Postdoctoral research associate in electrochemistry and materials science

Organisation/Company Sorbonne Université Research Field Chemistry Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Leading Researcher (R4) Other Profession Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 31 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Responsibilities:Postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) in electrochemistry and materials science

Category:A

To transmit knowledge, understand the world, and meet the challenges of the 21st century, a new university was created on 1 January 2018, resulting from the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University. Sorbonne University is a multidisciplinary, research-intensive, world-class university. Rooted in the heart of Paris and present across the regions, it is committed to student success and strives to address the scientific challenges of the 21st century. www.sorbonne-universite.fr

The Interfaces and Electrochemical Systems Laboratory (LISE, UMR 8235), a joint research unit of Sorbonne University and the CNRS, is a leading laboratory in the fields of electrochemistry, corrosion, and materials science. Its research activities focus on the study of fundamental electrochemical mechanisms, the degradation of materials in complex environments, as well as the development of advanced analytical methodologies for the investigation of electrochemical interfaces.

The laboratory has recognized expertise in the development and use of the AESEC technique (atomic emission spectroelectrochemistry), which enables real-time, element-resolved analysis of material dissolution and transformation processes. Its activities also include the development of innovative experimental devices for use in aqueous, strongly acidic, and non-aqueous media.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the ERC Starting Grant project URANUS (Understanding degradation mechanism of metallic materials in extreme environments using element-resolved electrochemistry, grant number: 101220159, 2026–2030), led by Dr Junsoo Han (Associate Professor, HDR, Sorbonne University). This project aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing electrochemical reactions of metallic materials in extreme environments. It combines instrumentation development, fundamental electrochemistry, and real-time elemental analysis to provide new insights into the mechanisms of corrosion, dissolution, and passivation of materials.

Mission :

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the development and application of the AESEC technique for the study of electrochemical systems in extreme environments, particularly in concentrated high-temperature electrolytes such as hot nitric acid and molten salts.

The main mission is to understand the mechanisms of dissolution, passivation, and interfacial reactivity under severe conditions, while developing innovative experimental approaches enabling coupling between electrochemistry and real-time elemental analysis.

Research activities will include the design and development of electrochemical cells adapted to AESEC, the experimental implementation of measurements in extreme environments, the execution of experimental campaigns, the analysis and interpretation of the resulting data, and the dissemination of results through scientific publications and presentations at international conferences.

The postdoctoral researcher will also participate in national and international collaborations developed within the framework of the URANUS project.

Main activities :

• Develop and optimize AESEC experiments coupled with electrochemical systems operating in highly corrosive and/or high-temperature environments.
• Design, develop, and adapt experimental devices for operation in hot concentrated nitric acid and molten salts.
• Ensure the stability, reliability, and reproducibility of measurements under extreme conditions (high temperature, high viscosity, strong corrosivity, etc.).
• Optimise electrolyte transport and sample introduction into the ICP spectrometer while minimising matrix effects and analytical disturbances.
• Investigate in real time anodic dissolution, passivation, and interfacial reactivity mechanisms of metallic materials.
• Correlate AESEC signals with data obtained from other techniques available at LISE (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, in situ Raman spectroscopy, and on-line gas analysis).
• Develop and apply multi-signal data processing and analysis methods (electrochemistry and atomic emission), using tools develope