Postdoctoral Researcher in Lanthanide Organometallic Chemistry

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut des sciences chimiques de Rennes Research Field Chemistry Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 14 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 11 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Lanthanide (Ln) ions are currently the subject of extensive research in the field of molecular magnetism, as they can be considered excellent candidates for the design of single‑molecule magnets (SMMs) intended for high‑density data storage and quantum computing. Interestingly, the incorporation of rare‑earth ions into a chiral organic architecture can promote the transfer of chirality from the organic ligand to the metal ion. This, in turn, induces circular anisotropies at the lanthanide ion, leading to the emergence of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and magneto‑chiral dichroism (MChD).

Understanding and controlling the interplay between these coupled magnetic and optical properties opens up particularly promising opportunities for the reading and writing of information at the molecular scale using optical or magnetic fields.

[2.2]Paracyclophanes (pCps) constitute a fascinating class of organic molecules featuring a unique three‑dimensional architecture and remarkable electronic properties. Owing to their planar chirality, these molecules have also been employed as central scaffolds for the development of chiral luminescent compounds exhibiting strong electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and highly circularly polarized luminescence (CPL).

The main objective of this project is to exploit the unique planar chirality of pCps to develop new lanthanide‑based (Ln) organometallic compounds, as well as metal‑organic complexes, exhibiting high‑performance SMM and CPL properties.

In this ANR research project, the post‑doc candidate will develop skills in lanthanide organometallic chemistry, the study of their optical, chiroptical and magnetic properties, and will benefit from interactions with specialists in various spectroscopies and in theoretical chemistry. A motivated student with a very good knowledge in lanthanide organometallic chemistry and magnetometry is required. Skills in optical spectroscopy together with interest for a multidisciplinary project going beyond chemistry will be appreciated.

Main Responsibilities

• Synthesis of organometallic precursors of lanthanide ions
• Development of organometallic lanthanide complexes involving chiral paracyclophane‑type ligands
• Crystallization and crystal growth of the synthesized systems
• Characterization using standard analytical techniques
• Magnetic investigation through DC and AC measurements using a SQUID/PPMS magnetometer

Secondary Responsibilities

• Spectroscopic investigations (optical and chiroptical), including natural circular dichroism and luminescence
• Writing scientific publications based on the results obtained

The Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) is a joint Research Department (UMR: Unité Mixte de Recherche) associating the CNRS, The Université de Rennes, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes (ENSCR) and the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Rennes (INSA de Rennes).

This Institute, founded in January 1st, 2006, gathers together all the academic forces in chemistry from the Rennes site. At the beginning of 2023, it brings together more than 280 permanent people, including approximately 140 assistant‑professors and professors, 60 CNRS researchers and 80 engineers and technicians, at the Rennes Beaulieu, Rennes Villejean and Lannion IUT sites, leading to an overall workforce of more than 500 people. Its organisation in eight research teams of various sizes along with two administrative and scientific technical departments, makes it possible to combine effectively the scientific advantages of a structure covering a wide disciplinary field combined with a management supportive of everyone.

The research topics mainly investigated in the ISCR are

• a) Sustainable materials with environmentally friendly materials and processes
• b) Energy conversion materials
• c) Materials and molecules for the health field

The University also offers French courses for international students and hosts an international Erasmus Mundus pr