PhD project LUMINeSCe - MSCA COFUND LIGHTinPARIS Doctoral Programme Université Paris-Saclay in France

The LIGHTinPARIS Doctoral Programme is offering the PhD project LUMINeSCe as part of its 3rd call for fully funded fellowships. The project is hosted in the Institute for the Sciences of Light at Université Paris-Saclay in France and is scheduled to start on 1 January 2027.

LUMINeSCe focuses on the light-induced ultrafast dynamics of metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines in the gas phase. The research uses femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, combining UV/Vis excitation with XUV/X-ray probing, to study both neutral and ionic species. The scientific goal is to reveal the mechanisms behind their role in photosynthesis and their function as photosensitizers, while tracking site-resolved dynamics through element-specific probing.

The project brings together complementary expertise from the ISMO and DESY groups. ISMO has developed a kHz-repetition laser-desorption setup for neutral molecular beams coupled to a coincidence electron-ion spectrometer. DESY contributes extensive experience in gas-phase spectroscopy of biomolecular ions using electrospray-ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and advanced light sources. A 12-month international secondment at DESY (Hamburg, Germany) is part of the project’s “3i” dimension.

Research topics include photonics, optics, imaging, materials chemistry, lasers, instrumentation, information, quantum technologies, and more broadly extreme light, photophysics, photochemistry and charge transfer, atomic, molecular and plasma physics, and ultrafast XUV/X-ray spectroscopy. This is a strong fit for candidates interested in experimental ultrafast science, gas-phase biomolecules, and light-matter interaction at advanced light sources.

The position is a full-time, 36-month fixed-term French doctoral employment contract funded under Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND. The fellowship includes a minimum gross monthly salary of 2400 EUR, plus a monthly travel and mobility allowance of 200 EUR. Doctoral school enrolment fees are covered for the 3-year period, and fellows may also gain professional experience such as teaching and broader training in research, innovation, and transferable skills.

Applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a Master’s degree or equivalent by the deadline, must not already hold a PhD, and must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule. A B2 level of English is mandatory; French is not required. Strong preparation in chemical physics, atomic or molecular physics, nonlinear optics, or femtosecond lasers is expected, along with experimental skills relevant to vacuum systems, lasers, optics, spectroscopy, or large-scale facilities. Security clearance is also required for recruitment in French science and technology research facilities.

Applications must be submitted through the LIGHTinPARIS application portal. Candidates should first verify eligibility, review the project details, contact the supervisor, and then register and submit their dossier. The registration deadline is 15 September 2026, and the final submission deadline is 21 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Paris time.