3-year PhD position for the development of coherent Stokes Raman scattering (CSRS) microscopy in Marseille from December 2024

RESEARCHER PROFILE: PhD / R1: First stage Researcher                 
RESEARCH FIELD(S): Physical Sciences, Physics 
MAIN SUB RESEARCH FIELD OR DISCIPLINES1: Optics/Spectroscopy

JOB /OFFER DESCRIPTION 
This thesis will take place at the Fresnel Institute in Marseille, within the mosaic team (Sandro Heuke).  You will develop a new coherent Raman technique called coherent Stokes Raman scattering (CSRS) microscopy. As the game-changer, CSRS will send the signal photons directly into the backward direction enabling the investigation of thick, non-transparent cancer samples. Moreover, we will use CSRS’ backscattering property to record the CSRS spectrum of tissue at unprecedented acquisition rates. Novel spectrometer concepts, multi-focus and wide-field illumination approaches will be put in place. Precise diagnoses of cancerous tissues will be derived from these CSRS spectra by machine learning algorithms. Your mission is to set up and characterize backscattering CSRS microscopes and evaluate their functionality on cancer tissue. 

Your tasks will include:

• Construction - You will build from scratch one or more new coherent Stokes Raman microscopes.

• Simulation – You will simulate your experiments in Matlab or Python. We work in close cooperation with theoretical physicists.

• (optional) Experiments - You will examine cancer samples with your microscope and predict the malignancy of the tissue with the help of our machine learning experts.

Your profile

Attitude: For you, research is a vocation. High levels of initiative, creativity and curiosity are expected from you.

Willingness to perform: Within your university education you were always in the top 25%. 

WHAT WE OFFER: 
Resources & interest: Your project is funded by an ERC Consolidators' grant (sCiSsoRS, 2.4Mio€). You will work with state-of-the-art equipment and your results are of high general interest.

No multitasking: You can focus 100% on research. No teaching obligations. 

Team spirit: You will be part of a high-performing, international group of 10 independent scientists working in a team with 30 postdocs and PhD students to advance cutting-edge research in biomedical imaging. 

Supervision: You will be in close contact with your supervisor. Upcoming challenges are addressed on the same day. A postdoc will be at your side to help you advancing faster within your project.

Salary: You will benefit from a competitive European salary level, ≥ 1700€ negotiable. 

Additional information: The Euraxess Center of Aix-Marseille Université informs foreign visiting professors, researchers, postdoc and PhD candidates about the administrative steps to be undertaken prior to arrival at AMU and the various practical formalities to be completed once in France: visas and entry requirements, insurance, help finding accommodation, support in opening a bank account, etc. More information on AMU EURAXESS Portal 

TYPE OF CONTRACT: TEMPORARY / JOB STATUS: FULL TIME/ HOURS PER WEEK: 38
JOB NOT FUNDED THROUGH AN EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME                      
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01/09/2024 12:00 
ENVISAGED STARTING DATE: 01/12/2024
ENVISAGED DURATION: 36 months
WORK LOCATION(S):  Institut Fresnel, Faculté des sciences de St Jérôme, 13013 Marseille FRANCE

QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS You have completed a MASTER degree in the field of photonics, e.g. physics, physical chemistry or similar. As a plus but not required, you have developed microscopy techniques or other imaging methods within your master thesis.

Soft skills: Language: The communication between scientists happens in English. Knowledge of French for everyday use can be acquired when you have started your position.

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS OF APPLICATION, SELECTION PROCESS: 

• CV

• Motivation letter

• 2 References

WHERE TO APPLY: Sandro.Heuke@fresnel.fr