: Week 39 - Week 42 (16/09/2026 - 13/10/2026)
- Online interviews: Week 44 - 45 (27 October - 6 November 2026)
- Notification of results: Week 46 (9 - 14 November 2026)
CONTACT & INFORMATION
- Administrative questions: For queries about the application process, eligibility, and all administrative questions, contact application-lightinparis.isl@institutoptique.fr.
- Scientific questions: contact the supervisor(s) listed for each project: https://lightinparis.eu/thesis-subjects
- Up-to-date information on the LIGHTinPARIS website: https://lightinparis.eu
Where to apply
Website: https://lightinparis.eu
Requirements
Research Field: Physics
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
PhD studies and research work require curiosity, creativity, rigour, teamwork, and organisational skills. A minimum B2 level of English is mandatory. Each PhD project has specific skills/qualifications listed - see last page of linked PDF file https://lightinparis.eu/thesis-subjects/.
Profile of PhD fellow for project UltrafastCARS
- pre-requisite: Theoretical and experimental skills in laser techniques and ultrashort pulses
- pre-requisite: Knowledge of light-matter interaction and non-linear optics
- advantageous: Academic background in spectroscopy
- advantageous: Academic background in plasma physics
- advantageous: Programming experience (e.g. python, machine learning background)
Specific Requirements
Security Clearance
Recruitment in French science and technology research facilities is subject to security clearance as required by the Department of Strategy, Security and Defence. The attribution of a PhD fellowship is contingent on the candidate obtaining the necessary security clearance.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Good
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must:
- Hold, or complete the requirements, for a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification by the application deadline, 21 September 2026.Candidates cannot hold a PhD degree.
- Must not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the call deadline (MSCA mobility rule), i.e. between 22 September 2023 and 21 September 2026.
A good (B2) level of English is required; knowledge of French is not required.
Selection process
The selection includes an eligibility check, external evaluation by experts, and interviews (online) to assess the candidates’ scientific potential, motivation, and fit with the proposed research project.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews.
Website for additional job details: https://lightinparis.eu
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 2
Company/Institute: ONERA
Country: France
City: Palaiseau
Postal Code: 91127
Street: 6, chemin de la Vauve aux Granges, Palaiseau
Contact
State/Province: Ile de France
City: Palaiseau
Website: https://lightinparis.eu
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