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Internship and thesis proposals
Criteria for selection
Number of proposals
317
1
Theoretical description of quantum electrodynamics in strong fields
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
High energy physics
Metrology
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The focus of this internship is the improvement of theoretical methods to describe quantum electrodynamics (QED) in the vicinity of the Coulomb field created by an atomic nucleus with large nuclear charge number Z. In contrast to low-Z ions, the coupling of the quantum vacuum to the nucleus has to be described non-perturbatively in the high-Z regime because of the strong Coulomb field. This non-perturbative description creates additional challenges for theory compared to the perturbative regime, but is necessary to provide accurate theoretical predictions for many ongoing and future experiments that aim to test QED in strong fields. One of the main tasks will be adapting established methods for the description of electronic ions to exotic systems, where one or more electrons have been replaced by a heavier exotic particle, like a muon or an antiproton. Due to their higher mass, these particles orbit significantly closer to the nucleus than an electron in the same state and probe electric fields that are orders of magnitude larger. State-of-the-art experiments with exotic atoms, such as the PAX (antiProtonic Atom X-ray spectroscopy) experiment currently under development at LKB, can test the Standard Model in a regime that is otherwise inaccessible in a laboratory and need improved theoretical predictions to exploit their full potential as precision tests of strong-field QED.
Contact
Jonas Sommerfeldt
09/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
2
Electron-phonon coupling in superconducting materials from advanced density functional methods
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The standard approach for treating the electron-phonon interaction is density functional theory (DFT) with so-called semi-local approximations. During the past years it has become clear that this method is insufficient, and can fail dramatically in many systems of fundamental and technological interest such as high-temperature superconductors. To solve the problem, an improved treatment of electronic correlation is needed. Indeed, recent works have shown that more advanced, fully nonlocal approximations in DFT tend to enhance the electron-phonon coupling, and in certain cases substantially increase the critical temperature of materials exhibiting unconventional superconductivity.
In this project we will investigate and design nonlocal approximations based on diagrammatic many-body perturbation theory, able to simultaneously capture short and long range effects of the Coulomb interaction. As a first application, we will study TiSe2 an intriguing quasi-two-dimensional layered material where superconductivity competes with a charge density wave instability.
Contact
Maria Hellgren
09/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
3
Quantum error correction of time-frequency Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Time-frequency is a promising degree of freedom for encoding and processing quantum information. In particular,
frequency is remarkably robust to linear optical processes, making it an attractive resource for high-dimensional
quantum information protocols. Although time and frequency are intrinsically continuous degrees of freedom, they
can be discretized to encode high-dimensional quantum states, or qudits, and further reduced to two-dimensional
subspaces to define qubits. One example is the time-frequency Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) state, in which a
qubit can be encoded in the even and odd components of a frequency comb generated by an entangled photon-pair
source. Such states are promising for applications in enhanced quantum metrology and quantum error correction.
They also exhibit strong mathematical similarities with bosonic GKP codes, while being physically distinct.
In this internship, we aim to investigate and adapt quantum error-correction protocols to entangled time-frequency
GKP states. A particular focus will be placed on realistic error sources, including incoherent errors arising from
detector timing jitter, as well as quantum channels that induce broadening in the time and frequency domains. The
goal will be to characterize the performance of error-correction protocols under these realistic noise processes and
determine the number of correction cycles required to preserve the quality of the encoded state for a given quantum
information protocol.
Contact
Nicolas Fabre
06/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
4
Electrochemistry under vibrational coupling with plasmons
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Recently, it was shown that chemical reaction rates can be modified by up to an order-of-magnitude by performing the reaction in a Fabry-Perot cavity tuned to the vibrational mode of one of the molecular species appearing along the reaction path. This remarkable observation, for which there is as yet no clear physical explanation, was made in the absence of any external photo-excitation. Inspired by this, we propose an internship and PhD project whose long-term goal is to study electrochemical reactions under vibrational strong coupling conditions. The intern will participate in, and contribute to, a series of experiments in which plasmonic metasurfaces will be fabricated using state-of-the-art lithography, then used as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell. Initial tests will target the study of text-book electrochemical reactions under external, mid-IR excitation, with the aim being to explore the effect of photon confinement at the electrode surface on reaction kinetics.
Contact
Alistair Rowe
06/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
5
collective effect of pore density in membranes for electrodialysis
Domaines
Soft matter
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Blue energy, harvested by reverse electrodialysis, aims to convert the free energy from the mix of water of different salinities (river water and sea water for instance) into electricity. Its development relies on high-performance ion-exchange membranes combining high ionic selectivity with low electrical resistance. A major challenge is therefore to design a new generation of membranes that are simultaneously more efficient, less polluting, and less expensive.
This internship will investigate how nanopore size and pore density affect membrane performance. The intern will study collective effects arising from interactions between neighboring pores, together with the influence of concentration boundary layers associated with fluid flow. The objective is to understand how these phenomena govern ion transport and to identify membrane architectures that optimize selectivity, resistance, and generated power.
The project will be primarily experimental. The intern will prepare membranes through the adsorption of polyelectrolytes inside nanoporous PET membranes, and will then characterize their ionic selectivity, electrical resistance, and power output. Depending on the intern’s interests and background, the project may also include theoretical modelling and/or numerical simulations to interpret the experimental results and explore the influence of different pore geometries and densities.
Contact
Corentin Trégouet
06/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
6
Finite-time optimal quantum sensors: engineering the Fisher information with cold atoms in modulated optical lattices
Domaines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Atom interferometers rely on prescribed sequences (splitting, reflection, recombination), optimized step by step, whose precision improves by repeating measurements. This project asks a complementary question, crucial when interrogation time or the number of runs is limited: how much information can a single experimental cycle deliver? With a rubidium Bose–Einstein condensate in an optical lattice whose phase is modulated in real time, we recently showed that a modulation optimized from the Fisher information spontaneously builds an interferometer that reaches the quantum bound for force sensing in a fraction of a millisecond. The goal is now to identify what replaces the standard interferometric scheme when several parameters are measured simultaneously, such as the components of an acceleration, or an acceleration and a rotation. The quantity to optimize becomes a Fisher matrix, which encodes both the attainable precisions and the correlations between estimates. The project will first address force gradients, then two-dimensional vectorial sensing, comparing square and genuinely non-separable triangular lattices, and finally robustness against poorly known parameters and the role of atomic interactions. Combining experiment and numerical optimal control, it offers a complete training at the interface between cold atoms, quantum control and quantum metrology.
Contact
David Guéry-Odelin
06/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
7
Quantum geometry and nonlinear transport in oxide two-dimensional electron gases
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
How does the geometry of an electron’s wavefunction determine electrical transport? Beyond band energies and scattering, the evolution of electronic states in momentum space is described by Berry curvature and the quantum metric. These quantities can generate nonlinear electrical responses, but their signatures remain underexplored at oxide interfaces.
This internship will investigate quantum-geometric transport in two-dimensional electron gases based on SrTiO₃ and KTaO₃. Their orbital mixing and spin-orbit coupling provide opportunities to tune quantum geometry via crystal orientation, electrostatic gating and magnetic fields.
The student will perform low-temperature transport measurements, recording longitudinal and Hall voltages at the first, second and third harmonics of an applied current. By varying gate voltage, temperature and magnetic-field orientation, they will analyse the symmetry and scaling of nonlinear signals to distinguish possible quantum-geometric contributions from scattering and thermal effects. Tight-binding modelling will help connect the measurements to the electronic structure.
The internship will take place at Laboratoire Albert Fert in Palaiseau, supervised by Manuel Bibes, Agnès Barthélémy and Hugo Witt, with the possibility of continuing towards a PhD.
Contact
Manuel Bibes
06/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
8
A new optical collection system to enhance ion–photon entanglement
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Recent advances in quantum physics have given rise to cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, quantum simulation, and quantum communication, driving the rapid development of quantum technologies. Our research team has strong experience with two complementary quantum platforms: laser-cooled trapped strontium ions and single photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in semiconductor chips. Using deep learning, we have recently designed a new source of such photons, whose pairs combine a photon at 1092 nm, matching a transition of the 88Sr+ ion, with a telecom photon at 1550 nm.
This internship proposal is at the intersection of these two areas, with the goal of developing a hybrid quantum platform. The project addresses one of the key challenges in quantum communication networks: creating a seamless connection between static qubits (trapped ions) and flying qubits (single photons).
Contact
Valentin Cambier
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
9
Effects of the Alzheimer amyloid beta peptide on glioblastoma cell mechanics and invasive properties
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Cells can sense and respond to external forces and mechanotransduction events appear to be critical for most cellular functions, including cell migration and invasion. This M2 internship project will study mechanotransduction in the context of glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain tumour, and Alzheimer’s disease. The project will focus on the role of the Alzheimer amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide in GBM cell mechanics, migration and invasive properties.
Contact
Jean-Baptiste Manneville
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
10
Towards an integrated model of tip growth
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Colonizing the world is one of the great challenges of living organisms. Animals move themselves, but other organisms, such as plants and fungi, rely mainly on growth. Concentrating the elongation in the tip is a solution allowing organisms to quickly adapt growth to the properties of their environment. Therefore, tip growth is a convergent evolution observed for cells as distant in the phylogeny as fission yeast, fungal hyphae, plant pollen tube or plant root hair.
Root hairs are cylindrical extensions which grow laterally from the root epidermis. While they keep a typical cell diameter of 10 µm, root hairs can reach ~1 mm in length, thus significantly increasing the surface area of roots, enhancing their ability to uptake essential resources for plant growth and development.
In this context, we have designed original micro-mechanical techniques, combined with microfluidic devices, allowing us to measure, in vivo, many parameters of the growing root hair, as well as the nucleus movements, allowing us now to get an integrated quantitative description of tip growth.
We propose an internship dedicated to such mechanical measurements after hyper-osmotic shocks in order to gain insight into growth regulation. The internship could also involve image analysis (PIV) to analyse the effect of a stiffening environment on nucleus dynamics. This internship could be followed by a PhD dedicated to defining an integrated model of tip growth.
Contact
Atef Asnacios
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
11
Morphology control of boehmite nanoparticles and impact on phase transition upon thermal annealing
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Boehmite (-AlOOH) is an important raw material in industry, for catalytic applications or polymer nanocomposites, among others [1,2], as it serves as precursor for the production of alumina (Al2O3) phases through calcination. The effect of the morphology on the thermal transformation of boehmite remains poorly understand. This internship project aims to explore the impact of boehmite morphology on phase transition to -Al2O3 upon thermal annealing. The first objective will be to determine the parameters controlling size and morphology of boehmite nanoparticles synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The second objective will concern the investigation of the role of the initial morphology on phase transitions upon thermal annealing on a selection of samples with the most contrasting morphologies combining lab and synchrotron-based experiments.
Contact
Erwan Paineau
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
12
Thermodynamics of osmoregulation in freshwater
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Osmosis represents a particularly harsh constraints for most forms of life and requires organisms to tightly regulate water flows. For example, the kidney system of land animals actively pumps ions to reabsorb water and avoid desiccation. On the other side of the spectrum, fresh water organisms face a constant osmotic fluid intake and must excrete water to compensate. Yet, in the absence of active molecular water transporters, the physical mechanisms behind active water effluxes remain unclear, as well as the associated energetic cost.
The goal of this internship and PhD project is to compare strategies of osmoregulation from the perspective of thermodynamics and theoretical biophysics. Models will describe the nanofluidic transport of ions and water through molecular transporters, and include them in effective models of osmoregulation at the cell or tissue level. One long-term aim of this project is to understand how embryos that develop in freshwater achieve osmoregulation without any (known) specific organ dedicated to the task. This latter part of the project will be done in collaboration with experimental biologists.
Contact
Paul Robin
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
13
Nematics of cellular multilayers: towards a living liquid crystal
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This project lies at the interface of active matter and out-of-equilibrium statistical physics. Cellular tissues are a particularly rich example of active systems: cells consume energy, interact mechanically and collectively generate stresses. When cells are elongated, they can also display a collective orientational order analogous to that of nematic liquid crystals. The overall goal is to understand how microscopic cell–cell interactions give rise to the mechanical properties and collective organisation observed at the tissue scale.
The novelty of the project is to study cellular multilayers as living lamellar liquid crystals: layered structures that can deform, flow and actively produce forces. The work combines experiments, development of analysis tools and theoretical modelling, in a strongly interdisciplinary approach at the crossroads of active-matter physics, biophysics and materials science.
Contact
Claire Dessalles
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
14
Hydrogels modulables pour une remédiation sélective et circulaire des métaux toxiques ou polluants organiques
Domaines
Soft matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Face à la demande croissante en eau et à la pollution par les métaux lourds, les colorants, les polluants organiques toxiques issus de l’activité industrielle, le traitement des eaux contaminées est un enjeu majeur et appelle des solutions innovantes. Les hydrogels, des réseaux tridimensionnels de polymères aux très hautes capacités d'absorption, leurs propriétés hydrophiles et leur perméabilité sélective sont des candidats prometteurs. Leurs propriétés mécaniques souvent insuffisantes limitent toutefois leurs applications, Pour y remédier, ce stage vise à mettre en place une stratégie scientifique pluridisciplinaire associant physique, intelligence artificielle, modélisation et mécatronique, pour développer des réseaux de biopolymères réticulés ou interpénétrés formant des hydrogels en membranes ou microbilles, aux propriétés modulables et d’en étudier les propriétés. Au-delà de l'élaboration, le projet comporte une dimension théorique et de modélisation pour prédire les relations entre la structure des réseaux, leurs propriétés mécaniques et leur efficacité d'adsorption. Le stage se déroulera principalement au laboratoire MSC, en collaboration avec plusieurs laboratoires de la région parisienne et avec l'Université de La Corogne en Espagne. Il peut être poursuivi en doctorat
Contact
Alain Ponton
05/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
15
Are mitochondria mechanosensitive organelles?
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Cells can sense and respond to external forces and mechanotransduction events appear to be critical for most cellular functions, including cell migration and invasion. This M2 internship project will study mechanotransduction at the level of mitochondria, the intracellular organelle which is central to cell metabolism by producing energy in the form of ATP molecules.
Contact
Jean-Baptiste Manneville
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
16
Master’s Internship – Fiber-Integrated Quantum Light Sources
Domaines
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Efficiently interfacing quantum emitters with optical fibers is a key challenge for quantum technologies. Coupling a single emitter to a one-dimensional waveguide enables efficient single photon sources and/or strong light-matter interactions at the single-photon level. Our group develops hybrid interfaces combining solid-state quantum emitters and tapered optical nanofibers: ultrathin fibers (~300 nm diameter, >98% transmission) that collect photons directly into a guided mode, offering a compact, low-loss, fiber-compatible platform.
We are looking for someome to contribute to the development of a fully fiber-integrated quantum light source based on single quantum emitters. Depending on their interests, the project may focus on: enhancing emitter-waveguide coupling with hybrid photonic-plasmonic structures on nanofibers; characterizing single-photon emitters, including at cryogenic temperatures; quantum nonlinear optics and photon correlations in 1D waveguides; or nanoscale sensing (Raman spectroscopy, magnetic fields) with nanofiber evanescent fields.
The student will receive hands-on training in experimental quantum optics: optical setups, nanofiber fabrication, spectroscopy, single-photon measurements, data analysis and simulations.
We seek M2 students in physics, quantum optics, photonics or nanoscience with experience in experimental optics; Python or FDTD skills are a plus. The internship can lead to a PhD in our group.
Contact
Hanna Le Jeannic
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
17
Resistively shunted Josephson junctions in the quantum regime
Domaines
Condensed matter
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
A Josephson junction is a non-linear superconducting device. Under certain conditions the junction behaves quantum mechanically (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2025), and is strongly influenced by the electrical circuit in which it is embedded. The student will measure DC electronic properties of Josephson junctions in the quantum regime. Preliminary data indicates that a large bias resistor can make the junction insulating instead of superconducting. The goal of the internship is to determine the phase diagram for this transition as a function of the junction size.
Contact
Çağlar Girit
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
18
Varying Anticipation in Pedestrian Crowd Models
Domaines
Condensed matter
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Organizing large events raises security issues that require a better understanding of dense crowd dynamics. Until now, the focus in the field of pedestrian modeling has been on low or moderate densities. However, there is now an attempt to shift towards higher densities and larger crowds. This becomes even more challenging when one wants to include pedestrians' ability to anticipate how the rest of the crowd will behave, which necessitates addressing the problem within a game-theoretical framework.
The aim of this internship is to identify and develop, for a couple of configurations of practical interest, game-theoretical models which are best adapted to the size and necessary degree of anticipation, so that the model contains just the right amount of anticipation in order to capture the main characteristics of crowd behavior without being unnecessarily costly in terms of computation.
This work will be performed in collaboration with the Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police (LCPP) which will provide relevant situations of interest to explore. The internship will have both a significant analytical component, involving understanding the properties of the different models and how they relate one to each other, and a strong numerical component.
Contact
Denis Ullmo
Laboratory : LPTMS - UMR 8626
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
19
Crystallization of mixtures of polyhedra
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Colloidal particles can crystallize into a wide range of different structures. One way of tuning the crystal structure they form is by modifying their shape. Nanoparticles can be created in a huge variety of shapes, often corresponding to simple polyhedra. Polyhedral particles of a single shape and size can form a huge variety of crystal phases, and this variety will become even larger if we mix different types of polyhedra together.
Recent experiments at LPS showed the self-assembly of a mixture of tetrahedra and octahedra into a densely packed crystal. To guide future experiments, it would be helpful to know combinations of shapes that readily self-assemble into well-defined crystal phases with interesting structures.
In this project, you will use computer simulations to explore crystallization in mixtures of polyhedra. The goal is to identify candidate structures consisting of polyhedra, and identifying conditions where self-assembly can reliably take place. For interesting structures, you will also probe the thermodynamic stability of the crystal phases using either theoretical approximations or direct coexistence simulations.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in statistical physics, as well as an interest in coding and/or computer simulations.
Contact
Frank Smallenburg
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
20
Predicting the packing of nanorod mixtures
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
One interesting feature of nanoparticles is the fact that they can crystallize into a broad array of different crystal structures, depending on their shape and interactions. The experimental team of Cyrille Hamon at LPS is looking into the self-assembly of rod-shaped particles into structures that consist of layers of aligned rods [1]. Within these layers, the particles behave more or less as 2D objects, with a shape corresponding to the cross-section of the rod. Experimentally, this cross-section can be tuned to triangular, square, or pentagonal, such that a slice through one of the layers looks like a packing of polygons.
The question is: what crystal structures could form in such a 2D system of polygons? When all particles have the same shape and size, we know the answer [2], but mixing different shapes or sizes opens the door to a variety of crystals. In this project, you will use specialized computer simulations [3] to explore the packing of mixtures of polygons, and in particular look for regimes where interesting structures emerge. These findings can then help guide future experiments. The ideal candidate has a strong background in statistical physics, as well as an interest in coding and/or computer simulations.
Contact
Frank Smallenburg
04/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
21
Spectroscopy of Quantum Spin Liquids in Frustrated Magnets
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are unconventional states of matter characterized by strong quantum correlations and entanglement, in which magnetic moments remain disordered down to the lowest temperatures. They may host exotic excitations such as fractional spinons, emergent photons or Majorana fermions, challenging our understanding of quantum matter.
Frustrated magnets, including rare-earth pyrochlores, kagome systems and Kitaev materials, provide promising platforms for exploring these states. Their experimental identification and the characterization of their magnetic excitations remain major challenges.
This internship aims to investigate candidate quantum spin-liquid materials using complementary experimental techniques, combining high-resolution spectroscopies (NMR, muon spin relaxation and inelastic neutron scattering) with low-temperature thermodynamic measurements (ultrasound and specific heat). These approaches will probe magnetic correlations and low-energy excitations.
The student will join the Spectroscopy of Quantum Materials group at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (Université Paris-Saclay), benefiting from established international collaborations and expertise in quantum magnetism. The internship offers hands-on experience in advanced experimental techniques and data analysis. A continuation towards a PhD is possible.
Contact
Edwin Kermarrec
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
22
Universal non-locality in active systems
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Describe the generic emergence of non-local stationary measure and long-range correlations in active systems. The project can naturally be continued in a PhD.
Contact
Cesare Nardini
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
23
Ultracold neutral plasma physics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship offer is at the frontier of atomic, quantum and plasma physics. The student will take part in optimizing and characterizing the production of laser-cooled atomic clouds with temperatures in the mK range, in a new experiment aiming at creating an ultracold neutral plasma to study its dynamics.
Contact
Romain Dubessy
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
24
Quantum Algorithms for the Many-Body Problem on Silicon Spin Qubits
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Corporate activity
Description
Context: Simulating interacting electrons, the quantum many-body problem, is one of the most promising applications of quantum computers, with potential impact on materials science and quantum chemistry. Running such algorithms on real hardware raises specific challenges: noise, limited connectivity and native gate sets all depend on the qubit technology. Quobly develops quantum processors based on silicon spin qubits and has released SpinPulse, a library for transpilation and noise-accurate simulation of spin qubit quantum computers. The goal is to implement a quantum algorithm for a small many-body problem and evaluate how it performs under realistic spin qubit noise.
Contact
Matthieu Saubanere
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
25
Biophysical characterization of shear-induced buoyancy regulation mechanism in diatoms
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Diatoms are a particular group of phytoplankton that contribute to an estimated 20% global primary production and carbon export. Lacking swimming appendages like flagella, diatoms rely on passive advection by flows and active buoyancy regulation. At LPENS, our group is particularly interested in the regulation of their buoyancy induced by shear flows. Recently, in collaboration with Idan Tuval at IMEDEA (Mallorca) we could demonstrate for the first time that the species Coscinodiscus granii actively modulates its intracellular density when sheared by external flows. For this master internship (M1 or M2) we aim at investigating the biophysicochemical mechanisms involved in such buoyancy regulation at the single cell level. We will combine biophysical approaches, video-microscopy/optics, image analysis, microfluidic techniques, microalgal culturing techniques and data analysis in order to decipher this complex process.
For M2 students, the internship can be followed with a PhD (funded through a doctoral scholarship to apply to). During the PhD the student will also have the opportunity to work on large scale biogeochemical simulations in order to investigate the effect of active buoyancy regulation on primary production and carbon export (in collaboration with Laurent Bopp at the Geoscience department), and/or to work on the coupling between such active response and turbulence through dedicated simulations (in collaboration with Idan Tuval and Jorge Arrieta at IMEDEA, Spain).
Contact
Raphaël Jeanneret
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
26
Charge and spin density waves in the nickelate superconductors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The internship aims to investigate the charge and magnetic instabilities in the layered nickelate superconductors. Since the search space for charge and magnetic ordering in these materials is very large, it is difficult to explore them using density functional theory calculations. So we will train magnetic machine learning potentials to study the charge and magnetic density waves in these systems. This project will involve learning about density functional theory calculations, machine learning potentials, and the physics of charge and magnetic instabilities.
Contact
Alaska Subedi
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
27
Co-design of magic state factories
Domaines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Corporate activity
Description
In a context where magic state preparation dominates the space-time cost of fault-tolerant quantum algorithms, recent advances have substantially widened the factory design space: batched protocols producing several magic states per run, compact protocols leveraging qubit recycling, and "unfolded" distillation performed at the physical rather than the logical level, which exploits the noise bias of cat qubits. Because the repetition codes underlying Alice & Bob's architecture do not natively give access to the full Clifford group, the architecture must also distill Clifford resource states in addition to non-Clifford magic states. Selecting the best factory is a highly multi-parameter optimisation problem, coupling spatial and temporal code distances, single- versus multi-output protocols, the degree of parallelism of the distillation circuit, the magic state injection scheme, the factory layout, and hardware connectivity constraints. The goal of this internship is to navigate this design space and identify the most resource-efficient factories for Alice & Bob's architecture, focusing first on magic state factories and possibly extending the resulting tools to Clifford state factories.
Contact
Élie Gouzien
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
28
Cohesion and fluidity of an epithelial tissue: how active cell mechanics preserve diffusion in a dense, disordered system
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Epithelial tissues must maintain organ integrity while continuously remodeling during morphogenesis, wound healing, and disease progression. At high cell density, tissues are often described as mechanically arrested, disordered, solid-like materials, and a large body of work interprets them within the framework of glassy and jamming physics. In this picture, cells are trapped by their neighbors (the “cage effect”), which should lead to subdiffusive dynamics and strongly slowed rearrangements, as in thermal glass-formers near the glass transition. Yet tissues do remain fluid over long timescales: cells exchange neighbors and eventually diffuse over distances much larger than their size, with transport that is often much closer to normal diffusion than what a passive glassy system would give. This tension between cohesion (solid-like at short times) and fluidity (liquid-like at long times) is the central question of this project. A plausible explanation is that active, non-equilibrium mechanisms intrinsic to cells (shape changes, self-propulsion, polarity dynamics, cell division and extrusion) continuously fluidize the tissue. However, these mechanisms are rarely compared on equal footing, and in particular the role of the coupling between cell geometry and cell motility remains poorly understood.
Contact
Marc Durand
Laboratory : MSC - UMR7057
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
29
Can we measure the pressure within a tissue ?
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Confluent biological tissues are active multicellular systems: cells consume energy (ATP) to generate motion, change shape and exert forces. Mechanical stresses are known to regulate cell proliferation, extrusion, differentiation and collective migration, so quantifying the pressure inside a tissue is a major biophysical question. Yet in out-of-equilibrium active systems the notion of pressure is subtle. Unlike in equilibrium, pressure is generally not a state function: the force exerted on a wall or probe can depend on how the active constituents interact with it (its shape, stiffness,
compliance, and the nature of the contact). This implies that different pressure measurements (wall force, bulk stress, deformation of a probe) may give different answers for the same tissue. Biological cells make this problem harder than for synthetic active particles (self-propelled colloids, active Brownian particles). Cells deform, adapt and communicate; their interactions are intrinsically many-body rather than pairwise (a cell’s mechanics depends on the whole polygon formed with its neighbors); and the direction of cell motility is coupled to cell geometry and/or to the orientation of neighboring cells. How these features affect the pressure exerted on a confining wall is largely unexplored.
Contact
Marc Durand
Laboratory : MSC - UMR7057
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
30
Effects of strain and magnetic field on the electrons of quantum materials: a theoretical study of Sr3Ru2O7
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
In a solid, electrons can move between atomic sites, with their motion determined by the crystal structure and playing a crucial role in the material's properties. Sr3Ru2O7 is a strongly correlated quantum material exhibiting fascinating electronic and magnetic phenomena. Its properties are highly sensitive to external perturbations, such as mechanical strain and magnetic fields, which can induce magnetic transitions and quantum critical behavior. An important step toward understanding these phenomena is to investigate how external perturbations modify the electronic band structure, before accounting for the important electron-electron Coulomb interactions. The goal of this internship is to develop effective tight-binding models of Sr3Ru2O7, starting from a simple model and progressively introducing more realistic features. Particular attention will be given to the interplay between strain and magnetic field and their effects on the electronic bands and magnetic susceptibility. The project will combine analytical calculations and numerical simulations. Depending on progress of the internship, electron-electron interactions may also be explored within perturbation theory. This work will provide a foundation for future studies using advanced many-body techniques, aiming to understand experimental observations in Sr3Ru2O7.
Contact
Maria Chatzieleftheriou
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
31
Molecular Mechanisms for Systemic Coordination of Cellular Stress Responses in C. elegans
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship project aims to elucidate the interplay between systemic and cell-autonomous responses to temperature stress, using the nematode C. elegans as a model organism.
Our group has established an experimental setup in which animals can be live-imaged at high resolution in a microfluidic device, while:
(1) fast global temperature changes are applied and/or
(2) temperature can be raised ONLY in the head or tail region of the animal
Our preliminary data indicates that localized heating of the head and not the tail of the animal induces the formation of stress granules in a systemic fashion, even in the cold side of the animal, within minutes, suggesting a role for fast inter-tissue communication in organizing a body-wide cellular stress response. In this internship, by imaging fluorescent reporter lines for the HSR as well as the formation of stress granules, and subsequent quantitative image analysis, we will explore how localized heat can be translated into the organism-wide activation of stress responses and how the dynamics of this activation differs from a scenario in which the entire organism is exposed to the temperature stress.
Contact
Wolfgang Keil
03/11/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
32
Deciphering the Cellular Code for Developmental Time
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
During multicellular development, a large diversity of cell-types is generated from small pools of progenitor cells. To achieve ordered and timely generation of each cell-type, progenitor cells assess cues along two primary sources of information: space and time. In the most classic example for the
acquisition of spatial cell identities, cells interpret a position-dependent concentration of a diffusible morphogen to spatially pattern into various cell-types. While quantitative and predictive descriptions of morphogen decoding for spatial identity have emerged over the past decades, similar “cellular rules” for temporal patterning have not been uncovered. In this project, we will use post-embryonic temporal patterning of hypodermal blast cells (HBCs) in the nematode C. elegans as a model system, which are uniquely qualified to overcome current limitation of in vivo studies. Through live-imaging with microfluidics, quantitative image analysis, and mathematical modelling, the goal of this internship is to uncover how cells interpret temporal cues to generate sequences of temporal identities during development. The overall goal of this work is to synthesize intuitive and predictive principles for cellular decision-making in the temporal domain, bound to generalize to other systems such as invertebrate or vertebrate nervous systems.
Contact
Wolfgang Keil
03/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
33
High-throughput piezoresponse force microscopy of perovskite piezoelectrics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The most widely used piezoelectric material today is lead zirconate titanate (PZT), due to its excellent all-around performance and processability. However, replacing PZT with lead-free alternatives is of political and economic interest. In the search for new lead-free piezoelectric materials, the perovskite crystal structure offers an unmatched chemical and functional flexibility. Some of the most promising high-d33 lead-free material systems that crystallize in the perovskite structure are extremely chemically disordered, and it is unlikely that the best-performing composition has been found. We are developing high-throughput synthesis and characterization methods in order to sample from this large compositional space and perform Bayesian Optimization to propose new compositions with the aim of finding the highest possible d33 in the chemical space we are exploring.
In this work, we plan to use atomic force microscopy with the piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) option to measure the d33 of the samples we synthesize in the lab. The PFM technique is sensitive to artefacts, and we need to develop a robust method for data collection and analysis to be able to use the results from this tool in a quantitative manner.
Candidates with background and/or interest in condensed matter physics, instrumentation, and data treatment are welcome to apply.
Contact
Solveig Aamlid
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
34
Shaping quantum light with disordered nonlinear nanomaterials
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Non-classical light, such as correlated photon pairs, is the key resource behind emerging quantum technologies, yet today’s sources rely on carefully engineered nonlinear crystals that operate at a single wavelength and are hard to miniaturise. We have pioneered wavefront shaping to control light in complex media, and are now developing disordered nonlinear assemblies. The project aims at turning the randomness of such materials into a resource, programming them with wavefront shaping to behave as compact and tunable sources of quantum light, for instance through photon-pair generation or Stokes/anti-Stokes correlated emission. The work is mainly experimental, combining ultrafast lasers, spatial light modulators and single-photon coincidence detection, and could be followed by a PhD.
Contact
Hilton Barbosa de Aguiar
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
35
How does a dune field adapt to a change in wind forcing and boundary conditions
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Wind-blown sand dunes are ubiquitous on Earth and other planetary bodies with an atmosphere (Mars, Titan) and play a significant role in the sediment and dust budgets. Many studies have investigated the shape of isolated dunes as a function of wind regime and sand supply, generally focusing on the equilibrium shape. However, dunes are not isolated within a field, they are numerous and interact. This interaction can lead to a self-organised pattern, even though individual dunes and the field are out of equilibrium. Here, we propose to experimentally study the field pattern, its stability and reorganisation dynamics when subjected to changes in wind forcing and/or of boundary conditions. This subject lies at the intersection of geomorphology and nonlinear physics, covering topics such as pattern formation, instability and dynamics of out-of-equilibrium systems.
This work may be experimental and/or numerical, and theoretical. Experiments will be carried out underwater (where the dunes are downscaled) in an already developed setup. A good knowledge of fluid mechanics and the fundamentals of nonlinear physics would be advantageous. Ideally, the internship will be followed by a PhD.
Contact
Sylvain Courrech du Pont
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
36
Dynamics and deformations of a biomimetic active tissue
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Biological tissues consist of adherent cells acting as active agents that consume ATP to generate mechanical work. Cell–cell adhesion transmits these forces, driving global tissue deformations through collective rearrangements, as in morphogenesis. While artificial cells containing filament/motor systems show strong membrane deformations, no active biomimetic tissue yet exists to quantitatively study how internal activity shapes collective dynamics, plasticity, and rheology. Combining instrumentation, physics, biophysics, and biochemistry, this project aims to build such artificial tissues from networks of droplets linked by lipid bilayers (Droplet Interface Bilayers) that encapsulate active systems: microtubule/kinesin, actin/myosin, or hybrids. By tuning internal activity, filament composition, and droplet adhesion, we will examine how these parameters govern emergent collective behavior. Filament velocity fields inside droplets will be measured and correlated with interface deformations. At the tissue scale, we will track T1 neighbor exchanges as markers of fluidization and plasticity, and spatial correlations in droplet displacements to extract activity-dependent collective modes. Controlled perturbations will include network geometry (1D or 2D), ATP gradients via structured illumination, and tuning of membrane/filament coupling through specific protein anchoring. We aim to identify the minimal properties of active agents that drive collective tissue behavior.
Contact
Elie Wandersman
Laboratory : Laboratoire Jean Perrin (LJP) - UMR 8237
Team : Laboratoire Jean Perrin-CNRS-Sorbonne Université
Team Website
Team : Laboratoire Jean Perrin-CNRS-Sorbonne Université
Team Website
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
37
Molecular vibrations as room-temperature quantum oscillators
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship will be devoted to control the vibrational sate of molecules using optical resonators down to the quantum level. The vibration of millions of molecules deposited on the surface of microring resonator will be synchronized through the optical resonance, and their movement will be amplified until the observation of phonon lasing. The internship will include nanofabrication, experimental setting up and optical measurements.
Contact
Ilan Shlesinger
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
38
Statistiques d'événements aléatoires et localisés lors de l’écoulement d’un tas de micro-grains soumis à l’agitation thermique
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Les milieux granulaires se caractérisent notamment par l’existence d’un angle de talus : une inclinaison en dessous de laquelle aucun écoulement n’est observé, et qui définit la pente que formera naturellement un tas par rapport à l’horizontale. Cependant, lorsqu’un tas de grains est soumis à l’agitation thermique, il peut s’écouler même en dessous de son angle de talus. Ce phénomène est particulièrement visible lorsqu’on étudie des suspensions de particules Browniennes [1], mais il est également visible (bien que très lent) sur des systèmes macroscopiques [2]. Se pose alors la question de la nature microscopique de ce fluage thermiquement activé : si l’écoulement semble continu à l’échelle globale du tas (on peut le modéliser par une loi logarithmique), il devrait résulter en réalité d’une succession de réarrangements localisés qui sont provoqués aléatoirement par l’agitation thermique.
Ce sont ces événements aléatoires et localisés que nous chercherons à mettre en évidence et à étudier expérimentalement lors de l'écoulement d'une suspension colloïdale dense dans une géométrie micro-fluidique de tambour tournant.
[1] Bérut et al. “Brownian Granular Flows Down Heaps” Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 248005, 2019.
[2] Deshpande et al. “The perpetual fragility of creeping hillslopes” Nat Commun 12, 3909, 2021.
Contact
Antoine Bérut
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
39
Dynamics of floating particles in surface waves
Domaines
Statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When several particles float at the surface of a liquid, they tend to aggregate. This well-known phenomenon results from capillary attraction, sometimes referred to as the “Cheerios effect”: each particle moves on a surface deformed by the presence of the other particles, the deformation being induced by the meniscus formed along the contact line of each particle. We aim to investigate the behavior of an aggregate of floating particles in the presence of surface waves. We consider either Faraday waves (short capillary waves in a vibrated container) or long gravity waves in a water tank. Depending on the particle surface density and the wave amplitude, we expect collective behavior resembling that of a gas (a dilute system with disordered motion), a liquid (a denser system with strongly correlated motion), or a solid (a very dense system with crystalline order and defects). The question is to what extent the disorder generated by the waves play a role similar to that of temperature.
Contact
Frederic Moisy
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
40
Surface Plasmon Thermalization and Condensation in 1D
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Quantum gases
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The internship aims to study photon Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), a phenomenon in which an active medium mediates the interaction between photonic modes in order to thermalize their population, and generate a condensed fraction. This phenomenon is out-of-equilibrium: an optical pump continuously generates excitations to compensate for the losses. The photon condensates studied to date are 2D systems. The project implements a 1D system by using electromagnetic modes which are guided at the interface between a dielectric and a metal, surface plasmons. By confining these modes within a plasmonic Fabry–Perot cavity, one obtains paraxial modes in one dimension, in which fluctuations and interactions become particularly important due to the reduced dimensionality. The internship project aims to study the mechanisms by which thermalization and condensation occur within this system, and will involve an experimental study of the gas's thermodynamic properties and spatial correlations.
Contact
Marin Tharrault
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
41
Statistical physics of physics informed neural networks
Domaines
Statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Contact
Pierfrancesco Urbani
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
42
Microfluidic Shearmetry using Optical Nanoprobes for Biomedical Applications
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
We are developing a novel 3D microfluidic shearmetry technique that enables to instantly measure the shear stress in a microscopic local region and tomographically map its 3D profile. The technique is based on the tendency of nanorods dispersed in fluids to orient along the shear stress. We capture the swift and synchronized orientation of the small nanorods, from which we derive the locally applied shear stress. How to reveal the orientation of the nanorods? The nanorods are composed of lanthanide-doped crystals exhibiting peculiarly polarized luminescence that signals their own orientation. What is the correlation between the rod-orientation and the shear stress? The stress-optical law predicts this relationship, which we exploit to empower our new microfluidic analysis platform to be highly accurate and reliable.
This internship project will investigate the influence of blood flow on the metamorphosis of capillary vessels, in collaboration with Prof. Barakat at LadHyX. Understanding this phenomenon may allow to deliberately control branching, merging, and propagation behavior of blood capillaries. The student would perform inter-disciplinary works including confocal micro-spectroscopy, microfluidic manipulations, and synthetic engineering of nanocrystal probes.
Contact
Jongwook KIM
Laboratory : Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée (LPMC) - UMR7643
Team : Nanocrystals for Optics & Electrochemistry
Team Website
Team : Nanocrystals for Optics & Electrochemistry
Team Website
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
43
Bridging stochastic thermodynamics and contact Hamiltonian mechanics
Domaines
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This research project aims, in the long term, to bridge stochastic thermodynamics and contact Hamiltonian mechanics by exploring their theoretical connections. The internship focuses on two more specific topics: first, determining whether canonical changes of variables and Hamiltonian reductions from a detailed to a standard form commute; and second, developing and testing a conjecture about the Hamilton-Jacobi equations having stable and unstable solutions that intersect on critical submanifolds. The conjecture is expected to hold as an adaptation of the Perron-Frobenius theorem to classical Hamiltonian dynamics. Candidates should possess strong backgrounds in analytical mechanics, symplectic or contact geometry, and mathematical physics to succeed in this position.
Contact
Gatien Verley
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
44
Controlling foam topology with viscoelasticity
Domaines
Soft matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Foam ageing involves coarsening, the transfer of gas from smaller to larger bubbles, usually governed by diffusion through the films separating them. Bubble rearrangements introduce a second timescale, controlled by the continuous phase’s mechanical response. In low-viscosity liquids, rapid rearrangements allow the foam to remain near mechanical equilibrium. In yield-stress fluids, slower rearrangements can instead produce unusual structures.
This internship will investigate whether weakly associative polymer solutions can tune foam ageing from diffusion-controlled to relaxation-controlled dynamics. Their relaxation times can be adjusted through polymer concentration, chain length and associative-group length. Experiments will establish foam-generation protocols and monitor ageing by imaging. Image analysis will quantify structural evolution. The project aims to establish how liquid relaxation controls foam ageing and offers routes to tailoring foam structure and properties.
Contact
Anniina Salonen
02/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
45
POLARIZATION-RESOLVED 3D HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF SECOND-HARMONIC GENERATION
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This project aims at characterizing second-harmonic generation (SHG) emitted by various samples with a single-shot and three dimensional (3D) measuring technique called holography. Through the measurement of the field’s phase and amplitude, algorithmic propagation allows to retrieve the full radiation pattern from objects such as plasmonic nonlinear nanoantennas, including plasmonic, dielectric, and hybrid nanostructures, or such as biological samples that exhibit strong nonlinear responses. Combined with polarization multiplexing, the system will simultaneously record multiple polarization components and reconstruct numerically their individual 3D distributions in real space.
The project will be carried out as part of a collaboration between Institut Langevin (ESPCI Paris, PSL University) and Institut de la Vision.
Keywords : Holography, Second-Harmonic Generation, Nonlinear Optics, Interferometry, Polarization, Plasmonics, Nanophotonics, Biology Imaging
Description of the work : 50% experimental, 50% numerical/processing (to be discussed)
Contact
Yannick DE WILDE
Laboratory : Institut Langevin - Ondes et Images - UMR7587
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
46
INFRARED TOMOGRAPHY FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF STRATEGIC MATERIALS FOR THE AVIATION AND SPACE INDUSTRIES
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
By integrating a mid-wave or long-wave infrared (MWIR/LWIR) camera, similar to those used in thermal imaging, into an interferometric setup combined with a broadband infrared source, we aim to achieve deep imaging through diffusive and/or opaque layers such as paints, coatings, plastics, ceramics, or aged varnishes.
Full-Field OCT (FF-OCT) remains largely unexplored in the mid-IR range. This project will therefore address both fundamental questions on infrared light propagation in complex scattering media and applied challenges in several fields. This internship/PhD thesis offers an opportunity to contribute to the development of a new generation of infrared interferometric imaging tools, expanding the reach of OCT beyond its traditional spectral limits. Anticipated applications include :
– Non-destructive testing, particularly for detecting subsurface defects in industrial coatings used in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
– Cultural heritage analysis, enabling visualization beneath painted surfaces and ceramic glazes.
It will be carried out as part of a collaboration between Institut Langevin (ESPCI Paris, PSL University) and ONERA.
Contact
Yannick DE WILDE
Laboratory : Institut Langevin - Ondes et Images - UMR7587
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
47
ENGINEERING THERMAL RADIATION BEYOND PLANCK’S LAW FOR ACTIVE CONTROL OF NEAR-FIELD RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER: TOWARDS RADIATIVE THERMOTRONICS
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The ability to control electric currents in solids laid the foundations of the modern electronics revolution, which has transformed our daily lives since the second half of the 20th century. Surprisingly, no comparable technology has yet emerged for the active control of heat flows. This project aims to develop the first building blocks of radiative thermotronics, enabling active control of radiative heat transfer. Building on a recently developed experimental platform designed to investigate many-body radiative heat transfer, we will exploit the metal–insulator phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO₂) to actively modulate heat exchange between bodies interacting in the near field.
The project will be carried out as part of a collaboration between Institut Langevin (Yannick De Wilde, ESPCI Paris, PSL University) and Laboratoire Charles Fabry – IOGS (Philippe Ben-Abdallah and Riccardo Messina).
Keywords :Thermal radiation managment, Near-field radiative heat transfer, Many Body Physics, Phase change materials, Near-field optics, Surface waves, Nanosciences, Thermotronics
Description of the work : Experiments and electromagnetic simulations of radiative heat transfer
Contact
Yannick DE WILDE
Laboratory : Institut Langevin - Ondes et Images - UMR7587
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
48
COUPLED FRICTION EFFECTS OF DIRAC SEA AND ELECTROMAGNETIC VACUUM ON ATOMIC MOVEMENTS
Domaines
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum optics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Quantum fluctuations induce conservative macroscopic forces such as the Casimir effect. They could also cause dissipative forces, termed vacuum (or quantum) friction. Up to now, this friction effect has been calculated with consideration of the electromagnetic fluctuations only, i.e. without taking into account the Dirac Sea. This project is devoted to the extension of our research in this direction: electrons, as main contributors of the matter-field interaction, also interact with electron-positron virtual pairs in the quantum vacuum.
A first step, realized in 2026, has been adapting the present semi-classical framework to include vacuum polarization in quantum friction acting on a rotating pair of atoms. In the master’s internship, a similar step shall be taken to include electron-positron pair creation. In doing so, one encounters a modification of the high-energy end of Fourier integrals; thus, one will determine a friction component linked with the interaction with charge fluctuations, excited at high virtual photon energy. On this research path, one shall pay attention to maintaining the mathematical coherence of the whole framework. The complete goal of the PhD thesis is a consistent and mathematically sound quantum relativistic treatment of rotational quantum friction at the atomic level.
Internship starting date : Spring 2027 / PhD potential starting date : Autumn 2027
Contact
Hervé BERCEGOL
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
49
Spin mixtures of a strongly magnetic quantum gas
Domaines
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Dysprosium, one of the most magnetic atoms in the periodic table, forms unusual states of matter at ultralow temperatures, such as quantum droplets and supersolids. So far, these experiments have been limited to a single spin state, because dipolar relaxation destroys mixtures. Using spin-dependent light shifts, our team has recently produced the first long-lived mixtures of the |−8⟩ and |+8⟩ states of ¹⁶²Dy, whose magnetic moments are exactly antiparallel. Theory predicts that such a mixture forms a self-bound crystal of alternating magnetic domains, held together by their dipolar attraction, much like an ionic crystal. This internship, followed by a PhD thesis, will focus on spin-dependent imaging, the measurement of the scattering length between |−8⟩ and |+8⟩, and the cooling of potassium. Potassium, which interacts differently with the two spin states, should act back on this crystal. Moreover, it will open up other directions, such as the stabilization of Efimov trimers a long-term goal of this experiment.
Contact
Raphael Lopes
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
50
Numerical simulations of coherent nonlinear microscopy in the cornea.
Domaines
Biophysics
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This project aims at modeling the SHG and THG response of the human cornea and use these numerical simulations to extract quantitative information from nonlinear images recorded recently by our group. This computational project is well suited for a Physics student with strong skills in Optics and Computational Physics and an interest in biology.
Contact
Nicolas Olivier
01/11/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
51
Experimental Study of Two-Phase Turbulence in Air-Water Flows
Domaines
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Two-phase turbulence, particularly in air-water systems, plays a critical role in numerous natural and industrial processes. In atmospheric physics, cloud microphysics (where water vapor condenses into liquid droplets) governs precipitation, radiative properties, and climate dynamics. Similarly, in oceanography, the interaction between turbulent air flows and the sea surface influences heat and mass exchanges, wave breaking, and aerosol production.
Despite its importance, the fundamental physics of such systems remains incompletely understood, particularly when phase transitions (e.g., vapor-to-liquid) occur within a turbulent environment.
During this internship, we want to investigate experimentally two-phase turbulence in a controlled air-water flow, with a focus on the formation of liquid water droplets from vapor under varying thermodynamic conditions.
The experiment will use a swirling flow driven by the counter-rotation of two disks in a closed cylinder. Different properties can be measured such as the pressure fluctuations or the droplet size, velocity and number.
The central question is: How do the turbulent dynamics of the gas flow influence the nucleation, growth, and size distribution of water droplets, and how do these droplets, in turn, modify the flow’s statistical properties (e.g., pressure fluctuations, velocity spectra)?
Contact
Francois PETRELIS
31/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
52
Impact of rough boundaries on a turbulent flow
Domaines
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The interaction between turbulent flows and rough walls is a classic problem in fluid mechanics, with applications ranging from industrial pipelines to atmospheric boundary layers. While the effects of uncorrelated random roughness on turbulence have been extensively studied, the role of correlated roughness—where surface irregularities exhibit long-range spatial dependencies—remains poorly understood.
During this internship we will study experimentally the flow generated by rotating a rough disk around its axis. The disk's surface is a realization of a random surface modeled as a fractional Gaussian field. The correlations of the height h(r) of this surface are characterized by H, the Hurst exponent, that measures the correlation of the surface.
Our first experimental observations show that the torque required to rotate the disk varies non-trivially with H. This suggests that the roughness’s correlation structure significantly affects the drag and energy dissipation in the flow.
We will perform velocity measurement to investigate how the boundary affects the spatial structure of the flow and in particular we aim to understand how surface correlations alter the energy transfer mechanisms, including the Kolmogorov cascade, and modify velocity fluctuations in the turbulent boundary layer.
Contact
Francois PETRELIS
31/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
53
Characterization of the multi-time scale Photodynamics of Diatom Phytochromes
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
For photosynthetic organisms, light is of major importance as it represents not only the main source of energy for metabolism, but also a very informative cue about their surroundings. A recent study has shown that diatoms, a prominent phytoplanktonic group of microalgae, use phytochrome (DPH) photoreceptors to acclimate their photosynthesis performance according to depth. Current knowledge about photoconversion mechanism of phytochromes has been acquired from plants and bacteria. Unravelling biophysical properties of photoswitching yield and photodynamics in DPH will provide novel information about the molecular basis of light sensing in phytochromes photoreceptor family and the specific adaptations of light-sensing mechanisms in marine organisms. The study of Diatom phytochrome is an ANR funded project, D-Phyto, that involves M. Sliwa and the group Internal dynamics of biomolecules @ LOB (Ecole Polytechnique)
The M2 internship will focus on the characterization of new DPHs. The internship will include being tutored on and gaining hands-on experience in multi-time scale transient absorption visible spectroscopy with the access to a new platform developed by the team, in data-analysis, and characterization of multiscale photodynamics. Depending on the candidate profile, the implementation of a new laser system may be considered.
Contact
Michel Sliwa
31/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
54
Non-equilibrium dynamics and coarsening of supersolid Bose gases
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
How do quantum many-body systems evolve when driven far from equilibrium? This theoretical internship explores this fundamental question in spin-orbit-coupled Bose gases, a remarkable platform hosting both superfluid and supersolid phases. By studying domain formation and coarsening following a quantum quench, the project aims to uncover the universal scaling laws and associated non-thermal fixed points characterizing the far-from-equilibrium physics of this system. Combining theoretical approaches and classical-field simulations, this work will pave the way towards understanding the formation and dynamics of quantum supersolids. The internship will take place in the stimulating research environment of the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, with close interactions between theorists and experimentalists.
Contact
Nicolas Cherroret
31/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
55
Fast computation of solvation energy for drug design.
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Solvation energy is a key quantity for drug discovery. The standard approach is to compute it using MD simulations, but this is time consuming for screening large numbers of molecules. We have developed an implicit multiscale model for water, where water is described as coupled polarization modes across scales. Unlike traditional approaches, density is excluded as non-essential information.
The polarization functional for water has already been validated for confined systems and hydration layers[1,2]. This internship will focus on extending and applying the functional to compute solvation energies for molecules, starting with simple molecules and progressing to those of pharmaceutical interest, in collaboration with the startup Aqemia [3]. The goal is to demonstrate the functional’s accuracy, efficiency, and relevance for drug discovery applications
[1] J. G. Hedley, et al., J. Phys. Chem. 127, (2023)
[2 ] G. Monet, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 126 (2021)
[3] https://aqemia.com/science
Contact
Hélène Berthoumieux
30/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
56
Continuous Field Theory for Microscopic Properties in Polar Fluid.
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of liquids
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The project aims in developing continuous field-theoretic models that incorporate microscopic molecular details to predict the dielectric response of polar liquids. We focus on deriving q-dependent permittivity functions for systems ranging from simple dipolar fluids to explicit water models (e.g., SPC/E or TIP3P). The intern will explore how structural constraints (e.g., lattice incompressibility vs. gas-like density fluctuations) and molecular architecture (charge distributions, bond angles) influence dielectric screening at nanoscales. The work will bridge analytical theory with molecular dynamics observations. Strong Backgrounds statistical mechanics, electrodynamics, or mathematical modeling is a plus. The internship provides an opportunity to engage in research at the intersection of theory, simulation, and nanoscale physics.
[1] A. Levy, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 108:227801, (2012).
[2 ] G. Monet, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 126 (2021)
Contact
Hélène Berthoumieux
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
57
Hydrodynamique à deux fluides dans un gaz de fermions 2D
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Le projet de ce stage théorique est d'étudier le comportement hydrodynamique d'un gaz de fermions 2D, tel qu'on sait en préparer avec des atomes ultrafroids. Dans sa phase superfluide, le gaz obéit à l'hydrodynamique à deux fluides, théorie qui couple le fluide normal (décrit par une équation de Boltzmann) à la phase du condensat (le champ de jauge associé à la brisure de symétrie U(1)). L'hydrodynamique à deux fluides prédit un second son correspondant aux excitations de la vitesse relative du superfluide et du fluide normal. La vitesse et l'amortissement de ce second son sont en cours de mesure à Hambourg dans un gaz de Lithium 6 en forme de galette (cf. arXiv:1704.06315). L'amortissement dépend d'une viscosité de phase, différente de la viscosité de cisaillement de la phase normale, et pour laquelle on ne dispose d'aucune prédiction à 2D.
On utilisera la théorie des liquides de fermions pour calculer la viscosité de phase en fonction de la force des interactions. Comme tous les coefficients de transport, la viscosité de phase est déterminée par les collisions entre quasiparticules fermionique. Pour décrire ces collisions, le ou la stagiaire pourra s'appuyer sur les travaux de l'équipe à 3D (cf. arXiv:2502.03423), mais devra prendre en compte les spécificités du cas 2D, notamment la prédominance des collisions frontales.
Contact
Hadrien Kurkjian
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
58
Hot electron injection and defect control in Au–TiO₂ nanocomposites probed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Embedding plasmonic Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) into TiO₂ thin films enables visible-light harvesting through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and hot electron transfer to the semiconductor. The efficiency and lifetime of these carriers depend critically on the TiO₂ phase (anatase vs rutile), the density of oxygen vacancies (V₀/Ti³⁺), and the thermal stability of the nanostructure.
The internship will focus on sputtered TiO₂ films with embedded Au NPs produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL). We will combine UV-Vis spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) at various pump and probe wavelengths to quantify hot electron injection under plasmon excitation. Controlled annealing (air vs vacuum) will be used to tune defect density, while XPS and XRD will characterize oxygen vacancies and phase. Reference TiO₂ films without Au NPs will serve to isolate plasmonic contributions. This work will clarify the quantitative role of oxygen vacancies in hot electron injection and carrier dynamics in state-of-the-art PLAL-based nanocomposites.
Contact
Anna LEVY
30/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
59
Critical flows: osmotic transport in liquids on the verge of demixing
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Close to a liquid–liquid critical point, the interfacial layer that drives diffusio-osmotic flow grows with the correlation length. A few degrees could then tune the flow by orders of magnitude. Theory predicts surprising behaviour, including a change of critical exponent in nanoconfinement. The intern will measure diffusio-osmosis in thermoresponsive liquids through nanopores while approaching the critical temperature. PhD funding is available.
Contact
Cecilia Herrero
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
60
Physical and biological drivers behind bacterial collective motion
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Bacteria are active microscopic swimmers that constantly interact with their neighbors. When many cells move together, complex collective behaviors can emerge, from swirls and jets to global alignment. Understanding how these patterns arise from single-cell properties is a central question at the interface between physics and biology.
Internship objective
This internship aims to characterize the single and collective motility of bacterial cells at low and intermediate densities. The student will:
• Measure the distribution of swimming speeds in populations of motile bacteria,
• Quantify how cell motility depends on the local spatial arrangement of neighbors,
• Compare two species with distinct motility strategies: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (well established in the lab) and Bacillus subtilis (to be set up during the internship).
Contact
Maxime Deforet
30/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
61
Following the water: Flows through the gel beneath a growing bacterial colony
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Bacterial colonies on agar are usually studied from above, with the gel treated as a
passive support and a nutrient reservoir. Yet a colony is a strong sink and source of
water: cells take up water to grow, secrete osmolytes and surfactants that pull water
out of the gel, and spread within a thin liquid film they produce themselves. Agar,
which is about 98% water, is a porous medium, so this water has to come from
somewhere. As the colony expands, water is drawn through the gel network toward
the colony, the gel shrinks, and gradients of water content build up beneath and
ahead of the colony front. These flows are almost never measured. Yet, they may still
control colony expansion and the shape of the colony edge.
Contact
Maxime Deforet
30/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
62
The Brain on the Move: Exploring Neuronal and Glial Dynamics During Natural Behavior
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Understanding how brain activity gives rise to behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. Our research combines advanced optical imaging, quantitative behavioral experiments, and computational approaches inspired by statistical physics to investigate how large populations of brain cells coordinate their activity across space and time. While most brain-wide imaging experiments require animals to remain immobilized or head-fixed, studying neural dynamics during natural behavior is essential to understand how the brain continuously interacts with its environment. Moreover, growing evidence suggests that glial cells, long considered primarily as supporting elements, actively participate in the regulation of neuronal activity and brain states. The small size and optical transparency of Danionella fish offer a unique opportunity to investigate the interplay between neuronal and glial dynamics in a freely behaving adult vertebrate.
This internship aims to further develop our large-scale behavioral tracking arena, in which a motorized camera continuously follows a freely swimming fish. The objective is to extend this platform to enable simultaneous brain-wide recordings of neuronal and glial activity during natural locomotion and exploration. The ultimate goal is to establish a platform capable of simultaneously monitoring brain-wide neuronal and glial activity while adult Danionella explore a large environment freely.
Contact
Volker Bormuth
Laboratory : LJP - Laboratoire Jean Perrin - 8237
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
63
A Virtual World for a Fish: Deciphering How the Brain Integrates Sensory Information to Control Movement
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Understanding how the brain integrates sensory information to control movement and navigate through the environment is a fundamental challenge in neuroscience. Our research combines quantitative behavioral experiments, brain-wide functional imaging, and computational approaches inspired by statistical physics to investigate how neural circuits coordinate sensory processing and motor actions. In particular, we are interested in how the brain integrates visual, vestibular, and motor-related signals to maintain posture, control movement, and construct internal representations of the surrounding world. The small size and optical transparency of adult Danionella fish offer a unique opportunity to investigate these questions while recording neural activity across the brain.
This internship aims to develop a closed-loop virtual reality system integrating visual and vestibular feedback during swimming in adult Danionella. Conventional visual virtual reality systems lack vestibular feedback, creating a sensory conflict between visual motion and the absence of corresponding physical movement. By combining real-time tracking of swimming behavior with controlled rotational stimulation and visual feedback, the proposed system will reproduce more naturalistic sensorimotor interactions, allowing fish to navigate spontaneously in a virtual environment.
The ultimate goal is to establish a virtual reality platform that reproduces coherent multisensory feedback during active locomotion.
Contact
Volker Bormuth
Laboratory : LJP - Laboratoire Jean Perrin - 8237
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
64
Seeing the Brain in Action: Deciphering How Thousands of Neurons Work Together
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Understanding how large populations of neurons collectively process sensory information and generate behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. Our research combines advanced optical imaging, large-scale neuronal recordings, and computational approaches inspired by statistical physics to investigate how brain-wide activity is organized across space and time. In particular, we aim to identify collective patterns of neural activity, understand their relationship to sensory processing and behavior, and uncover the principles governing the dynamics of large neuronal networks. The small size and optical transparency of Danionella fish offer a unique opportunity to address these questions in an adult vertebrate brain.
This internship aims to develop and optimize a single-objective selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) system for fast volumetric calcium imaging in adult Danionella. Unlike conventional light-sheet microscopy, the single-objective configuration enables both illumination and fluorescence detection through the same objective, providing optical access to the brain through the non-ossified region of the skull. This approach also facilitates integration with behavioral experiments. The student will build and characterize the system. The ultimate goal is to perform brain-wide recordings of neural activity in adult Danionella.
Contact
Volker Bormuth
Laboratory : LJP - Laboratoire Jean Perrin - 8237
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
Team : Zebrafish and Danionella Cerebrum behavior and calcium imagery
Team Website
30/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
65
Geometric Deep Learning for Glassy Materials
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Geometric deep learning Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) are a well-known kind of Deep Networks, allowing to enforce node-permutation equivariance (re-indexing), a symmetry present in all graphs. Likewise, rotation-equivariant networks allow to enforce rotation equivariance at the level of the very architecture. This is a game-changer that many are comparing to the introduction of CNNs and then GNNs, and is rapidly taking over the other methods for physics/chemistry- derived problems, where a learned representation of the input should not depend on the viewpoint (a rotation of the system of coordinates).
Glassy materials: We propose a test case that offers ideal conditions for studying and designing new equivariant GNNs: glassy materials. The task is a node-wise regression on 3D point clouds. This test case matters in its own right, since understanding glassy dynamics is a long-standing open problem in physics. It is also a hard problem1 : solving it satisfactorily requires the design of extremely expressive and sensitive GNNs. It also differs from the more common benchmarks, which usually involve sparse assemblies of atoms (molecules, or at most an adsorbate on a surface): here, space is densely packed with particles. Predicting glassy dynamics has attracted a surge of interest recently [JAB+ 23], and several approaches now compete for the state of the art.
Contact
Francois Landes
29/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
66
Collective resonance of a nano-antennas lattice
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Under electromagnetic excitation, metal nano-objects can support collective electron oscillations, known as plasmon waves . When illuminated with white light, a resonance (Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance, LSPR) whose center and width, typically a few tens of nanometres, depend on the dielectric constant of the metal, the shape of the nanoparticle and on the dielectric environment of the nanoparticle. This property makes it possible to create sensitive sensors based on the detection of LSPR resonance shifts when the nanoparticle's environment changes. However, the sensitivity of these sensors is limited by the width of the LSPR resonance. To increase sensitivity, these nanoparticles can be positioned as a lattice on a substrate. Given the periodicity of this arrangement, the first order diffraction of incident light at a given wavelength can propagate in the plane of the array resulting in a much thinner resonance used to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. This resonance is called Surface Lattice Resonance (SLR).
As part of this internship, we will fabricate arrays of gold nanoparticles above a gold mirrors, enabling us to observe collective resonance of such antennas lattice. We will characterize them optically and optimize the parameters to maximize the signal and its spectral finesse. In a second step, we will deposit CdSe/CdS quantum dots that resonate or do not resonate with the SLR modes, and study how their emission is modified by the resonance
Contact
Agnes MAITRE
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
67
Couplage fort pour une boîte quantique dans une nano-antenne plasmonique
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots are excellent bright nano-emitters. At room temperature, under low excitation power they behave as high quantum efficiency single photon source thanks to efficient Auger processes leading to the recombination of a single exciton. They can be analysed as a simple two-level system. However, by increasing the excitation power, emission spectrum broadens dramatically. The two- levels system paradigm fails for interpreting those features. We have developed a model based on the radiative recombination of multiple excitonic levels within a single nanocrystal , relying on statistical description of electron and hole populations in a quasi-equilibrium and Bayesian analysis.
Patch plasmonic nanoantennas consist of a thin dielectric medium sandwiched between a thick gold layer and gold patch.We have demonstrated that for a quantum dot inside such antenna, the absorption cross section is increased by 3 order of magnitude. Therefore such an antenna/ quantum dot system is a good candidate for achieving strong coupling.
During the internship, the student will start developing bright optical nanosources by coupling nanoemitters to plasmonic antennas. He/she will fabricate then and study by confocal optical microscopy the fluorescence ( emission rate and spectrum, directivity,…). The final objective is to achieve the regime of strong coupling regime. Thanks to a high confinement and excitation, the emitters should gain specific original quantum properties.
Contact
Agnes MAITRE
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
68
Excitonic whispering gallery mode laser in high pumping regime
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
In nanophotonics and quantum technologies, photon sources are a ressource which can be integrated into a chip. Cylindrical dielectric microdisks make excellent resonators in which optical gallery modes can propagate at the air/dielectric interface.
Using optical lithography, we have fabricated gallery-mode resonators on which we have deposited fluorescent nano-emitters, colloidal quantum dots. These are CdS/CdSe/CdS semiconductors in a spherical core/shell/shell configuration. Of nanometric dimensions, their fluorescence wavelength depends on their size. They can emit single photons, are resistant to photobleaching and are bright under strong excitation. We have deposited these quantum dots in high concentration on microdisks, in order to achieve a sufficient gain. We were therefore able to create gallery modes excitonic microlasers.
The aim of this internship will be to study these gallery-mode lasers, as a function of their size, shape or when two cavities are coupled. In particular, we will be interested in the behavior of these lasers far from the threshold, when the excitation laser is intense. Under these conditions, the resonant gallery mode intensity is high. If its coupling to the excitons is sufficiently strong, emission will be modified by exciton-photon interaction. We will study these strong coupling configurations in relation to theoretical predictions.
Contact
Agnes MAITRE
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
69
Photoactive Tags for Highly Multiplexed Fluorescence Imaging
Domaines
Biophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The internship aims to deliver the proof of principle that FAST scaffolds are relevant to deliver highly multiplexable fluorescent labels. The project involves numerically generating multispectral fluorescence responses of FAST scaffolds, exploiting machine learning tools for delivering kinetic fingerprints, exploring sequences of modulated illumination for optimizing separability, and implementing optimal illumination sequences experimentally for highly multiplexed imaging. The work is embedded in a collaboration with Sorbonne University and Leuven University.
Contact
Ludovic JULLIEN
Laboratory : PASTEUR - UMR 8640
Team : Physical and Biological Chemistry of Living Matter
Team Website
Team : Physical and Biological Chemistry of Living Matter
Team Website
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
70
Altermagnetism and its generalizations
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Altermagnets have a distinctive pattern of spin splitting in their electronic and magnonic band structures that make them attractive for potential spintronic applications. At the lab we are interested in the fundamental condensed matter physics of these newly discovered materials with on-going work in both theoretical and experimental directions. This internship on theoretical condensed matter physics will explore the role of spin symmetries in condensed matter systems and especially generalizations of altermagnetism beyond the limit of collinear magnetism.
Contact
Paul McClarty
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
71
Towards Ultra-Efficient, Red-Emitting III-Nitride LEDs
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
III-nitride light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are key devices for next-generation solid-state lighting and micro-LED displays. Achieving efficient emission at long wavelengths, particularly in the red spectral range, remains a major challenge. Using a novel experimental approach (STLM) that combines optical spectroscopy with the spatial resolution of scanning tunneling microscopy, we recently revealed how the inclusion of so-called V-defects can result in improved LED efficiencies. Unfortunately, V-defects form naturally at threading dislocations and are therefore randomly distributed, limiting the control that can be achieved over the resulting device architecture.
In the framework of a multi-partner, ANR-funded project, we propose a new approach based on III-nitride LEDs grown on intentionally macro-structured substrates. We propose an internship (then funded PhD) project in which the candidate will have the responsibility of performing STLM measurements on macro-structured LEDs fabricated by our colleagues as part of a fully-funded ANR project. The principal objective of the work will be to establish a fundamental understanding of charge injection, transport and recombination in these operational, macro-structured LEDs.
Contact
Alistair Rowe
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
72
Altermagnetism using Neutron Scattering
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Altermagnets are a newly discovered state of correlated matter of both fundamental and technological interest. The internship will be integrated with an active experimental and theoretical team at Laboratoire Léon Brillouin with a focus on neutron scattering studies of altermagnets. Our focus is on establishing and understanding the altermagnetism in candidate materials using a combination of diffraction and inelastic measurements especially using polarization techniques.
Contact
Paul McClarty
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
73
Toward a quantum material factory
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship is devoted to the development of a new platform for the study of quantum materials. Specifically, the goal is to fabricate and characterize van der Waals heterostructures, a well-established venue for correlated systems with intriguing emergent properties such as high-temperature superconductivity.
The internship will include extensive nano-fabrication work in a clean room, followed by optical characterization in a laboratory. It takes place at an early stage of the project.
The internship can be continued with a PhD starting in 2028.
Contact
Bertrand Evrard
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
74
Deep learning of scale free processes
Domaines
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Standard neural networks can locate the percolation threshold but miss the percolating cluster itself, learning local density proxies rather than scale-dependent connectivity. We recently introduced a scale-shared encoder–decoder that applies the same learned coarse-graining map at every scale (arXiv:2608.26764). Trained on small lattices, it extrapolates to L = 1024, reconstructs the spanning cluster, reproduces the critical exponents of 2D percolation, and its latent space displays an empirical RG flow between two stable phases.
The internship aims to turn this empirical flow into a quantitative RG: locating the fixed points of the learned map and extracting exponents from its linearization, building in lattice symmetries, testing universality (bond percolation, other lattices), and extending the approach to other critical systems such as directed percolation or the Ising model.
Profile: M2 student in theoretical, statistical or computational physics, with a solid background in statistical mechanics. Machine learning experience is a plus. Possible PhD continuation.
Contact
Sergio Chibbaro
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
75
Morpho-Functional Swarm Robotics
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
We are interested in swarm robotics, where many robots with limited computation and communication power are considered. Our goal is to propose new design methods, with a particular focus on considering the role of physical interactions among individuals. Embodiment is critical and useful for programming self-organizing collective systems. We thus propose to achieve collective decision making using both morphological and logical computation in swarm robotics.
Contact
Olivier Dauchot
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
76
Learning active matter
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
We will employ data analysis techniques to fit continuum theories for active systems to data obtained from numerical simulation and experiments performed on self-propelled colloids, microtubule assemblies, and biological tissues.
Contact
Cesare Nardini
29/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
77
Formation de dune nebkhas
Domaines
Soft matter
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Ce sujet de stage (poursuivable en thèse) porte sur les nebkhas, des dépôts de sable formés par le vent à l’aval de plantes, dont la taille varie de la dizaine de cm à la dizaine de m. On les trouve des déserts aux côtes tempérées. Contrairement aux barkhanes ou aux dunes linéaires, leurs mécanismes de formation, leurs tailles et leurs échelles de temps caractéristiques sont encore mal connus et mal modélisés.
Objectif : développer une approche physique pour identifier et quantifier les rétroactions entre une plante et l’écoulement qui conduisent à l’accumulation de sable.
Trois axes de recherche sont envisagés :
-des expériences en soufflerie (INRAE, Grenoble) avec un obstacle poreux et flexible idéalisant une plante ;
-des mesures de terrain (anémométrie, scanner laser terrestre) ;
-une modélisation numérique visant une loi d’échelle entre les caractéristiques de l’obstacle et la taille du dépôt.
Le s’inscrit dans l’étude de l’évolution des paysages éoliens et de l’adaptation des zones végétalisées à l’aridification.
Prérequis : goût pour l’expérimentation (terrain ou labo) ; bases en Python ou Matlab appréciées.
Encadrement : Pauline Delorme (laboratoire de Géologie de l’ENS), avec Clément Narteau (IPGP) et Philippe Claudin (PMMH).
Contact
Pauline Delorme
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
78
Collective modes and pair-density-wave superconductivity in 2H-NbSe2
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The Higgs mode in a superconductor is a collective oscillation of the amplitude of its superconducting order parameter. In 2H-NbSe₂, where superconductivity coexists with charge-density-wave order, Raman spectroscopy reveals a peak commonly attributed to this mode. Yet its observation in the E₂g symmetry channel remains difficult to explain.
Could this signal reveal pair-density-wave superconductivity, an unconventional state in which Cooper pairs carry finite momentum? This Master’s internship will explore this possibility through analytical calculations and numerical modelling. You will develop a microscopic model, investigate its symmetries and collective excitations, and calculate Raman spectra for comparison with experiments.
The project offers an opportunity to develop skills in many-body theory and superconductivity while tackling an open question connecting fundamental physics with experimental observations. The internship will take place at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany.
Contact
Dirk Manske
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
79
Single-photon detectors based on High Tc superconductors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Single-photon detection is essential for quantum technologies, including secure communications. While superconducting nanowire detectors are well established in the near-infrared, extending their operation to the mid-infrared (MIR) and terahertz (THz) ranges remains challenging. High-critical-temperature superconductors such as YBCO (Tc = 85 K) offer promising prospects for more accessible and broadband detectors. However, rapid heat dissipation into the substrate prevents efficient hotspot formation and single-photon detection. Suspended YBCO nanowires, recently developed at Thales, could overcome this limitation.
This joint Master 2/PhD project, involving Thales, LPEM and LPENS and funded by the French ANR (BRIGHT project), aims to investigate and control the vibrational properties of suspended YBCO bridges to understand and optimize heat transfer. Together with LPENS, we will develop an experimental setup to probe the mechanical vibrations of nanoscale objects. The Master 2 internship will implement the setup at room temperature using available semiconductor cantilevers. Electrostatic actuation will enable the exploration of nonlinear mechanical vibrations and photothermal effects. The subsequent PhD will focus on systematic studies of YBCO bridges provided by Thales, extending the setup to cryogenic temperatures for in-operando characterization.
Candidates should have strong experimental skills.
Contact
Yanko Todorov
28/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
80
Mathematics of Majorana fermions
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
! Internship in a laboratory of mathematics !
How can quantum information be preserved in a system with thermal excitations? In certain fermionic chains, Majorana modes localized at the ends provide boundary degrees of freedom that can retain information for very long times. The internship will investigate the mathematical mechanisms underlying this dynamical stability at nonzero temperature, through the study of strong zero modes and their prethermal counterparts
Contact
Louis Garrigue
Laboratory : AGM, analysis geometry modelisation - UMR CNRS 8088
Team : AGM : team of mathematical physics
Team Website
Team : AGM : team of mathematical physics
Team Website
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
81
Modélisation numérique de la convection turbulente : Caractérisation des panaches à petite échelle
Domaines
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
On cherche à mettre en évidence le scénario de transition vers le régime turbulent ultime, en
réalisant des simulations numériques directes 3D, et en les confrontant aux modèles théoriques et à
des résultats expérimentaux obtenus au Lab. de Physique de l'ENS Lyon (collaboration).
Contact
Anne Sergent
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
82
Phase separation of a thermoresponsive binary solution under flow for osmotic energy production
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This project aims to recover very low-temperature waste heat (< 60°C) by combining a temperature-responsive water + ionic liquid mixture, which undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation above a critical temperature, with electricity production through an osmotic process, in collaboration with L. Bocquet (LPENS) and Emmanuel Benichou (ILM). While the proof of concept of this process is already demonstrated, many fundamental questions remain to be addressed. One of these is understanding the liquid-liquid phase separation dynamics of the binary solution, which undergoes separation above a critical temperature when subjected to an external flow, exhibiting complex flow patterns. The subsequent PhD thesis will involve fundamental studies on these flows performed in microfluidics experiments, combining experimental and modeling approaches. The funding of the PhD is secured.
Contact
Marie-Caroline Jullien
28/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
83
Custodial scalars: "organised" scalar potentials and the hierarchy problem
Domaines
High energy physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Scale hierarchies are a cornerstone of our understanding of the natural world. They come particularly into play in the study and minimisation of scalar potentials, whose importance in particle physics became obvious with the Higgs boson discovery. Yet, as was realised quickly during the construction of the Standard Model of particle physics (SM), quantum scalar potentials are quite adverse to involving more than one given scale at the time. Within the SM, this led to the (in)famous hierarchy problem and to the theoretical search for mechanisms protecting the electroweak (EW) scale.
We have found recently that scalar‑field potentials can be organised using “maximally‑symmetric” structures via moment‑map techniques, forming an ordered tree of increasingly symmetric operators. This systematic ordering naturally generates light scalars.
The internship can focus on two possible directions. First, promising results in solving the little hierarchy problem have been obtained in a simple model of an extended Higgs sector. A thorough study of the existing constraints and prediction for the electroweak precision observables must be undertaken. Second, since the mechanism only generates scale hierarchies of about one to two orders of magnitude, a key question is whether it can be linked to another solution for the full hierarchy problem. Models with extra-dimensions will be an interesting starting point.
Contact
Luc Darmé
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
84
Théorie de la correction d’erreur quantique dans un ensemble d’oscillateurs harmoniques
Domaines
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Un des plus grands défis technologiques des dernières décennies est de construire un ordinateur
quantique. Ce type d’ordinateur promet de révolutionner plusieurs domaines comme la chimie,
l’apprentissage machine et la cryptographie. Cependant, un des défis majeurs à surmonter est de
combattre la décohérence qui efface l’information quantique et limite les capacités de calcul. La correction d’erreur quantique permet, en principe, de résoudre ce problème. Une approche prometteuse pour la correction d’erreur est d’encoder l’information dans des oscillateurs harmoniques, par exemple des cavités micro-ondes, à l’aide de codes bosoniques. Cette approche tire avantage des longs temps de vie des oscillateurs harmoniques, de leur grand espace d’Hilbert, et permet de corriger les erreurs avec un minimum de surcoût en matériel. Le projet de stage consiste à explorer différents codes bosoniques, plus spécifiquement des codes où un qubit est encodé dans plusieurs oscillateurs harmoniques. Le sujet précis du stage pourra être adapté en fonction des intérêts du stagiaire, par exemple penchant plus sur des aspects mathématiques ou pratiques des codes bosoniques multimodes.
Ce projet théorique serait constitué d’un mélange de calculs analytiques et de simulations numériques.
Contact
Marco Aprili
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
85
Correction d'erreurs quantiques expérimentale avec des circuits supraconducteurs
Domaines
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
L'informatique quantique promet des capacités transformatrices, allant de la simulation de matériaux
complexes et de réactions chimiques à la résolution de problèmes d'optimisation bien au-delà des
possibilités des ordinateurs classiques. Le principal obstacle sur la voie de la concrétisation de ces
capacités est la correction d'erreurs quantiques (QEC) : sans elle, les états quantiques fragiles se
décohèrent avant que tout calcul utile puisse être effectué.
Codes bosoniques : Les codes bosoniques stockent l'information quantique de manière redondante au sein du grand espace de Hilbert d'un oscillateur harmonique, protégeant cette information même lorsque des photons sont perdus.
Codes qudits : Les circuits supraconducteurs transmon sont naturellement des systèmes à niveaux
multiples. Nous étudions comment exploiter directement ces niveaux supplémentaires pour la QEC, tant en intégrant des qubits logiques dans un seul qudit transmon qu'en construisant des codes multi-qudits.
Contact
Marco Aprili
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
86
Centres colorés dans le diamant : contrôle et détection quantique
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Un défi des technologies quantiques est de protéger un système quantique de son environnement tout en maintenant les interactions nécessaires à son contrôle et à sa lecture. Les centres colorés de spin dans le diamant et d’autres semi-conducteurs offrent une plateforme particulièrement intéressante pour étudier cette dualité. Leurs états électroniques et de spin peuvent être initialisés et lus optiquement, puis manipulés à l’aide de champs micro-ondes.
Quelques exemples de projets possibles sont :
• Lecture spin-vers-charge de centres NV. Caractériser les processus d’ionisation et de
recombinaison entre NV⁻ et NV⁰, puis mettre en œuvre un protocole de lecture spin-vers-charge afin
d’améliorer la fidélité de lecture du spin. Le projet pourra notamment comparer des centres NV natifs
à des centres créés par impulsions laser femtoseconde.
• Contrôle quantique adaptatif en temps réel. Développer des protocoles capables d’adapter
automatiquement la suite d’une séquence expérimentale en fonction du résultat d’une mesure
précédente. À l’aide d’un FPGA, le projet explorera comment cette rétroaction en temps réel peut
améliorer l’initialisation, la lecture du spin ou la rapidité du contrôle quantique.
• Stabilisation de l’état NV⁰ à faible diffusion spectrale. Étudier comment l’ingénierie du niveau de
Fermi et la nanostructuration peuvent stabiliser l’état NV⁰ tout en préservant ses propriétés optiques et
en limitant la diffusion spectrale.
Contact
Marco Aprili
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
87
Développement de magnétomètres quantiques à base de matériaux 2D
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Les matériaux bidimensionnels (2D) constituent une nouvelle classe de cristaux d’un atome d’épaisseur aux propriétés physiques remarquables. Ces propriétés ouvrent la voie à de nombreuses applications, notamment dans le domaine des technologies quantiques. Ce stage vise à explorer et à optimiser les performances d’un magnétomètre SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device ) fabriqué à partir de matériaux 2D. Les principales tâches consisteront à fabriquer ces dispositifs à l’aide de techniques déjà maîtrisées au sein de notre groupe, puis à caractériser leurs propriétés électriques et leurs performances comme capteurs magnétiques à basse température.
Environnement de travail : La personne retenue sera supervisée par le Prof Mathieu Massicotte, du Département de génie électrique et de génie informatique de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Les travaux s’effectueront à l’Institut quantique (IQ) de l’Université de Sherbrooke (Canada)
Contact
Marco Aprili
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
88
How deformable is a red blood cell? Molecular rotors to probe cell mechanics in health and disease
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
To flow through the smallest capillaries, red blood cells must be highly deformable. In pathologies such as sickle cell anemia and spherocytosis, this ability is altered. Cell deformability is therefore a relevant parameter to diagnose and monitor these diseases, but how can it be measured? We use molecular rotors, fluorescent probes whose signal depends on local viscosity [1], to measure the mechanical properties of single cells [2-3]. The challenge is a physical one: understanding how the rotors interact with the cell [4], and relating their fluorescence signal to well-defined physical parameters.
Contact
Berengere ABOU
28/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
89
Machine learning for designability
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Micrometer-sized colloids coated with DNA can be programmed to self-assemble: particles bind when their DNA strands are complementary, so choosing the sequences sets the interactions. Yet some target clusters are far easier to design than others. The designability of a geometry, the number of interaction rules that assemble it, varies by orders of magnitude, with a few “magic” geometries reached by very many designs, much as a few protein structures are encoded by far more sequences than others. These results come from exhaustive enumeration, which quickly becomes infeasible as clusters grow. In this project you will use machine learning on an existing designability dataset to identify the structural features that make a geometry designable. You will test whether they hold for systems too large to enumerate, and compare them across assembly methods, to help guide particle and sequence design in experiments.
Contact
Zorana Zeravcic
28/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
90
Folding pathways and refolding of colloidal chains
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Like proteins, chains of micrometer-sized droplets with programmable DNA interactions fold into well-defined structures [McMullen et al., Nature 2022]. During folding, the chain passes through a combinatorially large set of intermediate structures, and the pathway it takes decides whether it reaches its target or gets trapped. In recent work, we showed that a reinforcement learning agent can control folding beyond what temperature protocols achieve, much as chaperones assist protein folding. In this project you will use simulations and reinforcement learning to identify which intermediates decide the outcome of folding. You will then extend control to refolding, where the chain switches between structures on demand. This is a step toward reconfigurable micromachines that move, grasp or switch in response to signals.
Contact
Zorana Zeravcic
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
91
Cell automaton-based simulation of tissue migration in early embryonic development
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This is a new multidisciplinary collaboration between two internationally renown teams: one in biophysics (Paris) and one in cell developmental biology (Montpellier). Embryonic development involves large scale auto-organised tissue remodelling. Gastrulation is the process during which a sphere-like embryo acquires a multi-layered structure with a distinction between an “inside” and an “outside”. This a major event, highly conserved across evolution. This internship focuses on the stage where the mesoderm tissues (purple and red in the diagrams below) enter inside the embryo and prepare the head-trunk organisation of the future animal. Our model is here an amphibian, for which the Fagotto team measures experimentally all physical properties (stiffness, adhesiveness, tensions, motility) that control the individual or collective cell activity. We aim at integrating experiment-driven information into a robust numerical simulation of collective movements emerging at tissue scale. This internship will focus on the onset of gastrulation. The intern will exploit an open-source software based on the “cellular Potts model” in the Graner team. The aim is to propose predictions which the Fagotto team will experimentally test.
Contact
François Graner
Laboratory : MSC - UMR7057
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
28/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
92
Soliton dynamics in the 2D-1D crossover
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The project will focus on the dynamics of solitons in low-dimensional Bose gases. In a first experiment, the student will generate solitons in an ensemble of identical 1D Bose gases and investigate their evolution upon introducing tunnel coupling between initially independent gases. In certain unstable regimes, we expect the formation of topological defects, such as Josephson vortices, which we will aim to observe experimentally. In the limit of uncoupled gases, we will also investigate the dynamics and collisions of multi-soliton states, with a particular focus on the role of quantum fluctuations in their evolution.
Contact
Jérôme Beugnon
27/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
93
Simulating the cosmologic reheating phase with quantum gases
Domaines
Quantum optics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
During the internship, you will participate at experiments on parametric excitation of a Bose-Einstein condensate. The system responds by emitting pairs of particles at well defined momenta. You will take data and analyze them. A model of the experiment could be simulated numerically with QuTip, a python package to simulate quantum state evolution. Part on the internship could be devoluted to such numerical simulations.
Contact
Denis Boiron
27/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
94
Delta Kick Squeezing in a Differential Atom Interferometer
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The aim of this internship is the implementation of "Delta-Kick squeezing" in a differential atom interferometer. DKS relies on the engineering of atom atom interactions in a BEC in free fall through atomic lensing methods based on pulse sequences realized with highly detuned high power laser beams. The focusing of the matter waves transiently increases the strength of the interactions, which induces strong correlations between the atoms, and leads to squeezing in the population difference between the two interferometer paths, and eventually to phase sensitivity below the standard quantum limit.
Contact
Franck Pereira dos Santos
27/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
95
Dynamique d’un réseau de tourbillons à surface libre
Domaines
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Les tourbillons sont des structures élémentaires des écoulements turbulents classiques ou quantiques, omniprésents dans la nature. Nous venons d’observer des ondes de Kelvin se propageant le long d’un tourbillon et d’obtenir, pour la première fois, leur relation de dispersion ainsi que le régime de turbulence d’ondes.
L’objectif est d’étudier, à l’aide d’une expérience modèle macroscopique, la dynamique d’un réseau ordonné de N tourbillons à surface libre. Pour ce faire, une nouvelle plateforme est en cours de développement (N=60). Chaque tourbillon se forme à l'interface entre l'eau et l'air, au sein d'une cuve dont le fond est percé, à la manière d’un tourbillon de vidange. Nous étudierons la dynamique d’un réseau constitué d’un ensemble de tourbillons en interaction et la comparerons aux prédictions théoriques (ondes de Tkachenko) ; problématique au cœur de la turbulence classique et de certains écoulements quantiques (superfluide et condensat de Bose-Einstein), ou atmosphériques (tornades multiples). Le régime linéaire de ces modes collectifs transverses (« phonons ») sera étudié, puis leur régime non linéaire et leur interaction avec les ondes de Kelvin longitudinales. Dans le cas N=2, la rétroaction entre les deux tourbillons sera également étudiée. Enfin, une transition d’un régime de turbulence d’ondes faibles à un régime fort, ainsi que la caractérisation d’une possible cascade inverse, pourront également être entreprises.
Contact
Eric Falcon
27/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
96
Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Fermi gases
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
From the promise of exponentially faster computers, new ways to transmit and store information, and vastly improved sensing capabilities, quantum science has become an extremely active area of research, providing a wide range of platforms, each with its particular strength. With quantum gases of ultracold atoms, experiments have had tremendous success in tackling quantum many-body problems, where unexpected and qualitatively new phenomena can emerge. These problems are notoriously complex owing to the large number of interacting particles, strong interactions, disorder, or nonlinear dynamics.
Our group aims at understanding the behavior of strongly-interacting fermionic systems using an atom-based quantum simulator featuring single-atom imaging and manipulation capabilities. During this internship, you will take your first steps in the team by contributing with an experimental project (several options) with the perspective to join us as a PhD student in the Fall 2027.
Contact
Tarik Yefsah
27/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
97
Electron-nuclear spin-spin interaction in the HD+ molecule
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Metrology
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The molecular hydrogen ions (H2+, HD+…) are the simplest molecules in nature. They are studied experimentally in high-resolution laser spectroscopy experiments, The comparison between experimental results and theoretical predictions allows for improved determination of fundamental constants such as the proton-electron mass ratio, and contributes to setting constraints on hypothetic beyond-standard-model interactions. The burgeoning experimental activity in this field gives strong motivation to improve the theory further by computing higher-order QED corrections.
The topic of the internship and PhD is related to a "puzzle" that has emerged in recent years in the hyperfine structure. Surprisingly large deviations between theory and experiment have been observed in the hyperfine intervals of HD+. The goal will be to investigate a plausible cause of these discrepancies, which resides in the relativistic corrections to the spin-spin interaction between the electron and nuclei. This will be studied following the Non Relativistic QED (NRQED) framework, where corrections are described by effective Hamiltonians in a nonrelativistic (Schrödinger) formalism. The work is partly analytical (derivation of effective Hamiltonians), and partly numerical (computation of effective operator expectation values, using highly precise variational wavefunctions), In practice, the relative amounts of theoretical and numerical work can be adapted to the applicant’s preferences.
Contact
Jean-Philippe Karr
27/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
98
2D Superconducting Spintronics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
We study the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity in heterostructures based on few-layer van der Waals (vdW) superconductors (SC) and magnetic (M) materials, taking advantage of the recently established possibility of obtaining atomically clean interfaces between such materials and integrating these stacks into devices. Such systems provide a novel, highly-tuneable platform for superconducting spintronics.
Building on work by previous students Pierre-Eloi Paret and Maya Klang, the internship will focus on benchmarking and the demonstration of new functionality (energy-independent spin-filtering, gate tuneability…) in SC/M devices, where SC is a thin-film metal such as aluminium.
Next, probably during the PhD, the candidate will focus more on vdW magnetic materials and TMD superconductors; the latter have strong Ising spin-orbit coupling at the ultrathin limit. We aim to elucidate the spin- and valley-active roles of SC/M interfaces, including possible symmetry mismatch effects, as well as the effect of Ising spin-orbit coupling on spinful quasiparticle eigenmodes. Finally, we propose to demonstrate tuneable SC/M proximity effects, e.g. Edelstein and Yu-Shiba-Rusinov physics, and the all-electrical control of unconventional spinful SC states.
Contact
Charis Quay
27/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
99
Entanglement sudden death and its reversal in a Z2 spin liquid
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Can heating protect quantum entanglement? Entanglement is a key resource for quantum technologies, but coupling to an environment can make it disappear abruptly, a phenomenon known as entanglement sudden death. This internship will explore whether an unusual quantum magnet can delay this loss or allow entanglement to revive.
We will study two spin qubits coupled to a Kitaev ladder, a tractable model of a quantum spin liquid. In this system, thermal excitations act as an effective source of disorder and can localise other excitations. This raises a counterintuitive question: can heating restrict the spread of quantum information into the environment and help preserve entanglement?
The student will combine analytical calculations with numerical simulations to investigate how entanglement evolves with temperature and qubit-environment coupling. Starting from simple limits and small systems, the project can extend to the role of environmental memory and localisation. The internship offers training in quantum magnetism, open quantum systems and numerical methods such as exact diagonalisation in Python. A background in quantum mechanics and an interest in analytical and computational work are expected.
Contact
Christina Psaroudaki
26/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
100
Elastic turbulence in von Karman swirling flow
Domaines
Soft matter
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Complex fluids often show viscoelastic properties, i.e. a mix of solid- and liquid-like behavior. These
materials are structured on a mesoscopic scale in contrast to the atomic structure of simple liquids.
While being processed or used, they undergo moderate or strong flows which can easily affect their
mesostructure. In turn, structural modifications feed back on the flow itself, often triggering instabilities and turbulence. The goal of the internship is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the transition to elastic turbulence by characterizing the flow field and its dynamics for various viscoelastic systems ranging from the inertio-elastic domain to the purely elastic domain. Openfoam simulations may complement the experimental results.
Contact
Sandra Lerouge
26/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
101
Understanding the signals emitted by moving liquids
Domaines
Condensed matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Elasticity is one of the oldest physical properties. It is expressed by a proportionality between the applied stress (σ) and the deformation (γ): σ = G.γ (Hooke's law). The absence of resistance to shear deformation (G' = 0) indicates liquid-like behavior. Long considered specific to solids, shear elasticity is now identified in liquids at the submillimeter scale.
A non-zero shear elasticity is a promise of discoveries of new properties. Among them, we show that confined liquids are able to convert the mechanical energy in thermal waves. We will exploit the capacity of conversion to develop a new generation of micro-hydrodynamics (Patent).
Inelastic Neutron or X-ray Scattering will be used to show that the dynamics (phonons) of the substrate is modified when a liquid flows on the surface. Proposals will be submitted to Large Research Facilities (ILL, ESRF) to obtain beam time. Finally, we will strengthen our collaborations with theoreticians.
Keywords: Confined liquids, wetting, Imaging, phonons.
Contact
Laurence NOIREZ
26/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
102
Superconductivity in Stamped Misfit Crystals
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as monolayer NbSe₂ and NbS₂, are promising platforms for topological superconductivity. Their broken in-plane inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) generate an out-of-plane effective magnetic field (Ising SOC), protecting superconductivity against strong in-plane fields and enabling unconventional singlet–triplet pairing. However, accessing the topological regime requires large shifts of the chemical potential.
Misfit-layer compounds (MLCs) overcome this limitation through charge transfer from rock-salt layers to TMDs. In (LaSe)₁.₁₄(NbSe₂)₂, this transfer can reach 0.6 e⁻/Nb while preserving the NbSe₂ band structure and Ising SOC. Recent studies of (LaₓPb₁₋ₓSe)₁.₁₄(NbSe₂)₂ revealed a strongly non-monotonic superconducting phase diagram, with an abrupt transition near x = 0.4 from conventional s-wave pairing to a disorder-sensitive unconventional state. Orientation-dependent in-gap states at atomic step edges in the highly doped regime further suggest crystalline-topological superconductivity.
This internship will investigate bulk MLCs and exfoliated monolayers using low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy down to 300 mK, focusing on compositions near the topological transition. Particular attention will be paid to atomic defects and step edges to probe Cooper-pair symmetry. This work will pave the way toward electrically controlling the topological transition in a field-effect device.
Contact
Marie Hervé
26/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
103
Imaging orbitals in quantum materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
What if you could see the orbitals that make a material superconducting?
Superconductivity, magnetism, metal–insulator transitions: in quantum materials, everything hinges on the shape and occupation of a few electronic orbitals. Yet for decades we could only infer them, from surface-sensitive probes, indirect measurements and model-dependent analysis.
This project changes that. Using X-ray Raman scattering at the SOLEIL synchrotron, we image orbitals directly, in real space, in the bulk of the crystal, and selectively for the element and orbitals we care about. Only two teams in the world can do it, and ours is one of them.
You will help us image the orbitals at play in cuprates, nickelates, iron-based superconductors and Mott systems, and tackle questions at the heart of modern solid-state physics: Which orbitals carry superconductivity? How do they reorganize across a Mott transition? Is electronic nematicity an orbital order?
A brand-new technique, at the frontier of experiment and theory. Read the full proposal: the orbitals are waiting to be seen.
Contact
Victor Balédent
26/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
104
Asynchronous ultrafast Raman imaging of reactions and phase transitions in energy materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Raman spectroscopy is a workhorse of chemistry and materials science for tracking phase changes, chemical reactions and local structure. Compressive Raman imaging exploits concepts from computational microscopy to enhance chemical imaging. We have now developed a new strategy in compressive Raman tech, asynchronous Raman imaging reaching sensing speeds down to 100ns resolution. This is enabled by quantum resources which may allow to reach resolutions down to 1ps in the future. We aim at expanding the applications of this technology to other fields.
Contact
Hilton Barbosa de Aguiar
26/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
105
Rare encounters in a crowd: fluctuations of pair correlations in liquids
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
In a crowded liquid, how likely is it that two particles stay unusually close to each other for a long time? Such rare events matter for processes like chemical reactions, aggregation, or ion pairing in electrolytes, yet they lie beyond the reach of standard tools. On the one hand, the theory of liquids describes the average structure through pair quantities, such as the pair correlation function or the cavity distribution function, but says little about their fluctuations. On the other hand, stochastic density functional theory, based on the Dean-Kawasaki equation, describes fluctuations, but usually relies on a linearization that fails for strong interactions and erases local structure. The goal of this internship is to bridge both approaches, by deriving and analyzing stochastic equations for the separation between pairs of particles. Path-integral methods could then give access to the statistics of time-integrated pair observables. The work will be mostly analytical, complemented by Brownian dynamics simulations.
Contact
Pierre ILLIEN
21/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
106
Probing internal phototactic states dynamics in the model micro-alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Microalgae are living organisms that play a key role in the environment and can also be used for the sequestration of CO2. At LPENS we aim at understanding their collective motion as well as their individual behavior in response to light (phototaxis). We propose a M2 research internship and a PhD thesis aiming to probe the internal phototactic states dynamics of the model unicellular micro-alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. These algae can perform both positive and negative phototaxis (towards higher or lower light intensities resp.), but the decision-making process between these two states is still rather poorly understood, although essential for understanding the ecological dynamics of these globally important micro-organisms. Recent results in the group have established that this switch involves memory effects that can be used to localize cells in specific location of structured light landscapes and that we aim to quantitatively probe with the use of dynamical light patterns using a Spatial-Light-Modulator that allows to create any light pattern and to modulate them at relevant frequencies.
In this project, the student will use video-microscopy, optics, image analysis, microalgal culturing techniques, microfluidic techniques and data analysis. The internship can be followed with a PhD (funded through a doctoral scholarship). During the PhD the student will also have the opportunity to work on collective behaviours induced by phototaxis in populations of these micro-algae.
Contact
Raphaël Jeanneret
21/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
107
Space partitioning by microtubules and molecular motors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The aim of the internship is to study how molecular motors and microtubules can self-organize to create shapes and partition space when confined in restricted volumes. We recently discovered this property and propose to study it further. Depending on students interest and experience, it is possible to study this in living cells, or in reconstituted minimal systems, or from the theoretical aspect of active phase separation (in collaboration with Jean-Francois Joanny).
Contact
Manuel Thery
21/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
108
Microscopic dynamics of bullies
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
How does an individual move through a crowded environment, and how do local rules shape its large-scale motion? Lattice gases offer a powerful framework to address this question: particles perform random walks on a lattice with hardcore exclusion, and a driven tracer particle probes how the environment affects transport, through its velocity and diffusivity as functions of the density of obstacles. In many real situations, however, pure exclusion is unrealistic: it is often easier to move through a crowd by pushing obstacles out of the way. In this internship, we will study a "pushy" tracer that can displace the particles blocking its path, a mechanism that has received almost no attention so far. Combining numerical simulations and analytical methods (master equation, high- and low-density expansions), the student will determine how pushing modifies the speed and diffusivity of the tracer, and characterize the environment seen from its moving frame. Is it worth being a bully?
Contact
Pierre ILLIEN
21/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
109
Investigating dynamics of Floquet states in topological crystalline insulators
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Intense, coherent lightwaves can drive materials into nonequilibrium states with properties that are inaccessible under equilibrium conditions. When electrons interact coherently with a periodic electric field, their energy bands can be reshaped through a mechanism known as Floquet engineering. This approach offers a promising route to modifying electronic properties and potentially inducing new topological phases of matter, including Floquet topological insulators. This internship aims to explore the potential of femtosecond mid-infrared pulses to coherently drive the topological crystalline insulator PbSnSe from a trivial phase into a light-induced Floquet topological phase. Using mid-infrared pump–THz probe spectroscopy, the candidate will track transient changes in the THz transmittance of thin PbSnSe layers and investigate how the response depends on the material bandgap and on the energy of the driving field, searching for signatures of light-induced topological states, potentially including a Dirac-like dispersion absent at equilibrium. In collaboration with Marco Schiro, the candidate will also contribute to developing a Floquet-based theoretical framework to interpret the measurements and characterize the transient electronic states. The internship can be continued as a PhD.
Contact
Juliette MANGENEY
21/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
110
How solids get charged upon contact?
Domaines
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The well-known triboelectric effect refers to the charging of solid surfaces upon mechanical contact.
This ubiquitous phenomenon has macroscopic consequences, ranging from the mundane to the fundamental
(e.g., tribocharging promotes dust aggregation, which may have played a key role in the early stages of planet
formation). However, the origin of this surface charging remains poorly understood, and has been variously attributed to the transfer of minute quantities of electrons, ions or material between surfaces. Interestingly, water - through the exchange of protons and hydroxide ions - has been put forward as a potential key player in electrification, an exciting hypothesis that we aim to test. The aim of this internship is to explore the fundamentals of solid triboelectrification, building on two complementary approaches currently being developed in the group, based on electrostatic spatio-temporal charge mapping and nanometrically resolved surface force measurements.
Contact
Jean Comtet
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
111
Single molecule nanofluidics within a polymeric prewetting film
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Liquids and polymers confined down to nanometric scales can show a range of exotic behaviors, with broad relevance from engineering to biology. Significant progress in our understanding has been achieved in the recent years, driven in part by experimental efforts in the fabrication of nanofluidic devices reaching exquisite control over the degree of liquid confinement or by highly controlled measurements of the relaxation dynamics of thin polymeric films. However, transport dynamics in these sophisticated configurations is still probed by macroscopic and ensemble-averaged approaches, unable to reveal in a clear and direct manner sub-continuum transport effects.
Here, we aim to bridge this gap by developing novel experimental approaches to directly visualize and quantify molecular motion in nanometrically confined liquids, focusing on polymeric liquid melts as model systems. To do so, we will combine single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques on fluorescently grafted polymer chains with transport dynamics in a spontaneouly spreading prewetting film (providing intrinsic molecular confinement), to tackle key long-standing questions on the role of confinement on molecular transport.
Contact
Jean Comtet
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
112
Solving the S-matrix with machine learning: how fast can quantum interactions grow?
Domaines
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
What happens when particles interact at strong coupling? At weak coupling, quantum field theory gave us a beautiful map of consistent theories: the gauge theories of the Standard Model. At strong coupling the map is almost blank, even though it contains the strong force and string theory. The difficulty is unitarity, a fully nonlinear equation that ties all processes together. Our group has developed a new way to explore this territory, reviving the 1960s S-matrix bootstrap with machine-learning tools, and recently built, for the first time, four-dimensional amplitudes that conserve probability exactly in two-particle collisions while including particle production. This internship uses these tools on a strikingly simple question: how fast can an interaction grow with energy? A universal limit, the Froissart bound, has been known since the 1960s, yet no one knows how real theories approach it. Protons look larger the harder they collide, a growth attributed to the mysterious Pomeron, and it is inside the Pomeron of early string models that the graviton was first discovered. The work can be analytic, numerical, or both. You will join a small, friendly team in Annecy, with regular one-to-one supervision and visits to CERN. No prior experience with machine learning is needed.
Contact
Piotr Tourkine
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
113
From d = 4 to d = infinity and back: taming strongly coupled quantum field theory with a 1/d expansion
Domaines
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Quantum field theory is a century old, yet beyond weak coupling we still cannot compute how particles interact. Low-energy QCD is the classic example: we scatter hadrons in experiments, but cannot derive their collisions from first principles. This internship explores a fresh idea: use the number of spacetime dimensions, d, as a small parameter. The 1/d expansion has reshaped other fields, making mean-field theory exact in statistical physics and opening new analytic windows on black holes. For scattering in quantum field theory, it is still waiting to be built. The project grows out of our recent map, obtained with the S-matrix bootstrap, of which interactions are allowed in dimensions 3 to 12, using only the consistency of relativity and quantum mechanics. We found surprising new phases appearing at special dimensions. These results touch a deep puzzle: in high dimensions, string theory may be the only consistent option (string universality), yet our bounds seem to allow interactions without gravitons. Is a graviton hiding somewhere in these amplitudes? You can explore this analytically, numerically, or both, in a small, friendly team in Annecy, close to CERN, with regular one-to-one supervision.
Contact
Piotr Tourkine
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
114
AlGaAs chips for quantum communications and hybrid quantum networks
Domaines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Future quantum networks require connecting heterogeneous quantum platforms via existing telecom fibers. This involves interfacing long-lived matter qubits with low-loss photons and developing network-compatible entangled photon sources. The QITe team addresses this using AlGaAs quantum photonic chips, a III–V semiconductor platform combining strong second-order nonlinearity for photon-pair generation and a direct bandgap for room-temperature on-chip laser pumping.
Building on achievements like photon distribution over a deployed Paris Cité–Sorbonne fiber link and a deep-learning tool for AlGaAs sources interfacing \(^{88}\text{Sr}^+\) ions with the telecom C-band, this project pursues three directions:
1. Device design & fabrication: Developing AlGaAs sources for ion–photon interfaces and entangled-photon generation (C and O bands), collaborating with C2N.
2. Hybrid ion–photon links: Investigating entanglement swapping between a trapped ion and a telecom photon via Bell-state measurement (collaboration with MPQ).
3. Deployed networks: Implementing multi-user protocols combining industry-grade multiplexing with White Rabbit synchronization (collaboration with LIP6 and REFIMEVE).
The internship focuses on the quantum characterization of photonic devices and experimental quantum communication over deployed fibers. Intended for future PhD students, it is funded by the French PEPR Quantum Communication Testbed and the European QSNP.
Contact
Sara DUCCI
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
115
Optimization of an atomic beam for Rydberg excitation and ionization
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Atomic beams lie at the very foundation of most measurements in atomic physics. Rydberg atoms, in turn, are central to a wide range of challenges: quantum control, sensing, charge exchange, and the production of ion and/or electron beams. The proposed project aims to optimize an atomic beam, relying for instance on microchannels, which should significantly improve the beam collimation. Other techniques, such as magnetic compression or transverse (2D) laser cooling and guiding, may also be investigated. The goal is to obtain an intense, dense Cs or Rb atomic beam in the Rydberg excitation region. The experiment will then be transferred to different setups, such as an innovative electron microscope, the HREELM (High-Resolution Electron Energy Loss Microscope). This microscope detects very low-energy electrons with excellent time resolution. The objective is to exploit the space-time correlation between a Rydberg atom and its electron, obtained by ionizing the atom, in order to improve the electron source.
Contact
Daniel Comparat
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
116
Microwave Photon Detectors for Superconducting Qubit Readout
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The ability to detect individual microwave photons is a key enabling technology for quantum computing, quantum sensing, and fundamental physics experiments. Despite recent breakthroughs in detection efficiency, existing single-photon detectors typically suffer from a limited dynamic range, making them unsuitable for measuring signals containing more than a few photons. Overcoming this limitation by developing detectors sensitive to microwave pulses spanning 1 to 100 photons would represent a major step forward, particularly towards single-shot readout of superconducting qubits without the need for parametric amplifiers.
Our group has recently demonstrated a novel approach to microwave photon detection based on a microwave photon-to-electron converter, in which a superconducting tunnel junction acts as a voltage-tunable quantum absorber through photon-assisted quasiparticle tunneling. By developing an ultrasensitive charge detection technique, we have further demonstrated the detection of individual microwave photons.
Building on this expertise, we now aim to explore a complementary detection strategy exploiting the extreme temperature sensitivity of diffusive Josephson junctions. By operating a junction close to its switching instability, the absorption of a few microwave photons can trigger a transition from the superconducting to the resistive state, converting energy deposition into a robust electrical signal.
Contact
Julien Basset
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
117
Advanced Spectroscopy of Rare-Earth-Doped Crystals for Quantum Sensing and Analog Processing
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
At the Langevin Institute, we leverage rare-earth-doped crystals (e.g., Tm:YAG, Er:YSO) as powerful platforms for quantum sensing, memories, and analog signal processing. These materials, operated at cryogenic temperatures (~3K), offer exceptional optical linewidths, long population lifetimes, and strong light-matter interactions, key for quantum coherence. However, commercial cryogenics introduce vibrations and thermal loads, degrading performance.
This internship explores alternative matrices (YGG, co-doped crystals, molecular crystals, ceramics, waveguides) to extend lifetimes, damp vibrations, and optimize light guiding, enabling lower ion concentrations and reduced decoherence. The intern will use advanced spectroscopy (photon echo, spectral hole-burning) to characterize these materials. Ideal for M1/M2 or engineering students in optics/physics with experimental skills. Collaborative project with IRCP and Thales.
Contact
Anne Louchet-Chauvet
Laboratory : Institut Langevin - Ondes et Images - UMR7587
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
Team : Materials, Resonances, Interfaces
Team Website
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
118
Programmable Materials: Folding of DNA-coated Droplet Chains into Functional Architectures
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The hydrophobic collapse of polypeptides into a molten globule state is one of the key features of the “funnel” landscape picture that is commonly used to describe protein folding. This process is driven by solvent-mediated interactions that can either speed up folding by reducing the conformational space or impede folding through the creation of geometric bottle necks. To gain predictive power, this project will design and build an artificial system comprised of short chains of micron-sized droplets coated with DNA to microscopically map out all possible folding pathways as a function of temperature protocols and DNA interaction strengths. These experimental data will then be used to calibrate a Markov state model capable of predicting optimal non-equilibrium protocols to achieve a target structure in the folding tree. We will experimentally compare folding via only native interactions (those found in the target structure) and folding that includes non-native interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations will further validate the model to show that tuning specific non-native interactions broadens the design space of foldable structures (foldamers). Akin to biology, we aim to show that the temperature protocol, i.e. the external environment, is coupled to the optimization of interactions to accelerate folding.
Contact
Jasna Brujic
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
119
Quantum entanglement & metrology with inertial sensors
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum optics
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The internship will be carried out in close collaboration with an experimental team and will focus on the theoretical and numerical study of spin-squeezing dynamics in Bose–Einstein condensates [5]. The main objective is to investigate how entanglement can improve the phase sensitivity of quantum inertial sensors while keeping their accuracy when accounting for different experimental defects. The intern will develop analytical models and perform numerical simulations to study spin squeezing in different experimental configurations, including trapped [6], free-falling [7], and differential atom-interferometer setups [8]. The project will provide the opportunity to work at the interface between quantum optics, ultra-cold atoms, and quantum sensing, with direct interaction between theoretical and experimental activities.
Contact
Robin Corgier
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
120
Universal oarsening dynamics and turbulence in a quantum fluid far from equilibrium
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
What if you could do the experiments of a cold-atom lab without a vacuum chamber, without a MOT, and with a full image of the wavefunction in every shot?
Laser light propagating through a hot rubidium vapor behaves like a two-dimensional quantum fluid, and we can image its full field (density and phase) at each step of its evolution. We recently used this to watch the fluid order itself after a quench: vortices annihilate, phase domains grow, and the dynamics turns out to be self-similar. Beyond the usual two-point correlations, we found that the whole distribution of a local order parameter rescales with a single length, the distance between vortices. During the internship you will extend this to new initial states and to two-component fluids, analyze the data (vortex tracking, cumulants, finite-size statistics), and compare with numerical simulations of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation. The work combines hands-on optics with data analysis, and you will join a small team at LKB (Jussieu).
Contact
Quentin Glorieux
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
121
Synthetic Photonic Matter in a Quantum Fluid of Light.
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Photons are great carriers of information but they usually don’t interact with one another. Atoms interact but are hard to manipulate and do not benefit from the toolbox of quantum optics for detecting quantum fluctuations and entanglement. Many approaches have been proposed to marry these two systems for quantum simulation of condensed matter with strongly interacting photons, but to date, the realization of large-scale synthetic materials made of optical photons is still missing.
Our team targets this exciting goal, namely the creation of Synthetic Photonic Matter.
We are offering an internship opportunity (followed by an ERC-funded PhD) to expand the capabilities of this platform to a new level by increasing by many orders of magnitude the effective photon-photon interactions and enter the strong interaction regime.
Contact
Quentin Glorieux
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
122
Créer de la matière artifielle à base de photons dans un Fluide Quantique de Lumière
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Les photons sont d’excellents porteurs d’information, mais ils n’interagissent généralement pas les uns
avec les autres. Les atomes interagissent, mais ils sont difficiles à manipuler et ne bénéficient pas de
l’arsenal de l’optique quantique pour d´etecter les fluctuations quantiques et l’intrication. De nombreuses
approches ont été proposées pour marier ces deux systèmes en vue de simuler de la matière
condensée avec des photons fortement interagissant, mais à ce jour, la réalisation de matériaux
synthétiques composés de photons fait encore d´efaut.
Notre équipe vise cet objectif ambitieux, à savoir la création de Matiere Photonique Synthétique.
Nous proposons une opportunité de stage (suivie d'une thèse financée par l'ERC) pour étendre les capacités de notre plateforme à un nouveau niveau en augmentant de plusieurs ordres de grandeur les interactions effectives photon-photon et en entrant dans le régime des interactions fortes.
Contact
Quentin Glorieux
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
123
Nonlinear Josephson Readout for Single Microwave Photon Detectors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Detecting a single microwave photon requires converting its arrival into a reliable electrical signal. In the detectors developed by the Quantronics group at CEA Saclay, the photon leaves a record in an internal transmon qubit. This internship will explore how Josephson nonlinearities can amplify that record and enable fast, faithful readout without a travelling-wave parametric amplifier.
The central idea is an asymmetric measurement: preserve the transmon’s ground state to suppress false clicks, while using its excited state to trigger a strongly distinguishable nonlinear resonator response. A dedicated Josephson element, separate from the transmon junction, will provide control over the readout nonlinearity. Combining circuit modelling, phase-space analysis, quantum simulations and cryogenic measurements, the project will investigate how bifurcation and the onset of chaos affect signal discrimination and measurement backaction. The goal is to improve photon detection while preserving transmon coherence and allowing rapid detector reset.
The internship is intended to lead to a CIFRE PhD with Qudigy, a spin-off of the Quantronics group that plans to begin commercialising single microwave photon detectors in 2027.
Contact
Emmanuel Flurin
20/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
124
Statistical inference for collective dynamics in living systems
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Statistical-physics models constructed directly from data have succeeded in describing the collective phenomena in many biological systems. While much success has been achieved in learning the steady state distribution, going into the (especially out-of-equilibrium) dynamics is more challenging, for example with problems such as causality, co-existing of many time scales and non-ergodicity, asymmetric interaction, partial and finite information, and dynamically-evolving landscapes. In turn, the environmental drive can also be used as an active perturbation to elicit more information. This internship project will address this problem by starting in one example of inferring interactions for non-equilibrium dynamics, to be discussed according to the expertise and the interest of the applicant. Specifically, the internship will include inferring interaction models from real biological data from neuroscience and/or collective animal behavior, and investigating toy models of interacting spins.
Contact
Xiaowen Chen
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
125
Investigation of Altermagnetism in Perovskite Oxides
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Altermagnets are a novel class of magnetic materials that combine properties associated with ferro- and antiferromagnetism: Like antiferromagnets, their magnetic moments compensate each other, resulting in no net magnetisation. At the same time, their particular crystal and magnetic symmetries can produce a spin-dependent electronic structure, a property that is attractive for future technologies based on controlling electron spins rather than only their charge. Experimentally demonstrating altermagnetism remains challenging, especially in electrically insulating materials where commonly used transport and photoemission techniques cannot easily be applied.
During this internship, you will investigate a family of magnetic perovskite oxides, several of which have been predicted to be altermagnetic based on their crystal and magnetic symmetries. The project will combine theoretical calculations with state-of-the-art X-ray experiments: You will perform density functional theory (DFT) calculations at IMPMC, followed by multiplet calculations, to understand how the crystal and magnetic structure determines the expected signatures of altermagnetism. You will then have the opportunity to participate in an X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiment at the BESSY II synchrotron at HZB in Berlin. By comparing theoretical predictions with experimental measurements, you will finally determine whether these materials really exhibit measurable signatures of altermagnetism.
Contact
Benjamin Lenz
19/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
126
Stage M2 – Optique quantique et interférométrie fibrée : mesurer les effets de la gravitation sur la lumière
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Comment la gravitation influence-t-elle les états quantiques de la lumière ?
Le laboratoire ARTEMIS (CNRS – Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Nice) développe une expérience d'interférométrie optique visant à mesurer les effets de la dilatation gravitationnelle du temps sur des états quantiques de lumière, à l'interface entre relativité générale et physique quantique.
Le stage portera sur la construction, la stabilisation et la caractérisation d'interféromètres fibrés de type Franson. Le travail comprendra l'assemblage de systèmes optiques, le développement de boucles d'asservissement de phase, ainsi que l'analyse des sources de bruit et de la sensibilité de l'expérience. Selon l'avancement du projet, des premières mesures à très faible flux lumineux pourront également être réalisées.
Ce stage s'adresse aux étudiants de M2 en physique, optique ou photonique, motivés par la recherche expérimentale et la métrologie de précision.
Lieu : Nice, laboratoire ARTEMIS (CNRS)
Durée : 6 mois, premier semestre 2027
Contact : eleonora.polini@oca.eu
Contact
Eleonora Polini
19/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
127
Magnetic GW: A New Many-Body Approach to Realistic Modelling of Quantum Materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Electrons in quantum materials interact via the Coulomb interaction, giving rise to a rich variety of collective phenomena, including magnetic excitations, charge-density fluctuations, and superconductivity. A major challenge in theoretical condensed matter physics is to describe these effects quantitatively. One widely used approach is the GW approximation, which describes electronic properties in terms of the interaction between electrons and dynamically screened Coulomb fluctuations. However, in materials where magnetic correlations play a dominant role, an accurate treatment of spin fluctuations is particularly important. Developing computationally efficient methods that capture these effects while remaining applicable to realistic materials is an important challenge.
The goal of this internship is to implement and develop a magnetic GW approach that incorporates the effects of magnetic fluctuations into the description of correlated electrons, and to apply this method to realistic quantum materials. The project combines theoretical method development, numerical implementation, and the investigation of physical phenomena. It offers an opportunity not only to develop a computational tool but also to apply it to fundamental questions concerning the interplay between electronic quasiparticles and collective magnetic excitations in realistic quantum materials.
Contact
Evgeny Stepanov
19/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
128
Implementation of a mass scanning quantum haloscope
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
There is a general consensus that only a small fraction of the matter and energy in the universe has been detected (about 5%), the rest being dark matter (about 27%) and dark energy (about 68%). Elucidating the nature and properties of such objects is one of the greatest challenges in physics. In general, dark matter (e.g. Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, WIMPs) is thought to consist of particles that "floods" galactic halos - and hence the Milky Way. Therefore, in principle, it can in principle be detected in laboratory experiments.
This work will build on our recent theoretical and experimental developments of an apparatus, called a haloscope, designed to detect axions, prominent candidates of dark matter. We will develop a full data taking setup able to probe the benchmark models for QCD axions on a mass range more than two orders of magnitude larger than the state of the art. This will enable a full test of the axion paradigm in the high mass range which should become one of the most stringent experimental constraints for dark matter models.
Contact
Takis Kontos
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
129
Hydrodynamique des rideaux liquides courts pour le dépôt par enduction
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Ce stage porte sur le dépôt d'un film mince liquide formé depuis une fente sur une surface en mouvement. La configuration choisie avec un rideau liquide pressurisé et une tête d'enduction rapprochée du substrat a été peu explorée dans la littérature. L’objectif de ce stage est d’explorer ce régime intermédiaire d’enduction. Il s’agira de caractériser l'hydrodynamique du rideau, son couplage avec le substrat en mouvement et le dépôt qui en résulte pour des fluides simples en fonction de leurs propriétés mécaniques (viscosité, tension de surface…), de la vitesse en sortie de la fente et de la distance de travail. Nous chercherons également à établir le diagramme de fonctionnement du système en fonction des conditions expérimentales exprimées à l’aide des nombres adimensionnés pertinents.
Contact
Sandra Lerouge
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
130
2D heterostructures for optical control of individual quantum emitters
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Colloidal quantum emitters have emerged as promising candidates as building blocks for quantum telecomunications for their large tunability in synthesis, cristallography, colour, leading to almost lifetime-limited systems. However, due to their large surface to volume ratio, they are still sensitive to charge environment which is further translated into blinking and spectral diffusion, reducing the emission coherence. In this internship, and hopefully PhD, we propose to address the passive and active charge control by embedding the nanocrystals into a 2D van der waals heterostructure.
Contact
Antoine Borel
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
131
Mechanical testing of historical chalk pastels: linking chemical composition, wear behaviour and optical properties
Domaines
Soft matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
What is the physics behind drawing with pastels? This interdisciplinary internship between Nice and Paris brings together physics and conservation science to explore how pastel composition controls drawing, wear, and the appearance of artworks.
Contact
Vincent Bertin
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
132
The statistical physics of rough contact
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This internship aims to develop a statistical-physics description of rough contact, using numerical simulations to explore effective models of microscopic contact networks.
Contact
Vincent Bertin
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
133
Quantum computing with a hybrid array of molecules and Rydberg atoms
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Quantum computing requires precise control of individual quantum systems and their interactions. Ultracold molecules offer long-lived quantum states for storing information, while Rydberg atoms provide strong interactions for fast quantum operations. Combining these advantages opens a new route towards scalable quantum computing.
Our group is developing an experimental platform combining individual CaF molecules and Rb atoms in reconfigurable optical tweezer arrays. The long-term goal is to exploit molecule–Rydberg atom interactions to implement fast quantum gates and new methods for manipulating and measuring molecular qubits.
During this six-month internship, the student will contribute to the development and characterisation of the hybrid experimental platform. Depending on experimental progress and the student's interests, the work may focus on optical tweezer generation and control, single-particle trapping and imaging, Rydberg excitation, or the development of experimental control and data analysis techniques. The student will work closely with researchers developing this new quantum computing platform.
Contact
Chi Zhang
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
134
Amorphous superconducting topological matter
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Because topological classifications do not depend on translational invariance, there is no reason why they could not extend from crystalline to amorphous materials, since the latter crucially differ from the former only by lacking long-range translational order. Motivated by this, a few recent works have found topological states in amorphous systems, both in theory and in experiment. Intriguingly, amorphousness may stabilize topological states with increased robustness, while the fact that some symmetries survive on average in these disordered systems in principle allows a zoo of symmetry-protected topological states which are analogous, but different, than their crystalline counterparts. A key challenge remains how to identify and distinguish various amorphous topological superconducting states.
In this internship, we would like to investigate one of the oldest toy models for amorphous matter, an enriched Weaire-Thorpe (WT) model to ensure non-trivial chiral topological states. We have recently shown using adiabatic arguments and computationally efficient topological indicators, how to predict the topological phase diagram of the amorphous state from the crystalline one. We want to extend that to superconductors.
Contact
Pascal SIMON
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
135
Search for physics beyond the standard model at the LHC and FCC using effective field theory
Domaines
High energy physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider operates at the energy frontier, with a broad research programme searching for evidence of new massive particles predicted in extensions of the standard model (SM). However, if these new states are beyond the direct energy reach of the LHC, a different approach is needed. Using the framework of effective field theory (EFT), it is possible to systematically study how new physics leads to deviations from SM predictions in the energy regime accessible. The EFT introduces a set of higher dimensional operators to the SM Lagrangian that parameterise all possible beyond-the-SM interactions.
The goal of the project is to study how measurements from the LHC (probing high energies) and the proposed FCC (for electroweak precision) can be combined in a global EFT fit, to provide complementary sensitivity to a wider range of beyond-the-SM effects than either could alone. Emphasis will be on mapping EFT constraints to specific beyond-the-SM theories, e.g. supersymmetry, to understand how our indirect constraints with the EFT compare with direct searches for new heavy particles.
Contact
Andrew Gilbert
19/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
136
Ultrafast Quantum Acousto-Magneto-Plasmonics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The project will focus on active control of time-resolved photo-luminescence (PL) in functional quantum nanostructures excited with ultrashort laser pulses. Through a series of theoretical/ computa-tional tasks and the combined photoacous-tic/PL experiments the student will be asked to design a prototype of a quantum acousto-magneto-plasmonic modulator (exploiting plasmonic [1], magneto-plasmonic [2] or acoustic/magneto-acoustic [3] interactions), where various fs-laser-assisted excitations in hybrid multilayer structures would modulate the dynamics of nanoscale light emitters. Recent collaborative efforts in fs-laser nanofabrication [4] and unconventional solitonic superfluorescence in perovskites [5] will be combined to produce and characterize innovative hybrid nanostructures for quantum-optical applications. This research stay will be part of existing national and international collaborations providing access to fluorescent nanoparticles (PCnano), high-quality colloidal CdSe quantum dots and J-aggregates (France), hybrid perovskites (USA), hybrid metallic multilayers (Spain & Germany) and metasurfaces (Sweden) and advanced magneto-acoustic spectroscopy (South Korea).
[1] D. Pacifici et al., Nature Phot. 1, 402 (2007); Y. Fedutik et al. PRL 99, 136802 (2008)
[2] V.V. Temnov, Nature Phot. 6, 728 (2012); J. Opt. 18, 093002 (2016)
[3] A. Alekhin et al., Nano letters 23, 9295 (2023)
[4] P. Varlamov et al., PRL 135, 126904 (2025)
[5] M. Biliroglu et al., Nature 642, 71 (2025)
Contact
Vasily TEMNOV
18/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
137
Weakly Coupled One-Dimensional Bose Gases
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
One-dimensional quantum systems occupy a special place in many-body physics because they can be studied using a wide range of powerful theoretical methods. In particular, bosonization provides a remarkably simple framework to describe a broad class of systems known as Luttinger liquids, which include interacting fermions, bosons, and quantum spin chains. At low energies, these systems are governed by a quadratic Hamiltonian characterized by only two parameters: the velocity of the low-energy mode (i.e., the sound mode velocity in a Bose gas) and the Luttinger parameter, which encodes the interaction strength. The asymptotic behavior of the correlation functions is entirely determined by the Luttinger parameter, which thus sets the nature of the dominant fluctuations.
The goal of this internship is to apply bosonization, together with the non-perturbative functional renormalization group (a modern formulation of the Wilsonian renormalization group), to study weakly coupled one-dimensional Bose gases. These highly anisotropic systems are expected to display a rich phase diagram, featuring superfluid, density-wave, and possibly supersolid phases. The internship will involve both analytical calculations and numerical solutions of renormalization-group flow equations.
Contact
Nicolas Dupuis
17/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
138
Microscopic nature of the polaron-dimeron transition
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Diagrammatic Monte Carlo computations with the goal of advancing the fundamental understanding of the transition between polaron and dimeron states at the microscopic level, in collaboration with cold atom experiments.
Contact
Félix Werner
16/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
139
Hybrid quantum systems combining mechanical resonators and superconducting circuits
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Can a mechanical resonator oscillating at low frequency be prepared in its quantum ground state? This project explores hybrid quantum systems combining high-Q micromechanical resonators, optical readout and superconducting circuits, with the aim of probing and controlling the quantum motion of massive objects.
The internship will focus first on the optical characterization of microfabricated silicon-nitride membranes and ribbons, patterned or unpatterned. Using digital holographic microscopy and laser interferometry, the student will map mechanical mode shapes and measure resonance frequencies, thermal motion and quality factors. Finite-element simulations will help select resonators for quantum experiments.
A second stage will address coupling selected devices to superconducting circuits and performing microwave measurements in a dilution refrigerator near 10 mK. Superconducting qubits and electromechanical interactions provide tools to probe and control motion at the single-phonon level.
The internship can lead to an ANR GRAVITATION-funded PhD targeting the quantum ground state of a high-Q mechanical mode at low frequency. The strategy is to prepare the mode near its ground state and dynamically tune its frequency through mechanical stress control. Preserving quantum coherence during this process is a central challenge, with prospects for quantum sensing and experiments at the interface between quantum physics and gravity.
Contact
Thibaut Jacqmin
16/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
140
Quantum simulation with circular Rydberg states of strontium
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Rydberg atom arrays are powerful platforms for the quantum simulation of spin models, but the simulation time is limited by the short lifetime of laser-accessible Rydberg states. Circular Rydberg states, with maximum angular momentum, have an extremely long radiative lifetime, providing access to much longer quantum dynamics. Our group is building a quantum simulator based on circular states of strontium, a two-valence-electron atom whose ionic core remains optically active when the atom is in a Rydberg state, allowing optical manipulation directly in the Rydberg states. During the master’s internship, the student will build a new laser system to prepare Rydberg atoms in our new closed-cycle cryostat.
Contact
Brice Bakkali-Hassani
16/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
141
Quantum simulation with superconducting circuits
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
We will build a superconducting circuit to simulate light–matter interaction beyond the strong-coupling limit: a fluxonium qubit coupled to a microwave resonator, with a coupling tuned in situ from zero up to the deep-strong regime, where it exceeds the bare frequencies of both. In this regime, the ground state becomes an entangled atom–field superposition, a Schrödinger cat, and the Dicke and spin-boson models predict quantum phase transitions driven by the interaction itself. Measuring these states remains an open challenge: once atom and photon hybridize, one can no longer read them out separately. Our approach relies on a new coupler, a Wheatstone bridge of Josephson inductances. When the bridge is balanced, the coupling vanishes by symmetry; a magnetic flux unbalances it and tunes the coupling in magnitude and sign. Switching the coupling off within a nanosecond projects the hybridized state onto the uncoupled basis, where standard readout applies. The student will first design the device using circuit quantization and numerical simulations, and develop superconducting air bridges in the ENS clean room. Depending on progress, the student will then fabricate the full circuit and perform its first spectroscopy at 10 mK. The internship can be continued as a PhD.
Contact
Zaki Leghtas
16/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
142
Épaisseur d’un film visqueux entraîné sur une surface en mouvement
Domaines
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Corporate activity
Description
L'écoulement le long de surfaces en mouvement peut induire l'expulsion d'une partie du liquide, tandis que l'autre partie reste entraînée par la surface sous la forme d'un film mince. L'épaisseur de ce film s'avère déterminante pour la maîtrise de certains procédés industriels, alors que l’hydrodynamique sous-jacente et sa dépendance avec les paramètres du problème restent à éclaircir. Cette compréhension permettrait d’optimiser ces procédés, notamment réduisant les consommations de matières premières et d’énergie, réduisant ainsi leur impact environnemental.
L’objectif du stage est de déterminer l'épaisseur du film mince conservé sur la surface en mouvement, après expulsion du surplus. Les missions du stage couvriront entre autres : (1) un volet expérimental avec la fiabilisation d'une mesure par luminescence déjà en test, et éventuellement l’exploration de méthodes de mesure complémentaires ; (2) un volet théorique avec l’investigation des lois d’échelle hydrodynamiques contrôlant l’épaisseur du film.
Contact
Quentin Magdelaine
16/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
143
Theory of atom-photon and spin-photon interfaces : from cavity-QED to waveguide-QED
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
In the framework of optical quantum computing and communication, a crucial goal consists in controlling the interaction between single atoms and single photons. This led to the development of cavity-QED, where natural or artificial atoms efficiently interact with confined photons. Many demonstrations were also performed in the simplified framework of waveguide-QED, exploiting the direct coupling of atoms to photonic waveguides, fibers, and on-chip photonic circuits
Our team in C2N has developed quantum-dot-based interfaces which can be used as efficient emitters of single photons: this led to the creation of the company Quandela. A strong challenge remains: developing quantum nodes that implement quantum logic operations on incoming photons. In such context, we use our light-matter interfaces as efficient receivers (and not just emitters) of quantum light.
In recent years, we realized that a breakthrough can also be obtained on the theory side: it becomes possible to describe many complex cavity-QED phenomena with the simpler framework of waveguide-QED . This allows implementing numerical and analytical strategies which were previously out of reach.
We now want to explore the potential of this breakthrough for spin-photon interfaces. We want to describe novel spin-photon and photon-photon entanglement schemes and to develop a simulation platform that any experimentalist could use, to predict the results of complex experiments with a variety of light-matter interfaces.
Contact
Loïc Lanco
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
144
Deciphering the structural environment of transcription in situ: interplay between RNA polymerase II and chromatin structure
Domaines
Biophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Eukaryotic genomes are compacted in the nucleus as chromatin, an array of nucleosomes (~147 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer) connected by short linker DNA segments. This bead-on-string structure restricts access to DNA sequences, modulating all nuclear processes, including transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription is catalysed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Nucleosomes stand a major energy barrier to Pol II progression, which is associated to partial disassembly and displacements of the particle. Despite many structural studies in vitro, the interplay between chromatin organization and transcription is poorly understood, especially in situ where the local chromatin architecture during transcription is unknown. We have recently demonstrated the potential of cryo electron tomography (cryo-ET) to resolve nucleosome and chromatin folding in situ, unveiling their structural heterogeneity in relationship with their functional compartmentalization. We will explore how transcription couples to local chromatin organisation, assembly and disassembly in situ.
This experimental internship in the field of structural biology includes complete cryo-ET workflow from sample preparation to cryo-tomogram acquisition on high end instruments. It will also include first data analyses: tomogram reconstruction & denoising, particle picking & segmentation, sub-tomogram averaging. We dispose of a large set of preliminary data for training and test of data analysis tools.
Contact
Amélie LEFORESTIER
Laboratory : LPS - UMR8502
Team : Structure & Dynamique d'Objets Biologiques Autoassemblés
Team Website
Team : Structure & Dynamique d'Objets Biologiques Autoassemblés
Team Website
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
145
Chromatin remodelling into a crystal upon spermiogenesis
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Spermiogenesis is a radical process of cell differentiation whereby sperm cells acquire a compact and specialized morphology. In many animals, this entails dramatic chromatin remodelling: most histones are replaced by sperm-specific nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs), including protamines. In vitro, protamines, acting as multivalent cations, can organize long DNA molecules (>10kbp) into ~150 nm-wide toroids, and short DNA molecules (<200bp) into crystalline rods with hexagonal order. In situ configuration of the “protaminized” genome in mature sperm is largely unknown, as well as the structural transitions occurring from the initial histone-containing “bead-on-string” chromatin. In this internship, we propose to explore the structural transitions in cricket genome folding along spermiogenesis, focusing on how protamines organize the paternal genome in mature sperm in the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. A precise spatio-temporal dynamics of histone acetylation and the histone-to-protamine transition are critical to achieve this process. In G. bimaculatus, an emerging model organism, it occurs within cysts of synchronous spermatids.
The internship will combine cryo electron microscopy and tomography, polarization microscopy and simulations. We will follow structural transitions during spermiogenesis from the nucleosome bead-on-string chromatin expected in early cysts to the mature sperm cells where the entire genome folds as a nucleus-scale liquid crystal.
Contact
Amélie LEFORESTIER
Laboratory : LPS - UMR8502
Team : Structure & Dynamique d'Objets Biologiques Autoassemblés
Team Website
Team : Structure & Dynamique d'Objets Biologiques Autoassemblés
Team Website
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
146
Probing fundamental forces with cold atoms and nanostructures
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Fields theory/String theory
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Quantum gases
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
What happens when an atom comes close to a surface?
This apparently simple question lies at the intersection of quantum physics, nanoscience and fundamental physics. At short distances, an atom does not simply “see” a material surface: it interacts with the quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field surrounding it. These fluctuations give rise to the Casimir–Polder force, a quantum force whose behaviour in the nanometer range still raises fundamental questions. Furthermore, at short distances, deviations from known interactions could reveal new physics, such as hypothetical fifth forces predicted by several extensions of the Standard Model.
Contact
Quentin Bouton
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
147
On-chip fertilization: Making a controlled microfluidic environment to decipher fertilization mechanisms
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Fertilization is the founding event of life. Its success requires the fusion of one—and only one—sperm with an egg, as fusion of multiple sperm leads to pathological polyspermy. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms governing gamete fusion and subsequent block to polyspermy remain poorly understood. Advanced real-time imaging approaches of the gamete contact zone before and after fusion are essential to resolve the sequence of events underlying sperm–egg fusion and the establishment of the block to polyspermy. However, under physiological in vitro fertilization conditions, the large number and high motility of sperm contacting the zona pellucida (ZP), a glycoprotein envelop surrounding the egg, limit the applicability of high-resolution real-time imaging. The aim of the internship is to overcome this limitation by creating a biomimetic microfluidic environment for gametes that reproduces physiological conditions while allowing real-time imaging. The intern will make and test the first prototypes of a new microfluidic device, with which we will control the timing and location at which a sperm reaches the egg plasma membrane while immobilizing the egg to enable spatiotemporal imaging of the interaction site. The egg ZP will be removed and functionally replaced by a microfluidic valve that regulates sperm access and constrains sperm head movement. This chip will open avenue to study the gamete fusion by imaging relevant fusion protein reorganization on the gametes.
Contact
Nicolas Rodriguez
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
148
Microalgae & Surface bubbles
Domaines
Biophysics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Certaines microalgues marines toxiques peuvent être dispersées dans l’atmosphère par les embruns et provoquer des troubles respiratoires. Si leur transport par les gouttes issues de l’effondrement des bulles à la surface de l’océan a été démontré, leur éjection lors de la rupture du film des bulles reste à explorer. Ce stage expérimental vise à comprendre comment des microalgues de 10 à 50 µm peuvent être piégées dans ces films liquides, à étudier leur dynamique et leur influence sur la fragmentation du film, et à quantifier leur dispersion dans l’air. Les expériences porteront sur deux espèces, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii et Ostreopsis cf. ovata.
Contact
Juliette Pierre
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
149
Plateforme versatile pour la manipulation d’états quantiques photoniques
Domaines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Parmi toutes les plateformes actuellement étudiées pour développer un ordinateur quantique, les solutions tout-optique présentent l’avantage de pouvoir facilement déplacer l’information quantique. Cet aspect est essentiel pour permettre la scalabilité. Il existe maintenant des propositions théoriques de protocoles pour implémenter efficacement sur des états photoniques toutes les portes logiques nécessaires au calcul quantique. Ces protocoles nécessitent cependant la génération d’états quantiques complexes, et ce point est au cœur de nos activités de recherche. Nous avons déjà développé une plateforme qui nous a permis de générer des états chat de Schrödinger optiques avec un taux de génération et une amplitude à la pointe de l’état de l’art. Pour développer des protocoles plus complexes, notre objectif est d’utiliser le multiplexage temporel en stockant les impulsions dans une cavité de grande longueur (~60m), et en y prélevant les impulsions que l’on veut manipuler. L’objet de ce stage sera de participer au montage de cette cavité longue, et de caractériser son asservissement en phase, avant de tester ses performances pour la génération d’états quantiques.
Contact
Rosa TUALLE-BROURI
Laboratory : LCF - UMR 8501
Team : Optique quantique - Génération d'états non-classiques
Team Website
Team : Optique quantique - Génération d'états non-classiques
Team Website
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
150
Ultracold dysprosium atoms: a giant spin for quantum simulation and metrology
Domaines
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
M2 internship + PhD on ultracold dysprosium atoms, whose giant spin (J=8) enables quantum simulation of topological matter and quantum-enhanced sensing. The student will help build our new-generation experiment (quantum gas microscope) in the new ENS building, then study interacting spin systems.
Contact
Sylvain Nascimbene
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
151
Revealing topological helical edge states in topological insulators
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Topological Insulators (TIs) hold great promise for making novel electronic devices, thanks to the existence at their boundaries of topologically protected conduction channels. Due to strong correlation of electrons spin and momentum, backscattering is prevented leading to ballistic transport. These edge states thus constitute highway for electrons. Unfortunately, the expected topological protection has turned out to be less robust than anticipated, notably due to the existence of conduction in the bulk. This complicates the fundamental study of the edge states, and motivates the search for different Tis.
During this internship/PhD, we will explore more recently discovered topological materials that are better suited to the discovery of 1D states, because they have fewer trivial. This is the case of Bi4Br4, a second order TI with high bulk gap. The internship/PhD will involve nanofabrication and quantum transport experiments at low temperature.
Contact
Richard Deblock
15/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
152
Using Graphene to Probe Strong-Field Quantum Electrodynamics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Strong-field QED predicts spectacular effects, such as the decay of the vacuum into particle–antiparticle pairs (the Schwinger effect), but testing them requires fields of ~10¹⁸ V/m, far beyond petawatt lasers, and is not expected before the 2060s. Graphene offers a way around: its electrons behave as massless Dirac fermions moving at vF = c/300, so the Schwinger field drops from ~10¹⁸ V/m in vacuum to ~10⁶ V/m in a table-top transistor. In 2023 we achieved the first quantitative observation of the Schwinger effect in a graphene transistor at room temperature [Nature Physics 19, 830 (2023)].
This experimental internship opens QEDene, a 4-year ANR project with the objectives to (i) locate where and how the Schwinger effect nucleates inside the graphene channel transistor using scanning probes, optoelectronics and advanced device designs; (ii) test new strong-field QED predictions: photo-assisted Schwinger effect, Schwinger luminescence, and "vacuum boiling" regime where the dielectric permittivity itself is modified by the presence of a strong field.
Contact
Emmanuel Baudin
14/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
153
Machine-learning-enabled quantum friction of water: from carbon nanotubes to nanoporous disordered carbons
Domaines
Physics of liquids
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Water transport through carbon nanochannels can exhibit exceptionally
low friction, yet experiments reveal strong dependences on nanotube radius, confinement and
electronic properties. A
promising explanation is quantum nanoscale friction, where charge fluctuations in water exchange
momentum with electronic excitations in the carbon surface, possibly driven by its
dynamical response.
This Master project will extend this framework from graphene to
carbon nanotubes and realistic nanoporous carbons. Using
molecular dynamics, the student will compare non-polarizable,
metallic constant-potential and Drude-polarizable descriptions of
the carbon wall to disentangle the effects of roughness, curvature,
confinement and electronic response, establishing how confinement modifies the
coupling between water dynamics and the carbon substrate.
The approach will then be transferred to realistic templated nanoporous carbons with
controlled pore size and disorder, designed in our group in a previous thesis. Friction and
permeability will be related to structural descriptors such as pore size, curvature and defect
density, as well as to the electronic response of the carbon framework. Machine-learning
analysis of the simulation database will identify the descriptors that best predict nanofluidic
transport, providing a route toward AI-assisted design of carbon materials with optimized
water-transport properties.
Contact
Marco Saitta
14/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
154
Black holes beyond GR and their gravitational-wave signatures
Domaines
High energy physics
Relativity/Astrophysics/Cosmology
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Black holes in four-dimensional General Relativity (GR) are remarkably constrained objects. Under
suitable assumptions, stationary and isolated black holes are characterised by only a few macroscopic parameters, as established by the celebrated uniqueness and no-hair results. Their response to perturbations is governed by a spectrum of quasinormal modes (QNMs), whose frequencies and damping times encode information about the underlying spacetime and gravitational dynamics, providing a means of probing fundamental black hole properties and testing gravity. The growing availability of gravitational-wave data, together with the projected sensitivities of future observatories such as LISA and the Einstein Telescope, promises increasingly precise tests of GR and improved prospects for identifying new physics. This raises the questions: which black hole properties are robust, which change beyond GR, and which can be probed observationally?
The aim of this internship is to explore black hole solutions and their QNMs, within GR and its
extensions, focusing on the fundamental properties revealed by their perturbation spectra. Within GR, QNMs can probe questions on black hole structure and causality. Beyond GR, additional fields, modified gravitational interactions, or extra dimensions may alter black hole properties and
perturbation spectra.
Contact
Aldo Deandrea
14/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
155
A continuous cold-atom interferometer to achieve quantum noise detection limit in gravity measurements
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Context: Cold atom inertial sensors have many applications, in particular in geosciences. The operation of these sensors is based on atomic interferometry, taking advantage of superpositions between quantum states of different momentum in an atom, generated by optical transitions with two (or more) photons in order to realize accurate sensors.
The project aims at developing continuous gravity measurements using cold atom inter-ferometers in order to improve their sensitivity while maintaining their accuracy. Ultimately, this sensor must reach the detection limit, intrinsically linked to quantum projection noise. This method is very general in atomic quantum sensors and can also be applied to dif-ferent schemes of interferometer, atomic clocks...
Master thesis work: In order to realize this continuous measurement, we must use a sequence whose cycle time is twice as short as the interrogation. To achieve this regime, certain modifica-tions must be made to the existing experiment in order to simultaneously realize atomic beam splitters and mirror for three independent atomic samples with Raman transitions. Another study will focus on hybridization with a conventional sensor in order to suited to continuous operation. Major modifications in the preparation of the input quantum state and in the detection schemes must also be study and setup in order to ensure that the light emitted by the atoms dur-ing these stages does not disturb the atoms inside the interferometer.
Contact
Arnaud Landragin
14/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
156
Effets mémoire dans les solides désordonnés : Étude expérimentale sur des matériaux polymères.
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Dans les systèmes désordonnés, l’état du matériau et sa réponse aux sollicitations dépend de façon cruciale et fortement non évidente de l’histoire du système. Sur des matériaux aussi divers que des amorphes vitreux comme les verres ou les polymères, des gels, du papier froissé ou des textiles, on retrouve cette capacité du matériau à garder en mémoire, au moins un certain temps, l’histoire des contraintes mécaniques, thermiques, chimiques... qu’il a subi.
Nous nous intéressons plus particulièrement à la façon d’écrire, de lire et d’effacer cette mémoire des matériaux désordonnés. Est-ce que la mémoire va s’écrire de façon globale ou localisée dans le matériau ? Comment cette mémoire affecte-t-elle la dynamique du matériau et sur quelles échelles de temps? Le sujet est ouvert selon les centres d’intérêt de la candidate ou du candidat et même s’il est conçu comme essentiellement expérimental, une contribution aux modèles et questions théoriques est envisagée puisque la thèse sera co-dirigée par Caroline Crauste-Thibierge, expérimentatrice au LPENSL (Lyon) et Damien Vandembroucq, théoricien au PMMH (Paris).
Nous recherchons des étudiantes et étudiants curieux, aimant le travail expérimental et prêts à se passionner avec nous pour ces sujets. Nous avons pour objectif d’offrir un cadre et des conditions de
travail permettant une recherche structurée, dynamique et enthousiaste où chaque personne est force de proposition et de discussion dans l’équipe.
Contact
Caroline Crauste-Thibierge
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
14/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
157
Mise en place d'un potentiel dipolaire sur une expérience de puce atomique
Domaines
Low dimension physics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
L'expérience de puce atomique du Laboratoire Charles Fabry utilise des atomes de Rubidium confinés dans des pièges magnétiques réalisé par des microfils déposés sur un substrat, la puce atomique. Les gradients de champ élevés obtenus en s'approchant d'un microns d'un fil, permettent de réaliser un confinement transverse suffisant pour geler les degrés de liberté transverses. Le gaz guidé le long du fil est alors décrit par la physique unidimensionnelle. Cela nous a permis de réaliser de nombreuses études sur la physique des gaz uni-dimensionnelle.
Pour étudier la dynamique à temps long, un confinement longitudinal est nécessaire. Jusqu'à présent nous réalisions ce confinement en utilisant des champs magnétiques réalisés par des fils déposés sur la puce atomique. Cependant, les potentiels réalisables par cette technique ne peuvent pas varier sur des échelles suffisamment petites et ne sont pas configurables à volonté. Pour dépasser ces limitations, nous proposons de mettre en place sur notre expérience un confinement longitudinal optique des atomes en utilisant le potentiel dipolaire généré par un laser très désaccordé.
Lors de ce stage de master 2, l'étudiant.e mettra en place le système optique pour réaliser le confinement longitudinal des atomes.
Contact
Isabelle Bouchoule
14/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
158
Nuclear mechanics and cancer cell invasion
Domaines
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Contact
Sylvie Hénon
14/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
159
Transport, extraction and thermalization of hot carriers
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Quantum Machines
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When high energy photons are absorbed in a material, carriers are photo-generated with a large of kinetic energy above the band edge. In some well-tailored devices, it is possible to slow down carrier relaxation such that carriers form a “hot” distribution that may offer a pathway to very high efficiency of solar energy conversion. Two positions are available . The internships will have experimental and theoretical sides, and will be carried out in the framework of the ERC ULTIMATEPV.
Contact
Jean François Guillemoles
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
160
Experimental and numerical investigation of electromagnetic helicity in coupled dielectric scatterers.
Domaines
Condensed matter
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
How can we control the handedness of electromagnetic waves propagating through complex media? The broader project in which this internship proposal is embedded addresses this question by investigating how interactions between dielectric scatterers can preserve or modify electromagnetic helicity.
The internship will combine microwave experiments and numerical modeling. Using a set of dielectric spheres available in our laboratory, the student will first characterize their electromagnetic response and develop an experimental protocol to measure helicity. This will require reconstructing the relevant electric and magnetic field components, including their relative phases, using microwave antennas. The protocol will then be tested on isolated spheres and configurations of two or a few coupled spheres to investigate how collective interactions affect helicity conversion.
In parallel, the student will develop or use numerical models based on coupled electric and magnetic dipoles, and compare theoretical predictions with experimental measurements.
A one-month research stay with our Brazilian partner is envisaged, offering the opportunity to learn complementary theoretical and computational techniques.
This internship provides hands-on experience in experimental physics, scientific programming and electromagnetic wave physics, while contributing to the development of new experimental methods for studying wave transport in complex media.
Contact
Fabrice MORTESSAGNE
Laboratory : INPHYNI (Institut de Physique de Nice) - UMR 7010
Team : Waves in Complex Systems
Team Website
Team : Waves in Complex Systems
Team Website
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
161
Stochastic Modeling of Plant Root Hair Growth
Domaines
Biophysics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This internship focuses on stochastic modeling of plant root hair growth, exploring the mechanochemical couplings between turgor pressure, cell wall rheology, and biochemical remodeling. The project aims to understand how plant cells maintain cell wall integrity under mechanical stress and stochastic secretion, producing oscillatory growth patterns. The intern will develop and analyze stochastic differential equation models, perform numerical simulations, and validate predictions against experimental data. Collaboration with INRAE (Versailles) ensures alignment with biological observations, offering a unique interdisciplinary experience at the intersection of theoretical physics and biophysics.
Contact
Antoine Fruleux
Laboratory : LPTMS - UMR 8626
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
162
Test of quantum electrodynamics in strong Coulomb fields
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Fields theory/String theory
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship will be centred on the preparation of a new experiment on high-accuracy x-ray spectroscopy for testing quantum electrodynamics in strong Coulomb fields of highly charged ions using crystal spectrometers and transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters.
Contact
Martino Trassinelli
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
163
Machine learning-assisted study of nuclear quantum effects in 2D noble gas clusters
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The proposed thesis focuses on the implementation of the nested sampling method, a machine learning method issued from Bayesian statistics, for exploring complex potential energy landscapes of condensed matter systems that include nuclear quantum effects. As a benchmark test system, Lennard-Jones clusters in 2D will be considered. The theoretical findings will directly be compared to the recent experimental measurements of noble gas clusters confined in a graphene sandwich. The nuclear quantum effects are evaluated using the Feynman path integral formalism
Contact
Martino Trassinelli
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
164
A window to new physics through Higgs boson measurements with the CMS experiment at the LHC
Domaines
High energy physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The goal of this project is to derive constraints on specific models of physics beyond the standard model, using Higgs boson measurements performed by the CMS experiment at the LHC
Contact
Adinda De Wit
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
165
Théorie quantique des champs et anomalies
Domaines
Condensed matter
High energy physics
Relativity/Astrophysics/Cosmology
Fields theory/String theory
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Contact
Jérémie Quevillon
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
166
Accélération de simulations numériques des fluides astrophysiques par apprentissage statistique
Domaines
Relativity/Astrophysics/Cosmology
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Les simulations numériques fluides sont centrales pour comprendre la physique des disques protoplanétaires, berceau des planètes. Un défi est de prendre en compte de manière cohérente les multiples échelles de taille en jeu pour former des planètes, ce qui nécessite des résolutions spatiales très importantes. Une solution est de résoudre les équations physiques aux grandes échelles et de corriger les erreurs dues à l'absence des petites échelles par des méthodes d'intelligence artificielle.
L'objectif du stage est de développer une approche de correction fondée uniquement sur les données d’entrainement, sans utiliser le code de résolution durant l'apprentissage. La première étape consistera à construire une base d'apprentissage à partir de simulations de référence qu'on pourra enrichir par les méthodes d'augmentation, en exploitant les symétries de l'écoulement. Pour chaque état, on calculera l'erreur du solveur physique. Le problème se ramène ainsi à une régression supervisée. Cela ouvrira vers des architectures plus récentes, tels que les réseaux de neurones récurrents.
Contact
Heloise Meheut
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
167
Turbulence in planet forming disks
Domaines
Relativity/Astrophysics/Cosmology
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Turbulence is playing a key role in planet forming disks. It modifies the dust drift toward the star, the grains relative velocity and therefore their possible growth, turbulence can also form dust clump that may gravitationally collapse and transport angular momentum through the disk. Understanding the properties of the turbulent state in protoplanetary disk is therefore a major effort for the understanding of planet formation.
However the complex physical context of planet formation render the study of turbulence in these disks highly non trivial. The Keplerian shear tend to remove energy from the turbulent state, whereas rotation is known to ellongate vertically the turbulent eddies. We have already studied particle dynamics in incompressible keplerian turbulence and identified new mecanisms participating to planetesimal formation.
The aim of this intership is to provide a first caracterisation of the properties of turbulence in a Keplerain flow when a weak compressibility is considered. The student will run and analyse the results of numerical simulations of forced turbulence in a Keplerian flow. The student will developp a physical understanding of process involved in the turbulent cascade of such astrophysical flows.
Contact
Heloise Meheut
13/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
168
Frustrated self-assembly with multiple particle types
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Self-organization is key to the function of living cells -- but sometimes goes wrong! In Alzheimer's and many other diseases, normally soluble proteins thus clump up into pathological fiber-like aggregates. While biologists typically explain this on the grounds of detailed molecular interactions, we have started proving that such fibers are actually expected from very general physical principles. We thus show that geometrical frustration builds up when mismatched objects self-assemble, and leads to non-trivial aggregate morphologies, including fibers.
Contact
Martin Lenz
Laboratory : LPTMS - UMR 8626
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
169
Electrical networks dynamics via a quantum analogy
Domaines
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The goal of this project is to build on the analogy between the electrical grid linearized equations and a Schrödinger like equation, opening the way to use numerical techniques designed for quantum systems in the physics of powergrids.
As an application, we wish to study non-adiabaticity effects in the forcing of the network and control strategies.
Contact
Guillaume Roux
Laboratory : LPTMS - UMR 8626
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
Team : Disordered systems, soft matter, interface physics
Team Website
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
170
Electric field measurements by second harmonic generation of laser light for aerospace applications (E-FISH)
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Accurate knowledge of the electric field in the vicinity of electrically polarized systems is essential for understanding and modeling the plasma phenomena that may develop in their surroundings. Conventional measurement techniques, however, often rely on probes or electrodes that can significantly disturb the local electric-field distribution. A reliable characterization therefore requires a non-intrusive measurement technique capable of probing the field without altering it. Such a technique would be of particular interest for several aerospace applications. One example is the characterization of electric fields in plasmas used for combustion stabilization in aeronautical combustors or for the development of plasma actuators. Another is the measurement of the electric field around an aircraft or other aerospace structure exposed to the atmospheric electric field, with the aim of assessing its susceptibility to lightning attachment. The project will begin with the implementation of an EFISH measurement system in the laboratory. This setup will be used to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of the current state of the art. Building on this assessment, the candidate will design and implement improvements to the system, with two main objectives: improving the spatial resolution of the electric-field measurements and extending the measurement range.
Contact
Svetlana Starikovskaia
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
171
Plasma Shchelkin sPiral: Initiation of DEtonation by nanosecond dischaRge (SPIDER)
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Plasma Shchelkin sPiral: Initiation of DEtonation by nanosecond dischaRge (SPIDER)
How do detonation waves arise? Can they be suppressed when they are dangerous - or harnessed when they are useful? From next-generation Pulsed and Rotating Detonation Engines to catastrophic explosions and even supernovae, detonation physics spans engineering, safety and astrophysics. The challenge is fundamental: what triggers a detonation, how does it become self-sustained, and, the most important, how can we control it? In this M2/PhD, a new approach is suggested to be explored: using pulsed nonequilibrium plasma to control the initiation and propagation of detonation waves. The PhD project is experimental and will be carried out at two sites: plasma physics and laser diagnostics in Paris, and detonation experiments in Poitiers. Particular attention will be paid to the link between plasma-induced chemical reactivity and detonation cell size, as well as to the role of the Zeldovich gradient mechanism in the transition from deflagration to detonation. Advanced laser techniques as TALIF, E-FISH, Thomson scattering will be used to control plasma parameters. Close collaboration with CERFACS will provide, on the basis of complex 2D and 3D-numerical modeling, an access to parametric study and better understanding of conditions of the experiments.
Contact
Svetlana Starikovskaia
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
172
Aggregation and fracture in cohesive granular rafts
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Contact
Suzie PROTIERE
Laboratory : Institut d'Alembert -
Team : Fluides Complexes et Instabilités Hydrodynamiques
Team Website
Team : Fluides Complexes et Instabilités Hydrodynamiques
Team Website
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
173
The Operator Product in Topological Symmetric Orbifolds
Domaines
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
We will attempt to prove that the product of a subset of operators in a supersymmetric symmetric orbifold multiplies as do the operators in a second quantized Frobenius algebra. The background will require the study of conformal field theories in two dimensions, topologically twisting, topological quantum field theory and orbifold conformal field theories.
Contact
Jan Troost
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
174
Advanced molecular dynamics simulations of protein - cyclic peptide complexes
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Peptides have attracted increasing attention over the past decade as a viable alternative to small molecules for developing drug molecules. For this internship, we propose to simulate the association and dissociation of protein – cyclic peptide complexes using advanced molecular dynamics simulations: the metadynamics approach using collective variables to accelerate the process of association and dissociation. The Parrinello group developed recently an improved metadynamics method, named “On-the-fly Probability Enhanced Sampling” (OPES) (Invernizzi and Parrinello, 2022), reducing the convergence times for suboptimal collective variables.
Building on that, the Gervasio group combined OPES with REMD into “OneOPES” (https://github.com/valeriorizzi/OneOPES_tutorial/) to further reduce convergence times. They applied OneOPES to predict with a high accuracy the free energy of binding of protein – ligand complexes (Karrenbrock et al., 2024).
Recently, we already adapted the OneOPES method to protein – cyclic peptide complexes with promising results. With the current internship project we would like improve our protocol to account better for the conformational flexibility of cyclic peptides. The improved protocol will be applied a set of protein – cyclic peptide complexes for which the experimental free energy of binding is already known. The goal is to explore the association and dissociation mechanisms, as well as to predict the free energy of binding.
Contact
Dirk Stratmann
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
175
Impact of solvent imbibition on architected structure mechanics
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
In the context of sustainable construction, there is growing interest in developing new, more environmentally-friendly composite building materials, particularly bio-based and geo-sourced materials. However, such materials are often porous and hygroscopic. Interactions with water can alter their mechanical properties, which leads to a major challenge for their use in construction. It is therefore essential to investigate and understand the underlying mechanisms of mechanical behavior of porous hygroscopic materials, while also developing innovative model materials with a controlled mechanical response.
This project aims to develop architected and functional structures for sustainable construction, made from soft materials that are saturated with solvent and responsive to physicochemical stimuli. On the one hand, this requires investigating how a soft, architected structure made from a material with a strong affinity for the surrounding solvent interacts with solvent flow. On the other hand, the influence of solvent uptake by the constituent material on the overall mechanical behavior of the structure must be investigated.
The internship work starts by building an experimental setup to investigate the mechanical response of macroscopic auxetic structures made of gelatin and immersed in a water bath.
Contact
Caroline Kopecz-Muller
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
176
Condensats biomoléculaires entretenus par activités enzymatiques antagonistes
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Stage sur la dynamique des condensats biomoléculaires : Ce projet explore les organites sans membrane (condensats), clés dans des fonctions cellulaires comme le métabolisme ou la réponse aux stimuli, et impliqués dans des pathologies. Leur formation, décrite comme une séparation de phases hors équilibre, présente des comportements physiques contre-intuitifs. En utilisant des peptides courts et de l’ARN polyuridine, il est possible de reconstituer in vitro des condensats proches des corps intracellulaires natifs, avec une régulation dynamique via la phosphorylation (kinase/phosphatase). Le stage consistera à étudier leur dynamique en exploitant un dispositif fluidique imprimé en 3D couplé à un microscope confocal, et à interpréter les données via des simulations numériques de séparation de phase active, révélant ainsi leurs propriétés liquides dans des conditions proches du cytoplasme.
Contact
Guillaume Tresset
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
177
Décrypter l’assemblage du virus de l’hépatite B par l’apprentissage automatique
Domaines
Biophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Stage en modélisation physique et IA pour décrypter l’assemblage du virus de l’hépatite B : Ce stage vise à élucider comment des antiviraux perturbent l’auto-assemblage du VHB, un virus touchant 300 millions de personnes. Intégré à un consortium international, vous exploiterez des données de diffusion des rayons X (synchrotron SOLEIL) pour analyser la structure nanométrique du virus. Vos missions : construire une base de données de particules via un code Monte Carlo, entraîner un algorithme (régression ou réseau de neurones récursifs) pour reconstruire des morphologies à partir d’un modèle Fokker-Planck, et tester ce modèle sur des données récentes afin d’interpréter les mécanismes régulés par les antiviraux. Profil recherché : appétence pour la modélisation physique, maîtrise de Python, et curiosité pour les applications biomédicales de l’IA.
Contact
Guillaume Tresset
12/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
178
Stochastic resetting of velocities in Heavy Ball minimisation methods
Domaines
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This internship aims at computing analytically the rate of convergence of the Heavy Ball method for quadratic and convex functions in the presence of stochastic resetting and possibly stochastic gradients. This analysis will show whether an optimal resetting rate may be chosen with minimal to no prior knowledge of the minimized function F. Lastly the dynamics of the Heavy Ball method with stochastic resetting will be characterised for functions F with rugged landscapes inspired by the potential energy of dense and disordered systems.
Contact
Yann-Edwin Keta
11/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
179
Photon-Correlation Spectroscopy of Quantum Cutting Perovskite Nanocrystals
Domaines
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Quantum cutting (QC) converts one absorbed high-energy photon into two lower-energy emissive excitations. Yb-doped halide-perovskite nanocrystals are particularly promising because the semiconductor host provides strong UV-visible absorption, while Yb^3+ emits near 980 nm, within the absorption range of silicon. Absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) above 100% have been reported for Yb:CsPb(Cl,Br)3 nanocrystals. However, these results remain difficult to reproduce, and the microscopic processes responsible for photon multiplication are still debated.
State of the art: PLQY measures the average number of emitted photons per absorbed photon but does not establish whether two photons originate from the same absorption event. QC should instead produce temporally correlated photon pairs from Yb emission, leading to photon bunching, a peak in the second-order correlation function g(2)(𝜏), whereas conventional one-to-one downshifting ideally produces Poissonian photon statistics. Correlation measurements therefore provide an orthogonal observable to PLQY.
Project: The student will establish and validate a near-infrared photon-correlation experiment. Hyperspectral PLQY imaging will provide spatially and spectrally resolved absolute PLQY maps. Joint interpretations will assess whether the observed Yb emission arises from photon multiplication or conventional one-to-one sensitisation.
Contact
Zhuoying CHEN
11/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
180
Towards a global model of cell size control in the rod shape bacteria E. coli
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Bacterial size is tightly controlled to ensure that the genetic material is well distributed among the two daughter cells. Many models (adder, sizer, timer) have been put forward to explain the homeostasis of bacterial cell size. However, recent experiments performed in the lab tend to challenge these models. The work, we propose, aims at collecting data in a large range of experimental conditions to build a model that would be robust to variations in culture conditions. The student will perform timelapse videomicroscopy on single cells and develop image analysis to track bacterial divisions on agar pads. In addition to varying environmental conditions, we also propose to study cell size control not only in the canonical exponential phase of the culture growth, but also at the entry in stationary phase and in the lag phase, where bacterial cell size is not at steady state.
Contact
Nicolas Desprat
10/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
181
Mutlimode control and fundamental limits in ultra-sensitive optomechanical measurement.
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Optomechanics investigates the interactions between mechanical and electromagnetic degrees of freedom. Over the past 3 decades, this approach has imposed as paradigmatic for the experimental study of fundamental processes in motion continuous measurement, and preparing non-classical motional states of macroscopic mechanical bodies. Currently, the main hurdle for pushing deep in the quantum regime essentially stems from decoherence due to an infinite cohort of optical and mechanical modes, which 'leak' noises into the optomechanical mode of interest.
The overall context of this experimental internship is to address this fundamental issue. The idea is to deploy a novel approach, based on the measurement of the full matrix capturing the optomechanically-induced interactions between all mechanical and optical modes. Using information theory, we expect to gain full control over the multimode properties of the optomechanical system, and in particular to deeply suppress off-resonant coupling contributions by, that is the main contribution to decoherence, by tuning the illumination using wavefront shaping. The project will be based on early results already obtained in our group and will be conducted in the frame of an ANR collaboration.
Contact
Pierre Verlot
10/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
182
Precision laser spectroscopy of ThO molecules for testing fundamental symmetries
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Measurements of electric dipole moment (EDM) of fundamental particles place the most stringent constrains on time-reversal violating new physics beyond Standard Model. Precision spectroscopy on cold 232ThO neutral molecules provides one of the best bounds on electron electric dipole moment. In addition, 227,229ThO neutral molecules provides excellent opportunity to search for nuclear Schiff moment. In this project, the student will be developing the laser and optics system for performing precision spectroscopy measurement on cold ThO molecules. The project will also involve development of the vacuum beamline and cryogenic system necessary to produce the ThO molecules.
Registration is mandatory on the following website: https://indico.frib.msu.edu/event/87/
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
183
Centrifuge decelerator of radioactive molecules & atoms for fundamental symmetry tests
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Precision metrology on atoms and molecules benefits tremendously when the particles are prepared in the ultracold regime. This enables control and detection of atoms or molecules at the single-quantum-state level. In this project, we are developing a unique method to decelerate radioactive atoms and molecules to a standstill by centrifugal force. A spinning magnetic guide will be used to guide neutral atomic/molecular species from the periphery to the center of the rotating frame, and an electromagnetic trap will be used to collect the decelerated particles after they exit the centrifuge decelerator. This work will open the avenue to precision spectroscopy of superheavy species like Radium or Thorium containing molecules, as well as light species like Tritium atoms.
Registration is mandatory on the following website: https://indico.frib.msu.edu/event/87/
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
184
Integrate AI-control with a laser platform for quantum sensing experiment
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Quantum metrology has become increasingly precise in probing fundamental laws of physics, especially with the recent experimental breakthroughs that transform atoms and molecules into quantum sensors. However, for decades it has remained a formidable challenge to protect such quantum sensors against environmental noise, system drift, and imperfections in the experimental control. In this project, we aim to integrate physics-informed learning and reinforcement learning into a closed-loop and autonomous control of a laser platform, which will be used in our quantum metrology experiment.
Registration is mandatory on the following website: https://indico.frib.msu.edu/event/87/
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
185
Charge Exchange Reactions with the Nuclear Shell Model
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The equation of state (EoS) of dense matter governs the structure, composition, and stability of neutron stars. Among the least understood terms of the nuclear EoS is the isovector dependence of the symmetry energy. Charge exchange reactions, which occur when a proton collides with a target nucleus, gets absorbed, and emits a neutron, are important for constraining this dependence. Within a recently developed framework, such reactions can be directly computed from microscopic many-body predictions, treating both structure and reactions on equal footing.
In this project, the student will analyze isotopic chains of both Mg and Ca. They will generate, using the microscopic shell models, all relevant spectroscopic amplitudes up to a few MeV above the proton threshold. This includes all compound, compound-minus-neutron, and compound-minus-proton amplitudes. They will extend the formalism, improving the single-particle description of the resonant parameters to proton states. They will combine the single-particle and many-body contributions within the microscopic S-matrix framework to extract cross sections and compare with experiment when available, as well as make predictions where no data exists. The latter can act as a motivation for future experiments.
Registration is mandatory on the following website: https://indico.frib.msu.edu/event/87/
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
186
Surrogate models for linear response in finite nuclei
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The collective excitation of nuclear systems close to their ground-state is very well described with the linear response theory, which is a well-established method in physics and chemistry. In particular, the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) provides a powerful microscopic framework by building excitations on top of the mean-field vacuum; however, its high computational cost limits model calibration and uncertainty quantification studies. We have explored two complementary QRPA surrogate models and applied them to study response functions of finite nuclei. One is a reduced-order model that exploits the underlying QRPA structure, while the other utilizes the recently developed parametric matrix model algorithm to construct a map between the system's Hamiltonian and observables. Both emulators can achieve 0.1\%--1\% accuracy while offering a six to seven orders of magnitude speedup compared to state-of-the-art QRPA solvers. The QRPA emulators are well-positioned to enable Bayesian calibration and large-scale studies of computationally expensive physics models describing the properties of many-body systems.
The internship consists in learning this new technic and in applying it to the understanding of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance.
Registration is mandatory on the following website: https://indico.frib.msu.edu/event/87/
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
187
Heavy Ion Collisions from nuclear physics to astrophysics
Domaines
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
We are a group specializing in the dense nuclear matter theorized to compose neutron stars and created in laboratories by colliding two heavy nuclei. The project aims to understand how pressure builds under these extreme conditions, with densities beyond those found in atomic nuclei, by providing a theoretical description of data from both terrestrial experiments and various astronomical observations.
To that end, light nuclear fragments are important constituents of dense matter that require refined modeling. Potentially formed at the late stages of heavy-ion reactions or found in the crusts of neutron stars, they impact our ability to infer the correct behaviour of the pressure.
By treating clustering in a heavy-ion collision, you will have the opportunity to advance the field by applying expertise in theoretical physics, data-driven modeling, software engineering and scientific computing, while collaborating with the research communities at Subatech, France, and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, USA.
Contact
Jérôme Margueron
Laboratory : IRL-NPA - IRL2024
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
Team : International Research Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics
Team Website
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
188
Atom-Tweezer Arrays in an Optical Microcavity for Quantum Technologies
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum optics
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This project explores a new experimental platform combining single-atom control with cavity-mediated long-range interactions. At LKB, we have recently demonstrated arrays of individually trapped atoms strongly coupled to a high-finesse optical microcavity, with single-atom-resolved detection. The experiment now opens exciting perspectives for quantum simulation of spin transport under tunable disorder and dissipation, as well as for quantum-enhanced metrology. Depending on the progress of the experiment, the internship will focus on experimental developments such as optical beam shaping or laser stabilization. The student will gain hands-on experience in optics, lasers, cold atoms and cavity QED, with the possibility of continuing toward a PhD exploring these new research directions.
Contact
Romain Long
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
189
Coherent and incoherent spin manipulations in a degenerate Fermi gas
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Ultracold atoms offer a platform to explore quantum collective effects. We perform experiments with degenerate Fermi gases of strontium 87 atoms – an exotic fermionic system, with a spin-9/2 degree of freedom. This is both an opportunity to explore novel many-body effects (for example, magnetic phenomena), and a “technological” opportunity to use quantum objects with a large internal Hilbert space, as a resource for quantum simulation, computation, or sensing.
We have developed original methods to manipulate and measure the atomic spins, that rely on the narrow forbidden lines of atomic strontium. We want now to demonstrate the production of quantum correlated states, by engineering either Hamiltonian or dissipative terms acting on the atoms, and explore the way towards their use in other quantum technologies (e.g., optical clocks). The dissipative control, in particular, illustrate the groundbreaking idea that couplings to an environment, typically destroying the manifestations of quantum physics, will in specific cases actually produce and stabilize quantum states with many-body correlations.
This work will be realized on an ultracold atom platform in operating conditions. The master’s internship will consist in developing a laser system enabling independent coherent and incoherent spin manipulations. It will be an opportunity to discover the quantum gas platform as a whole, possibly as a preparatory step for longer-term integration in the team.
Contact
Martin Robert de Saint Vincent
09/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
190
Conformal field theory approach to low-dimensional statistical models
Domaines
Statistical physics
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Low dimension physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
During the stage the student will learn basic notions of Renormalization group approach based on perturbed Conformal field theory.
The goal is to study the critical point of disordered and long range Potts model to unveil new way to implement conformal invariance at quantum level
Contact
Raoul Santachiara
08/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
191
Probing quantum coherence in artificial atoms with relativistic electrons
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Can a fast electron probe the quantum coherence of an artificial atom? Quantum coherence is central to quantum physics and underpins quantum information processing. Measuring it in individual systems such as quantum dots with nanometer spatial resolution would open new possibilities for exploring light–matter interactions and developing approaches to quantum-state readout.
We now seek to cross a new frontier in quantum science and technology: accessing the quantum coherence of an individual artificial atom with a relativistic electron. The central question is whether, and how, this coherence can be encoded in the electron’s state and experimentally read out.
This M2 internship, with the prospect of continuing into a PhD, will contribute to this effort within the ERC Advanced Grant FreeQCC. The project combines a state-of-the-art monochromated transmission electron microscope, a laser system, and engineered samples designed to enhance electron–light–matter interactions. During the internship, the student will help develop the optical setup, participate in experiments, and analyze the resulting data.
We seek a curious and motivated student interested in quantum physics, nano-optics, and experimental research. The project offers the opportunity to explore an emerging research frontier with implications for both fundamental physics and future quantum technologies, through a combination of advanced instrumentation, experiments, and theory.
Contact
Mathieu Kociak
07/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
192
Variational Phase-Space Methods for Quantum and Complex Dynamics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum Machines
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This theoretical physics internship will explore new variational phase-space methods for understanding quantum and complex dynamics beyond the reach of exact numerical simulations.
The starting point is our recent work published in Physical Review X (2026), which combines multi-Gaussian representations of the Wigner distribution, variational principles and automatic differentiation. The Wigner distribution represents quantum states in phase space, capturing correlations and quantum interference. Our approach turns their dynamics into the evolution of a compact set of parameters, opening new possibilities for studying large interacting systems.
The project will investigate how these ideas can be extended and applied across a broad range of problems: open and driven quantum systems, quantum many-body dynamics, nonlinear light-matter interactions, and potentially nonlinear, stochastic and classical complex systems.
The research direction will be adapted to the student's interests, combining analytical developments with numerical simulations.
Supervisor: Prof. Cristiano Ciuti, MPQ, Université Paris Cité / CNRS.
Contact: cristiano.ciuti@u-pariscite.fr
Contact
Cristiano Ciuti
07/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
193
Magneto-Ionic Nanodevices for Neuromorphic Computing
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Scientific project: Controlling magnetic properties through voltage-driven ionic motion opens exciting opportunities for next-generation spintronic technologies, including reconfigurable multistate memories and neuromorphic hardware. By combining ionic and magnetic degrees of freedom, magneto-ionic nanodevices offer new ways to emulate the adaptive behavior of biological synapses. Our group at C2N has demonstrated large, reversible, and non-volatile voltage-induced changes in the magnetic properties of spintronic nanodevices, as well as their potential to realize bioinspired synaptic functionalities.
We are seeking a highly motivated master’s student to join our team for an experimental research project at the interface of magnetism, ionics, and neuromorphic computing. The project will investigate how magneto-ionic gating can control the dynamics of magnetic domain walls driven by current pulses in nanodevices. By exploring the interplay between ionics and spintronics, the student will develop and characterize new device functionalities for artificial synapses. The ultimate ambition is to combine an ensemble of devices to evaluate its performance for given learning tasks.
The student will benefit from our team’s complementary expertise in magneto-ionics, neuromorphic computing architectures, and nanofabrication, while gaining hands-on experience in state of the art experimental research.
Contact
Liza Herrera Diez
07/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
194
Active MetaMachines
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When humans learned to weave, they created an early form of mechanical metamaterial: a repeating arrangement of threads whose architecture shapes how the fabric deforms. What if the elementary units could themselves generate motion?
This idea motivates active metamachines: assemblies in which each building block is a miniature machine. Through interactions with their neighbours, these units can coordinate their dynamics, opening a route to structures that deform or move coherently without programming every individual component. Our recent experiments have demonstrated how thousands of microscopic rotary motors spontaneously develop coherent collective dynamics in planar arrays.
This experimental project will build on these results to create autonomous metamachines whose units are arranged and coupled in three dimensions. Combining 3D nanoprinting with techniques for powering colloidal matter, we will fabricate networks of interacting microscopic machines and investigate their collective dynamics. We aim to understand how their architecture controls synchronization, and whether local interactions can generate coordinated deformation or locomotion of the whole structure.
The work will combine 3D printing and microfludiic experiments with statistical data analysis to connect the motion of individual units to the dynamics of the assembly. Depending on your interests and skills, it can also include theoretical modelling and numerical simulations.
Contact
Denis Bartolo
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
195
Fish Schools as Active-Matter droplets
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When we watch a school of fish from above, we do not see thousands of individual trajectories or a complex network of interactions. We see a cohesive body whose boundary continuously ripples and deforms. These dynamics raise a simple question: could the fluctuating shapes of animal groups reveal the laws governing their collective motion?
This project aims to turn the shape fluctuations of wild fish schools into a quantitative probe of collective dynamics. Combining aerial drone observations with statistical data analysis, we will investigate how boundary deformations emerge, propagate and decay. Recordings of different species in the Caribbean, the Atlantic and Indian oceans will allow us to test whether these fluctuations follow common physical laws across contrasting environments.
To explain these observations, we will combine simulations of interacting fish with hydrodynamic theory. In particular, we will investigate whether milling schools, in which fish circulate around a common centre, can be described as droplets of active fluids. We will then test whether the parameters governing collective motion can be inferred from boundary fluctuations alone, without tracking every fish.
Your internship will focus on a specific part of this program, with the possibility of continuing into a PhD. Depending on your interests and skills, your work can combine data analysis, numerical simulations and theoretical modelling, with opportunities to contribute to field observations.
Contact
Denis Bartolo
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
196
Crowds as Active Matter
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Watch a dense crowd from a balcony and you see a single body: an active material that deforms and flows as thousands of people move together. Our field measurements in Pamplona, Spain, have revealed spontaneous collective oscillations involving hundreds of people [1]. Combining these observations with theory, we have explained how such oscillations emerge. We now want to understand how this material responds when it is pushed.
How does a local push travel through a crowd? Under what conditions can it trigger a crowd surge? When does the crowd recover, and when does it fracture, leaving lasting breaks in its network of neighbours? Answering these questions requires connecting the crowd’s structure and motion to its mechanical response.
The project will combine quantitative analysis of existing data with new field measurements at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona. Planned measurements will track both the dynamics of the crowds and of their. boundaries. Through a combination fo data lysis and modelling, we aim to identify the continuum laws governing how dense crowds transmit disturbances and fracture.
Depending on your interests and skills, your PhD internship will focus on quantitative data analysis, theoretical modelling or numerical simulations, with opportunities to contribute to field observations.
[1] Emergence of collective oscillations in massive human crowds
F. Gu, B. Guiselin, N. Bain, I. Zuriguel, and D. Bartolo, Nature 638 112 (2025)
Contact
Denis Bartolo
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
197
Statistical physics of life-like chemical systems
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
How can life-like properties emerge from simple physico-chemical processes? We have shown that, in a chemical reaction network with many stable states, diffusion and noise cause these states to spread, diversify and compete for space. They can therefore undergo evolution by natural selection and adapt to changing environments. The internship will use statistical physics to explore whether this mechanism can give rise to other hallmarks of life, such as computation, cell-like organization or morphogenesis.
Contact
Olivier Rivoire
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
198
Probing the cosmic dawn with a quantum correlator
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The constant pace of discoveries of new radio sources in the Universe calls for new receivers
which would be faster, more sensitive and less subject to parasitic signals. An outstanding
problem which could benefit from new detection schemes is, for example, the accurate measurement of the 21-cm, strongly red-shifted, cosmological signal, in the low 100 MHz range. Many pioneering experiments have been carried out, such as EDGES, REACH, NENUFAR or SARAS, but the cosmological signal has been elusive so far.
The main idea to be developed in this project is to use quantum technologies, and in particular multicavity setups with granular aluminum Josephson circuits in order to develop a quantum correlator which could unlock very feeble cosmological signals connected to deep questions about the early universe or fast bursts entailing ununderstood astrophysical processes. We have recently shown that we could have a clear advantage of a cavity quantum electrodynamics setup over a classical receiver chain for the very low redshifted 21-cm signal from benchmark constellations such as the Cygnus or Cassiopea. We would like to test the same ideas on a quantum correlator first on pulsars or galactic masers as a benchmark before going to the very high redshifted signals.
Contact
Takis Kontos
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
199
Multiscale computational investigation of PAR-seeded condensates in DNA damage response
Domaines
Biophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
We propose in this M2 project to setup a multiscale simulation methodology to obtain a molecular understanding of the formation and properties of PAR-triggered condensates. The project will focus on the interaction between PAR and the FUS protein. Starting from coarse grain simulations of PAR-FUS condensates, our goal will be to setup and validate a protocol for all-atom MD simulations of these systems that will allow us to reveal the molecular level structure of these condensates and illuminate the factors modulating their properties. We will pay specific attention to 1) the choice of refined force fields (including benchmark of machine-learning potentials) to characterize PAR-FUS interactions in dilute solutions; 2) the setup of an adequate enhanced strategy techniques to sample such disordered systems ; 3) validation against experimental data obtained by our collaborators.
Contact
Elise Duboué-Dijon
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
200
Information flow and polymer physics of gene activity
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This project tackles the fundamental challenge of bridging the diverse temporal and spatial scales of biological development. From the nanoscale molecular interactions that occur in seconds to the formation of millimeter-to-meter-scale tissues over days, nature's complexity is staggering. This project seeks to unveil how information flows from molecular transcription factors to orchestrate tissue formation. This project employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining experimental techniques (quantitative microscopy) with theoretical modeling (polymer and statistical physics). It aims to decode the mechanisms governing the interplay between cellular regulation and tissue development. This research has broad implications for biophysics, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine.
Contact
Thomas Gregor
06/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
201
Automated Computational Tools in High Energy Physics
Domaines
High energy physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
High-Energy Physics explores the fundamental laws of the Universe through global experiments such as the LHC at CERN. Confronting experimental data with theoretical predictions lies at the heart of this research, but the calculations required to study New Physics models are complex and computationally demanding. Developing automated codes capable of generating these predictions directly from the Lagrangian of various models is therefore a major challenge to accelerate and systematize the study of scenarios beyond the Standard Model.
The proposed internship will allow the candidate to:
- Become familiar with these existing codes (such as MARTY and HyperIso) and their functionalities,
- Contribute to their development and automation, making the calculations more robust and accessible,
- Explore, through concrete applications, different New Physics models and their phenomenological predictions.
This project will provide practical experience with computational tools used in theoretical particle physics, as well as an introduction to the systematic study of New Physics effects, combining theory, phenomenology, and scientific programming.
Contact
Nazila Mahmoudi
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
202
Search for New Physics and Study of Rare B-Meson Decays
Domaines
High energy physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Despite its spectacular successes, the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics has well-known limitations. Understanding what lies beyond the SM is one of the major challenges of contemporary fundamental physics.
In recent years, flavour physics and in particular the study of rare B-meson decays, has revealed deviations from the predictions of the SM. These “flavour anomalies” have attracted strong interest, as they could represent the first indirect signs of New Physics.
The internship project aims to explore these deviations in two steps:
- Perform precise calculations within the Standard Model for the relevant decays,
- Carry out a study of a theoretical New Physics scenario capable of modifying these processes and potentially accounting for the observed deviations.
Depending on the candidate’s interests, the project may also include a more involved programming component to complement the analytical approach.
This project will allow the intern to gain experience with analytical and numerical tools used in particle physics, to develop skills in theoretical calculations while maintaining a link with phenomenological aspects, and to take part in a research topic at the forefront of current investigations.
Contact
Nazila Mahmoudi
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
203
Quantum simulation with a hybrid Rydberg atom platform
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The long lifetimes and strong dipole-dipole interactions of circular Rydberg atoms make them particularly appealing for the realization of quantum simulations. A recently-developed hybrid platform, that combines them with ancillary atoms excited to standard Rydberg levels, has enabled their local non-destructive measurement and manipulation, and the simulation of spin-exchange interactions over unprecedented timescales. The intern will participate in the development of a novel cryogenic version of the platform, where we will fully benefit from the long lifetimes of circular states. We will use the new setup to demonstrate quantum simulations in a subsequent doctoral work.
Contact
Clément Sayrin
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
204
Time-braiding of anyons in graphene
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The objective of this project is to implement time-braiding experiments probing anyonic statistics in graphene. This experimental project, aimed at understanding the most fundamental properties of 2D quantum matter in presence of strong electronic interactions, will be carried in the Mesoscopic Physics team of LPENS, and involve highly advanced experimental techniques (sample fabrication, low noise measurements, cryogenics).
Contact
François Parmentier
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
205
Tensor-network methods for tight-binding models on complex lattices
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Tight-binding Hamiltonians are simple yet versatile models of quantum matter. On complex geometries such as fractals or quasiperiodic lattices, they show rich physics: fractals challenge the usual bulk-boundary picture of topological phases, while quasiperiodic models host unconventional localization. Tensor networks, well established for quantum many-body systems, can also represent tight-binding Hamiltonians. Combined with kernel polynomial methods, they give spectral functions at a cost logarithmic in system size, reaching billions of sites. We recently extended this approach to a broad class of hierarchical lattices, including fractal and quasiperiodic ones.
This internship will extend these methods to more complex models, along one of two directions depending on the student's interests:
1) Topological states on fractal lattices: implementing topological models, including magnetic-flux operators, and studying localization and edge properties on different fractals.
2) Quasiperiodic models in one and two dimensions: generalizing the Fibonacci-chain approach to two-dimensional substitution tilings to study their unconventional localization, and exploring categorical symmetries to represent the substitution rules.
Both directions combine physical and methodological aspects.
Contact
Loic Herviou
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
206
Quasi-1D Fermi gases
Domaines
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This activities of the group focus on the study of strongly correlated fermions in low-dimension. We explore how the interplay between strong confinement and strong interactions allowed by Feshbach resonances gives rise to Effective field theories generalized known paradigms in low dimension.
Contact
Frédéric Chevy
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
207
Effect of viscoelasticity on mucus plug formation in the pulmonary airways.
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The respiratory system relies on mucus to trap and clear inhaled impurities, but diseases like cystic fibrosis or COPD can disrupt its rheological properties, leading to mucus plug formation and airway obstruction. In cylindrical airways, this process is driven by the Rayleigh-Plateau instability, where liquid bulges grow and coalesce, potentially damaging epithelial cells due to elevated wall shear stress. Numerical studies highlight the role of viscoelasticity in post-coalescence instability, introducing a secondary stress peak. This internship will experimentally investigate plug formation using artificial mucus in a cylindrical glass channel, employing high-speed imaging to correlate plug morphology with wall stress, aiming to understand its impact on epithelial cell damage.
Contact
Charlotte De Blois
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
208
Holographic conformal defects
Domaines
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The holographic AdS-CFT correspondence relates certain strongly-interacting conformal field theories to supergravity in AdS. Furthermore, conformal defects, interfaces and boundaries are dual to certain more complicated supergravity solutions of the type $AdS \times S \times S$ warped over a Riemann surface. We have recently understood the branes whose backreaction gives rise to such solutions, and the purpose of this stage is to use these branes to construct new solutions holographically dual to conformal defects and boundaries.
Contact
Iosif Bena
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
209
Probing the Fermi surface in a lattice with metastable helium atoms
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The helium lattice team exploits the properties of helium species to probe lattice gases atom-by-atom [1]. The apparatus, initially operated with the bosonic species helium-4 [2], led to study the Bogoliubov pairing through atom correlations [3,4], and to probe the superfluid-Mott transition through full counting statistics [5,6]. The detection method also applies to the fermionic species helium-3. Therefore, we have recently upgraded the apparatus to add helium-3 and produce a degenerate Fermi gas. In a near future, we will load the fermionic gas into lattices to perform studies of lattice fermions.
The Master 2 internship will aim at characterizing the Fermi surface of non-interacting lattice fermions, leading to a PhD thesis centered on interacting lattice fermions (e.g. Fermi-Hubbard physics) and momentum correlations. The intern will join on-going efforts of the experimental team to achieve (i) loading helium-3 gas into the optical lattices, (ii) acquiring the experimental data, varying experimental parameters such as temperature or lattice filling, and (iii) analyzing the single-atom-resolved distributions to characterize the Fermi surface.
[1] Phys. Rev. A 97, 061609 (2018); Phys. Rev. X Quantum 5, 040324 (2024).
[2] Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 045301 (2021).
[3] Nature Physics 17, 1364 (2021).
[4] Nature Physics 21, 57-62 (2025).
[5] Nature 655, 1148 (2026).
[6] arXiv:2609.03433 (2026).
Contact
David CLEMENT
05/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
210
AI-guided exploration of mineral interfaces for CO₂ sequestration
Domaines
Physics of liquids
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
CO₂ sequestration in Mg- and Ca-rich minerals is a promising route for long-term carbon storage, but the atomistic mechanisms controlling sequestration at mineral–water interfaces remain poorly understood. This M2 project will use AI-accelerated molecular simulation to investigate the interfacial physics governing CO₂ sequestration and identify surface properties that enhance its efficiency. PROPOSITION_stageM2_DIADEM Pezz…
Starting from an existing machine-learning model of the forsterite–H₂O–CO₂ interface, the student will combine MACE foundation potentials, targeted ab initio calculations, active learning, reactive molecular dynamics and free-energy calculations. The project will explore how surface structure, hydroxylation and acidity modify the free-energy landscape and key microscopic processes involved in CO₂ sequestration, including CO₂ speciation, surface protonation, cation dissolution and ion-pair formation. The objective is to extract physically meaningful descriptors linking interfacial structure and dynamics to sequestration efficiency, and ultimately provide design rules for optimized mineral surfaces. The project is funded by the DIADEM Academy.
Contact
Marco Saitta
04/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
211
Rare-Earth based quantum memory
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The internship project takes place at the ENS Lyon Physics Laboratory. It offers the chance to build a random-access quantum memory, a device that stores several quantum states and releases any one of them on demand, a key ingredient for parallel quantum processing. Electron spin ensembles store microwave states about 100 times longer than superconducting qubits but are limited to below 10% efficiency, a challenge the project tackles using ytterbium ions in CaWO₄, which keep state-of-the-art coherence at high concentration and operate at zero magnetic field. The milestones are to test a new deposition technique that boosts spin–resonator coupling, then demonstrate storage of classical and quantum microwave fields at an efficiency close to 100%.
Contact
Audrey Bienfait
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
02/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
212
Bose-Einstein Condensates with tunable interactions
Domaines
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Contact
Thomas Bourdel
02/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
213
Locomotion induced by asymmetric friction: From cells to robots
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Friction asymmetry characterized by different friction coefficients in opposite directions, is a critical feature of movement for many organisms such as snakes whose skin is covered by oriented micro-scales. It has been proposed to be central also in the motion of cells on substrates conditioned by polar extracellular matrix and we have indeed shown that artificial substrates breaking the left-right symmetry were highly efficient in directing the transport of cells at high density close to confluence. The collective effect is much stronger than the superimposition of individual behaviors. If the principle of motion in asymmetric environments is relatively well understood, this amplification of the effect at high surface density remains elusive.
To better understand this situation, we are developing a simpler system inspired by these biology experiments and consisting in active macroscopic particles (“robots”) on a vibrating ratchet-like surface. Practically, ratchet substrates can be fabricated by a variety of techniques including high resolution 3D printing or laser cutting. In this artificial system, the physical parameters can be well controlled: speed, elasticity, weight…of the particles; elasticity, geometry … of the surface. By playing on this limited number of parameters, we aim at reproducing the flocking-like behavior of cells with artificial particles in a beautiful example of bioinspired robots’ swarm.
Contact
Pascal Silberzan
02/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
214
Direct measurement of cell-cell friction
Domaines
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Directed collective cell migration is central to morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer progression. Although the microscopic anisotropy of the microenvironment (mostly extracellular matrix) has been shown to guide this migration in vivo, its quantitative impact on cell collective motion remains unexplored. In a previous work, we have shown that subcellular microgrooves elicit a polar mode of collective migration in bidirectional “lanes”, whose widths reach hundreds of micrometers. This directed form of flocking is explained by a hydrodynamic theory of active polar fluids and corresponding numerical simulations.
Interestingly, the velocity does not vary within a given lane and the boundary between two antiparallel lanes is smaller than a cell size, meaning that the shear experienced by the cells at these boundaries is very large.
In the present project, we propose to take advantage of this mode of migration to directly measure the friction between cells of the same type. We will first monitor the velocities of the cells in this laning phenomenon as the lanes reconfigure, and use dedicated microfabricated setups for better control and force measurement. Eventually, such experiments may allow measuring friction between different cell types, or between a monolayer and a wall bearing various moieties (adhesive, non-adhesive …).
Contact
Pascal Silberzan
02/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
215
Kinetically locked-in cell migration on micro-patterned substrates
Domaines
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Emerging collective behaviors observed in biological tissues are largely controlled by the structure of the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). Notably, cells can deposit aligned fibrous ECM which then acts as a guiding cue for neighboring cells, providing an effective “memory” of the cell trajectories in cell populations and contributing to large correlation lengths in confluent monolayers.
Aligned ECM on a surface can be mimicked by synthetic subcellular micro-patterns such as grooves. On the other hand, the spontaneous direction of collective migration can be controlled by the release of a well-defined barrier. In the absence of grooves, the direction of migration is perpendicular to the initial barrier. When the substrate is patterned with microlines making an angle with direction, the collective behavior of the monolayer is then either dominated by the initial barrier direction, by the grooves’ direction, or may result from a compromise. In the same line, other geometries such as a regular array of obstacles defining an “easy axis” at an angle with the migration direction define an energy landscape in which collectively migrating cells may be kinetically locked-in, the corrugation of this energy landscape being tuned by the depth of the micropattern.
These experiments will be interpreted with our colleagues from the theory group of the laboratory, shedding light on the behavior of cell populations in complex environments.
Contact
Pascal Silberzan
02/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
216
Bilayering of cell sheets at conflicting orientation cues
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Emerging collective behaviors in biological tissues are largely controlled by the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Notably, cells can deposit aligned ECM fibers guiding neighboring cells and leading to the formation of large domains of common cell orientation. In these active cell sheets, multilayers form at conflicts of orientation such as defects. At an early stage, bilayering corresponds to a 2D-to-3D transition that is critical in several biological processes in embryogenesis or cancer development but whose physical mechanism is still unclear.
We have recently shown that aligned ECM on a surface can be mimicked by synthetic micro-patterned grooves. We then make mosaic surfaces with juxtaposed domains of uniform orientation recapitulating in a controlled way defect-like conflicts of orientation. The angle between the two orientations is one of our control parameters. Culturing a cell monolayer on such substrates can result in “crisscross” bilayers where the two layers are perpendicularly oriented. By monitoring quantitatively the formation of these bilayers in space and time, the fields of orientation or velocity can be quantitatively compared to the predictions of active matter theories developed in parallel by our collaborators in the laboratory. Other geometries can provide complementary information contributing to unravel the mechanism of formation of bilayers from a 2D monolayer as a first step in our understanding of the formation of 3D tissues.
Contact
Pascal Silberzan
02/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
217
Exploring the physics of correlated metallic kagome networks
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Strong electronic correlations give rise to exotic forms of electronic orderings, such as high temperature superconductivity or colossal magnetoresistance. In recent years, the question arose of how they could also influence topological properties, where exotic fermions, such as Dirac or Weyl fermions have been discovered. We propose the study of systems containing kagome planes of transition metals (Fe, Co, Rh…), which intrinsically bring together strong correlations, for example associated with magnetic correlations, and topologically non-trivial band structures. We propose to synthesize and characterize in the laboratory compounds from these families and apply to them various perturbations (doping, strain…) to modify their properties. We will then perform angle resolved photoemission experiments to study its electronic band structure and check for the presence of topological and/or correlated properties.
Contact
Véronique Brouet
02/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
218
Small-scale chaos and the Vlasov limit of N-body dynamics
Domaines
Statistical physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This internship focuses on the role of small-scale chaos in the convergence of the Klimontovich
equation towards the Vlasov one. See attached PDF for the full proposal.
Contact
Jean-Baptiste Fouvry
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
219
Towards an error-detected spin quantum memory protocol
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Contact
James O'Sullivan
01/10/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
220
Hybrid and non-Gaussian optical quantum state engineering
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The use of light in quantum information processing and networks has historically been split between two communities. On one side is the continuous-variable (CV) approach, which treats optical fields as waves. On the other side is the discrete-variable (DV) approach, harnessing the properties of individual photons. By considering a hybrid approach bridging the two, one could envision quantum architectures where the two encodings can be for instance interchanged fittingly to the task at hand.
In this hybrid quantum optics context, the LKB team demonstrated the first engineering of hybrid entanglement of light, i.e. entanglement between particle- and wave-like optical qubits. This novel resource enabled then to demonstrate the remote state preparation of cat-state qubits and recently the teleportation between different encodings, realizing thereby a first quantum-bit encoding converter.
The research of the group is now focusing into two directions. The first one aims at harnessing further the unique benefits of the hybrid optical approach for quantum connections, to develop optical quantum connections versatile enough to connect different physical quantum platforms and faithfully carry a broad range of quantum states. The second direction builds on the high-fidelity non-gaussian resources available on the experimental setup and aims at the realization of complex optical non-gaussian states that can find applications in bosonic error correcting codes.
Contact
Alban Urvoy
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
221
Waveguide-QED - combining cold atoms and nanophotonics (2 internships)
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Controlling light-matter interaction at the single-quantum level is a long-standing goal in optical physics, with applications to quantum optics and quantum information science. However, single photons usually do not interact with each other and the interaction needs to be mediated by an atomic system. Enhancing this coupling has been the driving force for a large community over the past two decades.
In contrast to the cavity-QED approach where the interaction is enhanced by a cavity around the atoms, strong transverse confinement in single-pass nanoscale waveguides recently triggered various investigations for coupling guided light and cold atoms. Specifically, a subwavelength waveguide can provide a large evanescent field that can interact with atoms trapped in the vicinity. An atom close to the surface can absorb a fraction of the guided light as the effective mode area is comparable with the atom cross-section. This emerging field known as waveguide-QED promises unique applications to quantum networks, quantum non-linear optics and quantum simulation. Recently, the LKB team pushed the field for the first time into the quantum regime by creating an entangled state of an array of atoms coupled to such a waveguide. Two experiments are dedicated to this waveguide-QED effort and internships/PhD projects are proposed on both of them.
Contact
Alban Urvoy
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
222
Perturbative QCD & Quarkonia: radiative corrections
Domaines
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
See for internship proposal attached PDF.
Contact
Melih OZCELIK
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
223
Chiral Majorana modes in graphene and TMD multilayers
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
In this internship, motivated by recent experiments on graphene and TMD multilayers, we will theoretically investigate 2D multilayers that could host chiral Majorana modes. We will also study the creation of Majorana wave packets and their time-dependent propagation and manipulation.
Contact
Dganit MEIDAN
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
224
Steering quantum states through measurements and feedback
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The objective of this research project is to investigate the interplay between partial postselection and conditional feedback in monitored many-body quantum systems. To explore these effects, we will consider a many-body system of non-interacting electrons undergoing entangling unitary evolution interrupted by disentangling quantum measurements. We will study how the resulting dynamics are modified by local particle injection and depletion, as well as by local and non-local feedback protocols and adaptive partial postselection.
Contact
Dganit MEIDAN
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
225
Aerosol Production During the Breakup of Soap Films
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The goal of this internship project is to characterize the influence of geometry on bubble rupture dynamics and the distribution of ejected droplets. The work will focus in particular on characterizing ejection mechanisms.
Contact
Emmanuelle Rio
Laboratory : Laboratoire de Physique des Solides -
Team : MMOI : Matière molle aux interfaces
Team Website
Team : MMOI : Matière molle aux interfaces
Team Website
01/10/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
226
Investigating strong electronic correlations effects in epitaxial single atomic layers
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This M2 internship is intended to be pursued as a PhD work. We aim here to study simple model 2D materials that present Mott physics using local spectroscopy probe such as low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. This means that our 2D materials undergo strong electronic correlations that prevent them from being good metals. Instead an insulating state occurs called a Mott insulator, that usually orders antiferromagnetically at low temperature. Exciting new phases can be achieved upon doping these materials, as discovered in high-temperature cuprate superconductors. There are two main aspects of the long term project. First the role of the coupling of the 2D material to its supporting substrate is usually overlooked. This is what we plan to study during the internship with the material 1/3 monolayer of Pb/Ge(111) for which we obtained nice preliminary results. The second long term objective of this project is to dope the Sn/Si(111) phase, that we have shown recently to be a 2D Mott insulator (https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.26304), in order to induce and identify new unconventionnal superconducting phases.
Contact
Christophe Brun
30/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
227
Time resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Quantum matter, such as high temperature superconductivity, is generally emergent, meaning that the physics cannot be understood by the sum of the individual components. The crucial additional ingredient is the interactions between the atoms (or lattice), electrons and spins. To directly study these interactions, we are currently developing a time-resolved scanning tunnelling microscope. This instrument will provide direct access to the surface atoms and the local electronic structure, while at the same time enabling read-out and/or excitation at GHz frequencies (i.e. nanosecond timescales).
During this internship, you will be the first to test and use this new instrument. Initially, measurements will be performed at room temperature to make sure that the microscope works correctly. Then, exploration at low temperature and high frequency will follow, with the aim of uncovering previously inaccessible information about the workings of quantum matter.
Contact
Freek Massee
30/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
228
Strong light-matter interactions with intra-cavity Rydberg superatoms
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Optical photons are excellent carriers of quantum information, but their lack of mutual interactions is a major roadblock for quantum technologies. Our setup enables such interactions by transiently injecting the photons into an intra-cavity cold atomic gas and converting them into strongly interacting Rydberg polaritons. The Rydberg-blockaded cloud then acts as an effective two-level superatom with an enhanced coupling to light. We can coherently manipulate its state, efficiently detect it, and observe state-dependent pi phase flips on the light reflected from the cavity as required for many quantum engineering tasks. We obtained the first fully deterministically-generated free-propagating states of light with negative Wigner functions. We also developed a deep theoretical understanding of the rich physics and the abilities of the superatoms, validated by experimental results.
This platform opens many perspectives for developing deterministic multi-photon gates, performing quantum measurements impossible with current techniques, generating non-classical free-propagating resource states, and studying strongly correlated quantum fluids of light.
Contact
Sébastien Garcia
30/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
229
Magnetic resonance of single biomolecules with quantum superconducting circuits
Domaines
Biophysics
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Superconducting qubits, developed for quantum computing, can also serve as sensitive detectors for probing the magnetic properties of individual molecules. The Quantronics group has demonstrated the detection of individual electron spins in crystals by counting the microwave photons they emit with a transmon qubit [1], as well as the coherent control of neighbouring nuclear spins [2]. This internship will contribute to our ongoing work on molecular spins in frozen solution, with the aim of performing magnetic resonance spectroscopy on individual spin-labelled biomolecules.
Electron spin resonance (ESR) provides information about the local electronic and magnetic environment of molecules. In structural biology, interactions between spin labels can also be used to measure distances within proteins. Conventional experiments average over many molecules, obscuring their individual properties and limiting spectroscopic resolution. Measuring molecules individually could overcome this ensemble broadening and reveal local environments and spin couplings that are otherwise unresolved, opening access to more detailed structural information.
Contact
Emmanuel Flurin
30/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
230
Mechanochemical cell-state transitions during embryonic organoids morphogenesis
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Embryonic organoids are self-organizing stem-cell systems that reproduce key features of early development, including symmetry breaking, differentiation, collective cell motion and tissue elongation, and can progressively generate structures resembling early organ-like domains. Their morphogenesis results from a strong coupling between cell fate and mechanics: stem cells continuously integrate biochemical and physical information from their local microenvironment and, in response, choose whether to remain undifferentiated or differentiate toward distinct cell types. These fate decisions in turn modify cell adhesion, contractility, motility and tissue organization.
The aim of this internship is to bridge several physical scales: from single-cell properties and cell-cell interactions, to collective dynamics and a continuum description of the tissue. We will combine quantitative live imaging, image and data analysis, mechanical perturbations and biophysical modelling to understand how local mechanical properties, cell-state decisions and interactions between neighbouring cells generate non-trivial tissue-scale behaviours such as flows, spreading, polarization and elongation. The objective is to identify the physical mechanisms that connect cell-scale decisions to the global morphogenesis of embryonic organoids.
Contact
Sham Tlili
Laboratory : Marseille Developmental Biology Institute - UMR 7288
Team : Physical approaches to cell dynamics and tissue morphogenesis
Team Website
Team : Physical approaches to cell dynamics and tissue morphogenesis
Team Website
29/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
231
Active-matter physics of human placental morphogenesis: coupling cell-state transitions, collective migration and tissue mechanics
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Placental development is a remarkable morphogenetic process in which fetal trophoblast cells build a functional organ inside the maternal uterus through collective migration, differentiation and invasion. It emerges from a dynamic coupling between fetal and maternal tissues, yet its quantitative biophysics remains comparatively unexplored.
At its core lies a three-state problem: trophoblast progenitors can remain proliferative cytotrophoblasts (CTB), differentiate into multinucleated secretory syncytiotrophoblasts (STB), or become migratory, invasive extravillous trophoblasts (EVT). We will ask how this fate choice is controlled not only by the external environment, but also by the microenvironment generated by the trophoblast tissue itself: does the local fraction and spatial organization of CTB, STB and EVT bias the fate of neighbouring cells?
We will then place trophoblast organoids in controlled microengineered environments where tissue expansion is mechanically more or less permissive, from free-edge collective migration to 3D gel invasion, where resistance to motion and confinement generate increasing mechanical stresses and pressure. Quantitative live imaging in 2D and 3D will map cell identity, trajectories, flows, density and rearrangements, allowing us to test how tissue composition, neighbour interactions and mechanical resistance jointly control differentiation, migration and invasion.
Contact
Sham Tlili
Laboratory : Marseille Developmental Biology Institute - UMR 7288
Team : Physical approaches to cell dynamics and tissue morphogenesis
Team Website
Team : Physical approaches to cell dynamics and tissue morphogenesis
Team Website
29/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
232
Multiscale characterization of photovoltaic materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
In the past years, photovoltaics (PV) became one of the cheapest sources of energy. 97% of commercial solar cells are made of silicon, and their lab-scale record efficiencies of 28.2 % are now close to the theoretical limit (29.4 %). Yet, expectations of both the society and the PV industry are still high, and most of the research efforts are now dedicated to pushing forward the efficiency. Combining silicon and new materials in tandem devices is the most-regarded solution for next-generation photovoltaics. Current options are polycrystalline semiconductors like perovskites and inorganic Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 or CdTe thin films, but they are still limited by both efficiency and/or stability issues that are hardly explained by current models. Further developments require a better understanding of the properties of low-cost thin-film materials.
The goal of this project is twofold. From the one side combining CathodoLuminescence (CL) and PhotoLuminescence (PL) techniques will provide a multi-scale (from <10 nm to cm) analysis tool for elementary processes and properties of bulk materials and surfaces. On the other side, we aim at pushing our analysis a step further by calibrating our tool in absolute terms, i.e. extracting the number of CL photons emitted by the sample. Another long-term objective is to use advanced computational methods for correlative data analysis, and simulation to build a realistic model of thin-film solar cells using the measured quantities.
Contact
Amaury Delamarre
29/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
233
Light-trapping for next-generation single-junction and tandem solar cells
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Photovoltaics (PV) are a cornerstone of the global energy transition. Today, silicon-based solar cells dominate the market (97%), achieving average conversion efficiencies of 23% typically using 150 µm-thick wafers. The next generation of solar cells could achieve a seemingly paradoxical goal: higher efficiency with less material. Ultrathin solar cells (10x thinner than conventional ones) offer a transformative solution for material savings and reduced carbon footprint, lightweight and flexible applications.
However, their performance has been limited by insufficient light-trapping to compensate for the reduced material volume. Our team has already achieved a major milestone: in 2019, we demonstrated a 19.9%-efficient ultrathin solar cell with only 200 nm of GaAs, using a nanostructured back mirror that leverages multi-resonant absorption (Nature Energy, 2019). We’ve also published a comprehensive review on ultrathin cells (Nature Energy, 2020) and derived theoretical upper bounds for light trapping (PRX Energy, 2026), opening new perspectives for ultrathin solar cells.
This internship builds on these results to develop solutions for light-trapping in ultrathin solar cells. It will combine clean-room work and optical simulation, and it will explore the potential of correlated-disorder nanostructures for light-trapping using low-cost, self-assembly processes, aiming at their integration in single-junction silicon solar cells and tandems.
Contact
Amaury Delamarre
29/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
234
Method development for graphene assisted transferrable III-V thin films
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
III-V epitaxy is normally performed on mono-crystalline substrates a few hundred micrometers thick, while the active thin-film device itself is usually only a few micrometers. During the fabrication process, the substrate is either etched or retained in the structure without serving any functional purpose. In this project, we aim to detach the thin film from the substrate. This will yield semiconducting membranes that are altogether flexible, lightweight, integrable, and high-performance (both optically and electronically). These membranes have applications in numerous fields, including silicon photonics, flexible devices, and high-efficiency solar cells. Furthermore, this approach offers the opportunity to recycle the mono-crystalline substrates, which are both expensive and made from critical materials, thereby reducing material consumption 100-fold.
Our strategy is to deposit a graphene layer onto the substrate before performing the epitaxy (see figure in attached pdf). We have demonstrated that graphene enables the fabrication of high-quality mono-crystalline material while allowing its exfoliation. The general purpose of the internship is to develop this method, which requires both exploring the fundamental physical phenomena occurring at the graphene surface during material synthesis and defining practical methodologies and quality assessment protocols for each process step. Without restrictions, we aim to fabricate ultrathin solar cells.
Contact
Amaury Delamarre
29/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
235
A cell-based model for tissue electrohydraulic properties
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
In addition to generating forces and reacting to mechanical cues, cells and tissues are capable of actively transporting fluids and of creating electric currents. The goal of this internship will be to explore these properties using a cell-based approach. This numerical model, based on the vertex model and pump-and-leak model, will be designed include explicitly fluid transport. See pdf for details.
Contact
Charlie Duclut
29/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
236
A new source at 578 nm for clock interrogation and shelving of Yb atoms
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Quantum gases
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The internship will take place in the ytterbium lattice clocks team at LTE, Observatoire de Paris. Two topics are proposed in parallel: the design and the construction of a 578 nm source based on non-linear optics, and the demonstration of an atomic drain technique aiming at shelving atoms in metastable states so as to decouple the dynamics of a magneto-optical trap from the capture in a deep optical lattice.
Contact
Rodolphe Le Targat
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
237
Bio-inspired superconducting sensors for sub-THz technologies
Domaines
Condensed matter
Physics of living systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The overall objective is to develop an ultrasensitive, on-chip sub-THz spectrometer that mimics the cochlea’s remarkable ability to decompose complex audio signals. This will be achieved by combining graded metamaterial designs with the nonlinear dynamics of superconductors.
The internship will consist in setting up a 100GHz measurement apparatus and simulating, then fabricating a first prototype to verify the properties of the rainbow trapping in the linear case.
Do not hesitate to contact us, if you are interested !
Contact
Alexis Jouan
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
238
Local THz photons for coherent light-matter interaction
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The goal of this project is to build a quantum spectrometer in the meV range that opens the road for the study of quantum coherences in low dimensional systems. It lies at the frontier between microwave and optics will enrich two fields of research and give access to mesoscopic phenomena such as magnonic excitations.
Feel free to contact me if you are interested!
Contact
Alexis Jouan
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
239
Dynamique loin de l'équilibre dans des fluides quantiques à deux composantes
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-linear optics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Contact
Pierre-Élie Larré
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
240
Pump-Probe Spectroscopy of Charge Carrier Transport in Nanocrystal Optoelectronics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Scientific project: The aim of this experimental project is to use a pump-probe optical microscopy method1 to spatiotemporally study microscopic charge transport in nanocrystal-based optoelectronics systems. Controlling nanoscale charge carrier transport is fundamental to energy conversion applications from solar cells to LEDs. While advanced spectroscopic methods grant an understanding of excited-state dynamics in isolated materials, many fundamental questions about the microscopic nature of transport in optoelectronics devices remain underexplored. To address this area, one needs a probe of local charge transport with ultrafast and nanosecond time resolution and sub-micron spatial resolution in a material in realistic device conditions. Our approach is to do ultrafast microscopy and fabricate nanocrystal-based optoelectronics. These studies will reveal microscopic structure–property relationships that connect nanoscale carrier dynamics to macro-scale energy conversion. We study fundamental questions, but under applied material conditions.
During the timeframe of the master’s internship, the student will take on one of several possible projects regarding charge transport in colloidal nanocrystal assemblies, and trying to connect this to electical measurements. The project likely involves optical spectroscopy, some instrumentation, Python simulations, some clean room, and basic chemistry lab prep. The goal is that the student continues on to do a PhD.
Contact
James Utterback
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
241
Study of Active Chiral Processes in Acto-Myosin Bundles
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Within every mammalian cell, the actin cytoskeleton forms networks composed of multiple filaments that support numerous fundamental cellular functions, such as cell division, motility, and intracellular transport. Myosin molecular motors use ATP hydrolysis to exert power strokes onto actin filaments. This phenomenon is up-scaled and applied to large assembly of filaments in actin networks inside cells, and leads to active chiral phenomenons. These are at the base of many large scale processes, such as the asymmetric development of multi-cellular organisms. Identifying the coupling between physico-chemical and geometrical parameters in acto-myosin networks to better understand active chiral processes is thus one of the most fundamental problem in biology.
To investigate this we focus our effort on the study of the emergence of rotational chirality in polar actin bundles. We propose bottom-up approaches to decipher individual molecular events and how they synergize to drive collective activity at the meso-scale. We will combine original experimental design to study motor-filament interactions using minimal reconstitution systems, with purified proteins. We will use a combination of fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, and magnetic tweezers, which allows us to precisely control biochemical conditions and apply physiologically relevant forces in order to quantify the interactions between the filaments and various regulatory proteins.
Contact
Cécile Leduc
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
242
Magnetorotational instability in an accretion disk
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The aim of the project is to investigate the physical mechanisms and processes governing instabilities in an accretion disc orbiting a massive central object, which may give rise to turbulence. Because pure hydrodynamic models fail to explain astrophysical data, additional phenomena should be considered in order to explain how turbulence drives the transport of angular momentum. A primary candidate is the magnetorotational instability (MRI), which is triggered by the interaction of the accretion disk’s motion with a background magnetic field. The proposed work will combine numerical simulations within an idealized framework known as the ‘Taylor-Couette configuration’ with magnetohydrodynamic theory. The results will enable a comparison with the forthcoming DRESDYN-MRI experiment using liquid sodium, currently under construction at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR, Germany), which aims to detect and study different types of MRI in the laboratory.
Contact
Caroline Nore
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
243
Real-time imaging of 3D vectorial topologies in liquid crystal
Domaines
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Understanding how topological structures emerge, evolve, and can be transferred
between physical systems is a central question in modern physics.In our group, we have developed an expertise to optically write & erase topological structures in liquid crystals, in a directional manner with respect to various degrees of freedom of light (polarization, phase, amplitude). In this regard, understanding the morphogenesis process remains a challenge that we propose to address by developing a novel optical imaging technique. This capability will enable the investigation of the dynamics and topology of liquid crystal textures and defects, as well as phase transitions and nucleation processes, in fundamentally new ways.
Contact
Delphine Coursault
28/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
244
Can biodiversity be seen from space? Multiscale complexity in remote-sensing images to predict ecosystem trends.
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
A biodiverse landscape may not simply be greener or more heterogeneous. It may possess a distinctive organisation across scales: habitat mosaics, edges, corridors, characteristic patch sizes, lacunarity and long-range correlations. Aerial and satellite images preserve much of this geometry, yet standard ecological products often compress it into pixel classes or a few averages. The challenge is to determine whether multiscale observables carry robust ecological information and, as a possible extension, whether they reveal spatial reorganisation before visible degradation.
Contact
Michael Benzaquen
27/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
245
{Mapping atmospheric convection from paragliding trajectories
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Can thousands of recreational flights become an observatory of atmospheric convection? This internship will use large-scale paragliding trajectories to investigate the structure and dynamics of thermal updrafts. Combining atmospheric physics, trajectory analysis and statistical inference, we will explore what nearby pilots can reveal collectively about an invisible, evolving flow, while accounting for the selective way they explore it.
Contact
Michael Benzaquen
27/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
246
Erosion by dissolution: hydrodynamics and pattern formation
Domaines
Soft matter
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Erosion by dissolution plays a significant role in area covered by a soluble mineral like in Karst regions and is the cause of the formation of remarkable patterns (limestone pavements, scallops, dissolution channels, dissolution pinnacles, limestone forests…) with characteristic length scales. We propose in this internship, by the mean of controlled laboratory experiments, to study the morphogenesis of dissolution patterns. The soluble media and the hydrodynamic flows will be tuned to downscale the characteristic size and time of the involved processes from geological values to “laboratory” values. Thanks to quantitative measurements of the flow and of the topography of eroded surfaces, we will identify the driving elementary physical mechanisms and thus develop mathematical models and numerical simulations, with the aim to explain complex geological systems and to predict the long term evolution of landscapes.
In this internship, the student will develop in the group, one or several model experiments, reproducing dissolution erosion phenomena. To decrease the timescales, fast dissolving materials like salt and plaster will be used. Hydrodynamic properties of the flows will be characterized and the 3D shape evolution of eroded surfaces will be recorded.
Contact
Michael Berhanu
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
247
2D materials architectures for advanced tuning of thermal properties
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The internship explores heat and charge transport in nanostructured graphene to improve thermoelectric conversion and explore thermal rectification. Using geometrically modified graphene with periodic nano-holes or nanocostriction, it aims to control phonon and electron mean free paths, enabling asymmetric heat conduction and enhanced Seebeck effect. The student will fabricate devices (graphene transfer, e-beam lithography, etching), measure electrical and thermal properties (Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity, rectification), and analyze results through finite element simulations. The project offers practical training in 2D materials and advances understanding of geometry-driven thermal and thermoelectric control.
Contact
Maria Luisa Della Rocca
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
248
Anisotropic Mechanics of Active Tissues
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This project aims to study the role of activity and anisotropy in the mechanics of cellular monolayers. Activity is found in systems which are out-of-equilibrium. They consume energy at the microscopic level, such as ATP hydrolysis in cells, which allows them to generate active stresses, such as contractile forces in the acto-myosin network in cells. Anisotropy is found in systems which have elongated particles, or cells, leading to different properties along the X or Y direction. Traditional mechanical characterization of biological tissues considers them as passive and isotropic materials. This project will close this gap using a novel in vitro system: the microstretcher.
Contact
Claire Dessalles
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
249
Covalent 2D organic nanostructures by optically controlled cross-linking of molecular self-assemblies
Domaines
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The aim of the project is to establish a proof of principle of light-induced nanoscale chemistry at the optical wavelength scale, combining optics and scanning probe techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy.
Contact
Mylène Sauty
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
250
Polarity dynamics in cell migration and coupling to cellular footprint
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Cell migration is driven by the asymmetric activity of its cytoskeleton, which is controlled by several interconnected intracellular phenomena: RhoGTPases activity, organelle positioning, cell-substrate adhesion... We also discovered recently that epithelial cells deposit a footprint on their way, which in turn feedbacks on cell polarity to act as an external self-attracting cue. Some of the relationships between those phenomena, cytoskeletal properties and associated cell displacement have been described. However, there is no comprehensive overview of the specific properties that emerge from this complex dynamical network, in particular its responsiveness to external stimuli. The goal of this project is twofold: (1) extract the dynamical relationships between those various intracellular processes from microscopy videos of migrating cells and (2) understand how those dynamics integrate the signals from cellular footprint.
Contact
Joseph D'Alessandro
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
251
Molecular membrane fabrication for quantum technologies
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The central objective of this internship is to establish a reproducible route for fabricating europium
molecular membranes and, crucially, to determine whether their exceptional optical properties are
preserved after exfoliation and transfer. The student will optimize the mechanical exfoliation
conditions to increase the yield of thin, large-area flakes; develop deterministic dry-transfer protocols
onto photonic substrates such as SiC, SiO2/Si and glass; characterize membrane thickness,
morphology and crystalline quality using optical interference microscopy, atomic force microscopy
and Raman spectroscopy; and investigate their luminescence and optical homogeneous linewidths at
cryogenic temperatures using spectral hole burning. Comparison with bulk crystals will allow the
influence of exfoliation, reduced thickness and substrate coupling on the optical coherence of the
molecular material to be established.
Contact
Diana SERRANO
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
252
Active Flow Networks
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Context. How do biological organisms know how to transport matter and information exactly where they are needed? Many, like the slime mold rely on active flow networks. These systems are governed by the principles of active matter, in which the medium is set in motion locally. Remarkably, these local flows self-organize into transport that reaches the right place at the right time. While these highly effective transport networks are widely observed across nature, the physical mechanisms that allow them to self-organize and direct flows remain poorly understood. In this internship, we will design and study a novel artificial system to recreate these active flow networks and uncover the physical rules governing them.
This internship will experimentally recreate active flow in channel networks and model how such flow leads to self-organized functional transport. The student will work together with PhD students and postdocs and use experimental facilities to characterize the flow rate and pressure gradient produced by active pumps. Working with Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumping, the student will gain practical experience using our microcontroller-based (Arduino) setup to map how flow and pressure gradients adapt to varying channel configurations. The results will open the way to innovative solutions for adaptive cooling and water management technologies in networks that can easily be disassembled and reused. The internship can be followed by a PhD grant.
Contact
Martin Brandenbourger
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
253
Design Viscoelasticity
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Context: Every interaction with our environment—from the shoes we wear to the helmets that
protect us from impact—is shaped by how materials respond to applied forces. Although
additive manufacturing has transformed the way we engineer mechanical properties, these
advances often remain limited to static, academic models (Fig.1). Bridging the gap to real-world
use requires designing materials with time-dependent behaviour, capable of complex
vibrations and high-velocity impacts of a dynamic world.
The project: The internship will study a periodic elastomeric metamaterial [1] comprising 3D-printed,
submillimetric channels filled with viscous liquid (Fig. 1). The student will characterize
how the presence of fluid within the structure controls the relaxation time of the material (Fig.
1). The project will build on these results and characterize experimentally how the architecture
of the tube (the distribution and size of the fluidic channels) and the viscosity of the fluid
control the relaxation dynamics from few milliseconds to seconds. We will then study the
mechanics of such a hybrid material under imposed deformation using tensile test machines
and impact tests.
Contact
Martin Brandenbourger
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
254
Collective motion based on deep reinforcement learning
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When a system of many individuals is under stress, whether seeking resources or avoiding
threats, its survival depends on its ability to collectively move towards a specific objective.
Examples include large systems like human populations migrating in response to climate
change, or microscopic systems like viruses navigating through the body to infect host cells.
These complex events are often difficult to study directly due to their infrequency,
experimental complexity, or the many scales involved. A large scientific community is
currently working on solutions to better model and predict these collective motions [1]. At
IRPHE, researchers use deep reinforcement learning to allow the agent to infer the underlying
structure of its environment. Through simulated trial and error, the agent learns an optimal
strategy to adapt its trajectory and reach its target despite extremely limited visibility.
This internship aims at implementing this approach on physical robots in order to evaluate
these behaviors under real-world conditions. The candidate will learn to program the robotic
platform (Fig. 1) and conduct a series of experiments to evaluate its performance. The student
will join an ongoing project involving PhD students and PIs and combining experimental,
numerical and theoretical approaches. The internship could progress into a PhD aiming at
developing a complete understanding of collective motion in complex flows, pending
successful grant approval from the doctoral school.
Contact
Martin Brandenbourger
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
255
Single-Photon Detection and Correlation Measurements in Ultracold Atoms
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The Exotic Quantum Matter (EQM) Group is looking for a highly motivated Master 2 student to characterize a single-photon detection system that will subsequently be integrated into the experimental platform. The EQM group operates a quantum simulator based on ultracold potassium atoms to study strongly interacting quantum matter and light–matter interactions.
The EQM team has already demonstrated strong photon–photon interactions through classical measurements of optical intensity and phase. The next step is to investigate these interactions at the level of individual photons, where quantum correlations become directly accessible.
The internship will establish a two-channel single-photon detection system based on two single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and a high-resolution photon arrival-time tagger. The system will be used to measure the second-order photon correlation function g²(τ).
Contact
Tom Bienaimé
25/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
256
Modélisation de l’effet d’une irradiation sur des cellules hypoxiques
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
La radiothérapie fait partie des traitements classiques contre le cancer. Mais des cellules radiorésistantes se développent, notamment dans les zones hypoxiques des tumeurs. L'objectif de ce stage est de développer de nouveaux modèles mathématiques permettant de caractériser la réponse à l'irradiation des tissus, en tenant compte notamment de l'état d'oxygénation des tissus.
Ce projet associe un aspect expérimental (culture de cellules, utilisation d’un vidéomicroscope de façon à pouvoir suivre les cellules individuellement pendant quatre jours, les cellules seront mises sous différents degrés d’hypoxie, puis irradiées avec différentes doses), un aspect d’analyse d’images et un aspect modélisation (un modèle discret stochastique des effets de l’irradiation de type agents-centré sera ensuite développé, de façon à tester des scenarii, expliquer et reproduire les données obtenues, dans les différentes conditions d’hypoxie et de doses d’irradiation).
Contact
Mathilde Badoual
24/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
257
Self-organized patterning in mammalian stem-cell aggregates
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This project aims to uncover the biophysical principles that enable mammalian embryonic stem cells to self-organize into three-dimensional structures resembling developing embryos. How do cells acquire their identities and positional information, and how does precise and reproducible spatial organization emerge from their collective behavior? Combining quantitative microscopy, image analysis, mathematical modeling, and machine learning, the project will investigate the emergence of positional and correlative information during stem-cell differentiation and the flow of information through genetic networks. By linking theory and experiments, we aim to identify general principles of developmental self-organization and compare information processing across different biological systems, including mammalian stem-cell aggregates and Drosophila embryos.
Contact
Thomas Gregor
24/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
258
Gravimètre à atomes froids aéroporté
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Le stage proposé consistera à participer au premier essai aéroporté d'un gravimètre quantique de seconde génération, plus compacts, plus précis et permettant non seulement de mesurer l’amplitude du champ de gravité, mais également d’en déterminer l’orientation . Dans un premier temps, le stagiaire mettra en place une procédure de calibration des capteurs auxiliaires nécessaires au fonctionnement du gravimètre. Dans un deuxième temps, il participera à une campagne de mesures en vol aux îles Féroé. Enfin, il contribuera au traitement et à l’analyse des données acquises pendant les vols. Ce stage permettra au stagiaire d’acquérir des compétences à l’interface de plusieurs domaines : physique quantique, métrologie de haute précision, instrumentation et traitement de données. Le stage pourra se poursuivre par une thèse portant sur la suite du développement de ce gravimètre quantique, avec pour objectif la réalisation de mesures vectorielles du champ de gravité.
Contact
Sylvain Schwartz
24/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
259
Métrologie quantique avec des atomes de Rydberg dans des pinces optiques
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Ce stage s'inscrit dans un projet visant à explorer une nouvelle génération de capteurs de champs électromagnétiques avec des atomes froids de Rydberg. L'idée est de combiner la grande sensibilité des atomes de Rydberg au très bon degré de contrôle et de cohérence qu'il est possible d'atteindre avec des atomes froids contrôlés dans des pinces optiques. Cela ouvre la voie à de nouvelles applications dans des domaines variés comme : l’imagerie THz, la détection électromagnétique, la calibration des déplacements lumineux dans les horloges atomiques et des expériences de métrologie quantique où l'intrication entre atomes est mise à profit pour améliorer la sensibilité des mesures.
Notre dispositif expérimental a permis la démonstration de méthodes innovantes pour la mesure d’un champ micro-onde avec des atomes froids de Rydberg [Phys. Rev. Applied 22, 044039 ; arXiv:2608.07260]. L'objectif de ce stage est d’explorer de nouvelles techniques de mesure des champs électromagnétiques avec des atomes froids de Rydberg dans des pinces optiques.
Intégré au sein de l'unité DPHY/SLM de l'ONERA, qui est un acteur mondialement reconnu des capteurs à base d'atomes froids, vous serez également amené(e) à interagir avec le département électromagnétisme et radar de l'ONERA ainsi qu'avec nos partenaires académiques et industriels
Contact
Sylvain Schwartz
24/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
260
Fluid and electrical transport in confined saline solutions
Domaines
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The objective of this internship is to understand how the electrical conductivity of confining surfaces controls the flow properties of a nanoconfined saline solution. To this end, the project will utilize semiconducting surfaces, which will allow for the experimental exploration of a situation that lies between insulating and conducting surfaces.
The internship will consist of several complementary stages:
• fabrication of surfaces by sputtering;
• characterization of their topography using atomic force microscopy (AFM);
• conducting dSFA experiments to measure hydrodynamic forces in confined solutions;
• analysis and modeling of the results to identify the role of surface conductivity.
All necessary experimental techniques are available and mastered in the laboratory. The internship will thus allow the candidate to gain training in a range of cutting-edge experimental techniques at the interface between fluid mechanics, condensed matter physics, and interface physics.
This project is part of a research theme currently being developed at the laboratory and may be continued as a doctoral thesis, funded under the ANR JCJC ElectroMecano project. Continuing the project will, in particular, allow us to take a deeper look with the combination of mechanical and electrical measurements within the dSFA, in order to develop a unified understanding of fluid, ionic, and electronic transport under confinement.
Contact
Romain Lhermerout
24/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
261
Mechanical regulation of actin/vimentin crosstalk in vitro
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Context of the project
Cell mechanics is mostly governed by the cytoskeleton which is composed of three types of interconnected filaments: actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Among them, actin forms dynamic networks that can remodel rapidly in response to its environmental cues, but are not mechanically resistant to deformation. Conversely, vimentin intermediate filaments form stable networks that are highly extensible and resistant to rupture. Despite these very different properties, actin and vimentin are involved in many common cellular functions such as cell migration or mechano-sensitivity, and work in coordination to perform them. However, very few studies have focused on the interaction between actin and vimentin at the molecular level to understand the mechanisms involved in this coordination.
Objectives
The goal of the internship is to reconstitute in vitro certain aspects of the vimentin/actin crosstalk and understand how it is modulated under external stresses. Using original microfluidic approaches developed by the team, we will study the impact of vimentin filament tension on the recruitment of vimentin/actin crosslinkers and how this could impact the morphology of vimentin/actin composite networks.
Contact
Cécile Leduc
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
262
Looking for potential variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio and other tests of fundamental physics via precision measurements with molecules
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship will focus on measuring mid-infrared molecular transitions of methanol (CH3OH), ammonia (NH3), and other molecules known for their enhanced sensitivity to changes in µ. The work will involve achieving subDoppler spectroscopic resolution to reach target laboratory frequency accuracies of ~100 Hz needed for comparisons with astronomical observations. This activity is part of the ANR Ultiµos project, a collaborative effort which seeks to refine current constraints on the possible variation of µ which involves leading research institutions, including Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (LKB, L. Hilico) and MONARIS (C. Janssen) at Sorbonne Université. The three partners of the Ultiµos consortium will collaborate to conduct measurements in different spectral windows, to identify transitions as targets for future Earth/space comparison campaigns, which could further tighten constraints on
variations of µ. Other collaborators, such as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Onsala Space Observatory, will provide theoretical and observational/astronomical support to complement the experimental efforts.
Contact
Raphaël Hahn
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
263
High-Sensitivity Microwave Spectroscopy for Precision Measurements and Tests of Fundamental Physics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The master student will join the effort at LPL to develop a new-generation compact and versatile microwave (MW) spectrometer operating over the 2–20 GHz range. This instrument is conceived both as a high-sensitivity detector of internal quantum states in polyatomic molecules and as a precision tool for molecular frequency metrology. The spectrometer will enable cross-checks between MW rotational frequencies and mid-infrared (MIR) rovibrational data planned to be measured at the 100 Hz level in the frame of the ANR Ultiµos project. These comparisons are directly motivated by the search for potential variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio µ, a fundamental constant whose stability can be tested by confronting laboratory data with MW astronomical spectra of molecules such as methanol and ammonia. These species possess transitions with strong sensitivity coefficients to µ, making them powerful probes of possible temporal or spatial variations of fundamental constants. In Ultiµos, spectroscopy with ultrastable MIR quantum cascade lasers provide ultra-precise MIR frequencies with relative uncertainties of 10 ¹². By using combination–difference schemes, these MIR data yield effective MW intervals that can be directly confronted with our SI-traceable MW measurements. Such dual determinations, based on entirely different experimental chains and affected by distinct systematic effects, are ideal for robust cross-validation of frequency values and uncertainty budgets.
Contact
Raphaël Hahn
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
264
Precision Measurements and tests of fundamental physics with cold molecules
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Compared to atoms, molecular systems, owing to their numerous degrees of freedom, offer promising perspectives for improving tests of fundamental physics and precision measurements in general. Molecules are increasingly being used internationally for instance to test fundamental symmetries1, to measure fundamental constants2 or their
variation in time3, to search for dark matter4, ... Many of these experiments can be cast as measurements of resonance frequencies of molecular transitions highlighting the importance of frequency metrology. They also require advanced manipulation techniques already standard for atoms: individual states addressing, high detection rates, long coherence times, cooling of internal and external degrees of freedom.
The master student will participate in the development of a new-generation molecular clock specifically designed for precision vibrational spectroscopy of cold molecules in the gas phase. The proposed technology is at the forefront of cold molecule research and frequency metrology, and opens possibilities for using polyatomic molecules to perform
tests of fundamental physics and explore the limits of the standard model. The apparatus will be used in the first place for measuring the electroweak-interactions-induced tiny energy difference between enantiomers of a chiral molecule, a signature of parity (left-right symmetry) violation, and a sensitive probe of dark matter.
Contact
Raphaël Hahn
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
265
Physique statistique expérimentale : Energétique stochastique à 2 dimensions et plus
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
La thermodynamique stochastique étudie les échanges d'énergie à l'échelle de kBT (kB constante de Boltzmann, T température). Nos expériences permettent des mesures d’une précision inégalée dans ce domaine un système modèle à 2 degrés de liberté uniquement: position et vitesse. Les axes d’explorations sont prometteurs : nous pouvons donner vie à des expériences de pensée telle qu’un démon de Maxwell pour exploiter les fluctuations thermiques ; explorer l’énergie minimale pour manipuler l’information dans des opérations logiques ; étudier des cycles moteurs (type Carnot) avec un gaz mono-particule. De nombreuses questions ouvertes sur le lien entre information et échanges d’énergie sous-tendent notre approche expérimentale, et donnent lieu à des collaborations avec les experts internationaux du domaine : questions théoriques, optimisation par IA, ouverture vers les fluctuations quantiques, lien avec la biophysique. Nos expériences offrent toute une palette pour permettre à une doctorante ou un doctorant d’exprimer sa créativité, d'une coloration très expérimentale (optimisation du micro-mécanisme, rétroaction en temps réel) à fondamentale (modélisation analytique poussée), en passant par le traitement du signal (implémentation temps réel de protocoles via des réseaux de neurones artificiels). Des bases de physique statistique et une grande curiosité sont ainsi les seuls prérequis attendus !
Contact
Ludovic Bellon
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
266
Experimental statistical physics: stochastic energetics beyond 1 dimension
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Stochastic thermodynamics studies energy exchanges at the scale of k_B T (where k_B is the Boltzmann constant and T the temperature). Our experiments enable unprecedentedly precise measurements in this field using a model system with two degrees of freedom: position and velocity. The research directions are highly promising: we can bring thought experiments such as a Maxwell’s demon to life to harness thermal fluctuations; explore the minimal energy required to process information in logical operations; and study engine cycles (such as the Carnot cycle) using a single-particle gas.
Numerous open questions about the relationship between information and energy exchange drive our experimental approach and lead to collaborations with international experts in the field, involving theoretical investigations, AI-based optimization, exploration of quantum fluctuations, and connections to biophysics.
Our experiments offer a wide range of opportunities for a PhD candidate to express creativity, from highly experimental work (micro-mechanical optimization, real-time feedback control) to fundamental studies (advanced analytical modeling), as well as signal processing (real-time implementation of protocols via artificial neural networks). A solid foundation in statistical physics and strong scientific curiosity are the only prerequisites!
Contact
Ludovic Bellon
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
267
Data-driven modeling of gamma activity in mouse visual cortex
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The goal of the internship is to explore mechanisms of cortical gamma oscillations using computational modeling, to account for recent data on the spatial and temporal characteristics of gamma oscillations in mouse visual cortex. During the internship, we will employ rate models that may suffice to capture the interplay between thalamic inputs and locally coupled excitatory and inhibitory populations, as well as recurrent networks of spiking (e.g. leaky integrate and fire) neurons that may be necessary to capture spike-gamma event synchrony. Model predictions will be cross-checked using publicly available datasets of mouse V1 activity and intracellular recordings of V1 excitatory and inhibitory neurons.
Contact
Jonas Ranft
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
268
Confinement of Plasmonic Liquid Crystals in Emulsion Droplets
Domaines
Soft matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Plasmonic nanoparticles can self-assemble into liquid-crystalline phases with collective optical properties that differ strongly from those of isolated particles. This project will investigate the confinement of these new phases within emulsion droplets to create microscale, reconfigurable plasmonic materials. The study will focus on gold and silver nanorods forming nematic and smectic phases in confined geometries. It is expected that the curvature of the droplet interface impose specific orientations and generate defects or frustrated configurations. The project will (1) establish robust protocols for producing water in oil droplets containing plasmonic liquid crystals, (2) study the structure and measure the optical properties. Beyond fundamental research, we test this approach as a scalable route for "plasmonic pixels" with tunable vibrant colors.
Contact
Cyrille Hamon
23/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
269
Modeling ultrafast exciton transport in bio-inspired organic light-harvesting nanoparticles
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Energy transport is a key process at play in natural photosynthesis. Although pivotal to biology, this mechanism is still incompletely understood, but drives the interests of both fundamental and applied science. This internship aims at increasing the understanding of artificial photosynthesis by performing a theoretical modeling of EE transport in organic, bio-inspired light harvesting (LH) systems. The model design and parametrization will be guided by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy experiments performed in IPCMS. The goal will be to compute quantitatively and to simulate (i) the fluorescence anisotropy decay, which reveals the time scale for the ultrafast individual EE hopping events and (ii) the slower EE diffusion mechanism with a diffusion constant D that is extracted from the fluorescence quenching. This will be a first step towards a better understanding of EE transport, which is necessary to stimulate the emergence of innovative biomimetic photosynthetic materials. The candidate will join the IPCMS and work with J. Léonard performing the EE transport experiments and R. Avriller & B. Bacq-Labreuil working on the theory and simulation of EE transport. The candidate will benefit from a stimulating scientific environment in close connection between theory and experiments.
Contact
Rémi Avriller
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
270
Morphogenesis of the sea urchin skeleton microstructure: modeling actin self-organization
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Among all 3D structures, saddle-shaped geometries and minimal surfaces have intrigued scientists for centuries, because they can spontaneously self-assemble driven by the minimization of thermodynamic quantities such as the interfacial energy. Echinoderms, like sea urchins and sea stars, build a calcite skeleton whose microstructure is an outstanding biogenic example of saddle-shape geometry. This 3D structure, called stereom, is a porous meshwork made of calcite, whose peculiar curvature signature is conserved across different species and body parts. Several studies have addressed the morphogenesis of the stereom showing that it forms via biomineralization through a rich dynamics of branching and bridging episodes. Yet, a global, mechanistic comprehension of what controls preferential mineral deposition is still lacking.
Recently, we have found that the stereom may inherit its specific geometry from a precursor made of actin-fibers that self-organize under tension close to the growing boundary. However, precursors are confined in a pore-size layer closed to the growing boundary and cannot explain the coherence of the overall network. Our hypothesis is that the stereom local geometry is not only an emergent property but also a driving cue for skeletonizing cells and that this interaction is mediated by the cytoskeleton. The internship aims to build a model, coupling the stereom geometry and the self-organization of actin fibers using a continuous approach.
Contact
Giulio Facchini
Laboratory : MSC - UMR7057
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
271
Morphogenesis of the sea urchin skeleton microstructure: the role of the cytoskeleton - Experiments
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Among all 3D structures, saddle-shaped geometries and minimal surfaces have intrigued scientists for centuries, because they can spontaneously self-assemble driven by the minimization of thermodynamic quantities such as the interfacial energy. Echinoderms, like sea urchins and sea stars, build a calcite skeleton whose microstructure is an outstanding biogenic example of saddle-shape geometry. This 3D structure, called stereom, is a porous meshwork made of calcite, whose peculiar curvature signature is conserved across different species and body parts. Several studies have addressed the morphogenesis of the stereom showing that it forms via biomineralization through a rich dynamics of branching and bridging episodes. Yet, a global, mechanistic comprehension of what controls preferential mineral deposition is still lacking.
Recently, we have found that the stereom may inherit its specific geometry from a precursor made of actin-fibers that self-organize under tension close to the growing boundary. To confirm this hypothesis, the student will characterize how the stereom evolution is affected in the presence of drugs targeting the contractility and the polymerization of actin fibers. Next, we will also develop a new protocol to observe and characterize the cytoskeleton dynamics in vivo. The internship will be the opportunity to learn experimental techniques like immunochemistry and confocal microscopy, and to develop a numerical workflow for image analysis.
Contact
Giulio Facchini
Laboratory : MSC - UMR7057
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
Team : Morphogenèse et Dynamique des Systèmes Auto-Organisés
Team Website
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
272
Swimming cells under light
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Photosynthetic micro-organisms contribute for half of dioxygen production, consume carbon dioxide, and are promising regarding biofuel production. Our lab aims to develop a quantitative approach describing the energetic state of these micro-organisms exploring their environment, a crucial aspect to better understand their motility behaviour. To tackle this problem, we use the motile micro-algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model unicellular organism, per-forming photosynthesis (light-to-chemical energy conversion) and phototaxis (cell reorientation along the light direction). Two projects are available.
Contact
Antoine Allard
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
273
Effective surface tension in miscible fluid flows
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
When two miscible liquids meet, transient composition gradients across their boundary generate an effective interfacial tension. This gives rise to complex interfacial flow dynamics governed by tightly coupled mass and momentum transport: a fundamental problem with broad implications in microfluidics, active mixing, and soft matter physics. In this project, the student will investigate these interfacial flows through a combination of precision experiments and physical modelling. You will design and prototype custom millifluidic channels (using3D printing and microfabrication, no prior knowledge about it required) and perform micro-PIV measurements on a state-of-the-art inverted fluorescence microscope to map local velocity fields at the interface. Depending on the candidates background, the experimental work can be complemented by analytical scaling laws and calculations or numerical simulations.
Contact
Théo Lenavetier
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
274
Mimicking the ocean in the lab: the ultimate experiment
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The M2 internship and the following PhD thesis will consist in assembling and running a new experimental setup aiming at reaching the internal wave turbulence regime in a stratified and rotating fluid in order to test theoretical predictions that could offer new approaches for simulating ocean dynamics at small scales. The setup will consist in a rotating hexagonal water tank, 4 m high and 4 m large, filled with 40 000 L of salt stratified water installed on the 13 m diameter rotating Coriolis platform in LEGI laboratory in Grenoble. The PhD student's "base camp", where the analysis of the data collected during the campaigns will be carried out, will be the FAST laboratory in Orsay. However, the possibility of also conducting this part of the project in Grenoble can be discussed.
Contact
Pierre-Philippe Cortet
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
275
Exploring non-Abelian geometric phases with mobile spins
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This project aims to perform direct measurements of non-Abelian geometric phases experienced by individual spins moving in materials with strong spin-orbit interaction. We will develop an experiment where single holes are displaced along closed loops inside 2D arrays of quantum dots in germanium at zero magnetic field. By studying the evolution of their spin states depending on the trajectory followed, we will evidence the non-Abelian geometric phases, study their properties and investigate their potential for quantum information processing.
Contact
Corentin Déprez
22/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
276
Understanding Confined Glass Transition using Levitodynamics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
According to Anderson, the most profound and interesting problem in condensed matter physics is the glass transition. Indeed, glassy materials are ubiquitous in nature, and discussions of the glass transition involve many areas of physics. Despite intense interest in the dynamic slowing down that accompanies glass formation, a complete microscopic theory does not yet exist. Recently, the supposed existence of a length scale ξ for cooperative rearrangement has generated considerable interest in an alternative approach: the study of confined glasses. The correlation length scales emerging in these systems appear to be much larger than molecular sizes, which intrigues the community. We propose to address the problem of confined glass transition on a silica nanoparticle isolated from its environment using optical trapping in vacuum.
The proposed method involves significantly modifying/improving an experimental system [1,2,3] whose basis has already been developed at LOMA for other fields of application. The originality of our new device is that it will enable independent determination of the size, refractive indices (real and imaginary) and temperature of a glass former nanoparticle optically trapped at a wavelength of 1064 nm [4,5]. The addition of an extra CO2 laser will enable us to finely control the temperature of the nanoparticle whose position is resolved in 3D using ultra fast interferometric detection [1,5].
Contact
Yacine AMAROUCHENE
21/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
277
Toward 2D electron gases with strong spin-orbit coupling in crystalline metal- semiconductor heterostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The aim of this intership project and the following PhD thesis is to develop a strategy to preserve the strong Rashba effect in 2D heavy metallic layers on semiconducting surfaces and make use of these systems for spintronic applications. We will grow a dielectric capping material on the desired heavy metal in ultra-high vacuum environement, study the band structure of the heterostructures by ARPES and perform charge-spin conversion measurements by magneto-transport techniques.
Contact
Sergio Vlaic
21/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
278
The statistical physics of visual preference: What makes an image appealing?
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Why do some images feel visually compelling while others appear dull, chaotic or artificial? This internship will investigate whether aesthetic preference can be related to measurable statistical properties of images. Building on our previous work on structural complexity, multiscale relevance, and quantitative color harmony, we will combine large human-preference datasets with interpretable descriptors of image organisation to identify which visual structures are consistently associated with appeal.
Contact
Michael Benzaquen
21/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
279
Cooperation in hybrid human-AI populations: Can artificial agents reshape collective behaviour?
Domaines
Statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
As artificial agents become participants in social and economic interactions, even a small fraction of them may alter collective behaviour. This internship will investigate how cooperation emerges in populations containing both humans and artificial agents. Using empirical data from social-dilemma experiments together with simple statistical-physics and evolutionary-game models, we will ask when artificial agents stabilise cooperation, when they disrupt it, and which mechanisms control the transition between these regimes.
Contact
Michael Benzaquen
21/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
280
Strong Chiral Light-Matter Interactions in a Fabry-Perot Cavity
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Chirality plays a central role in chemistry and biology, where molecules of opposite handedness can exhibit strikingly different biological and pharmacological activities despite having identical chemical compositions. Identifying and controlling molecular enantiomers is therefore of major importance. Light provides a natural probe of molecular handedness: chiral molecules interact differently with left- and right-circularly polarized light, giving rise to optical activity and circular dichroism, the foundations of chiroptical spectroscopy. Cavity quantum electrodynamics goes one step further by using confined electromagnetic fields to modify matter itself. Chiral cavities, engineered to interact differently with opposite molecular handedness, could enhance weak chiroptical signals and open new routes toward enantioselective synthesis, a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. This internship aims to develop a microscopic quantum model of chiral molecular ensembles strongly coupled to a Fabry-Perot cavity with engineered chiral mirrors. The goal is to understand and optimize chiral light-matter interactions toward ultrasensitive chiroptical spectroscopy and cavity-controlled enantioselective chemistry.
Contact
Rémi Avriller
21/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
281
Quantum simulation of anyons
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Quantum gases
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
We propose an internship to implement quantum simulation scenarios with ultra-cold dipolar excitons, confined in nanoscopic electrostatic lattices. This semiconductor platform has shown a high level of performance. It relies on electron-hole pairs that are optically injected in a double quantum well, where gate electrodes imprint electrostatic lattices confining excitons. Here, a route is introduced to realize anyonic excitations in the lattice. Anyons are strikingly marked by a fractional quantum statistics. They are theoretically accessible to dynamically varying lattices of dipolar excitons. following so-called Floquet engineering.
Contact
Francois Dubin
21/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
282
Modeling the action of seasons on frozen soils
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The goal of the internship is to study experimentally a model of a periglacial soil undergoing freezing/thawing cycles. The system will consist in a wet granular material in which a moving freezing front will be imposed. During the internship, different strategies for visualizing the micromechanical processes taking place in the system during the displacement of the front will be developed and the obtained measurements will be analyzed and modeled.
Contact
Axelle Amon
18/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
283
Cat qubits based on dc-biased Josephson junctions
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Cat qubits protect quantum information in hardware. Two coherent states of a microwave resonator are held in place by a dissipation that removes photons only in pairs, which suppresses bit flips exponentially with the cat size. This dissipation is usually activated by a microwave pump, which also turns on parasitic terms. We instead bias a Josephson junction with a dc voltage, so that Cooper pairs tunnel at a frequency selecting the useful process while every unwanted term averages to zero. We have just demonstrated this mechanism in Lyon with Alice & Bob. The internship consists in measuring the next circuit and turning this dissipation into a qubit, first a two-component cat imaged by Wigner tomography, then a four-component cat calling for a high-impedance memory.
Contact
Benjamin Huard
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
18/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
284
A superconducting qubit with built-in protection against errors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum Machines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Quantum processors correct their errors in software, at a cost of roughly a thousand physical qubits per useful logical one. A protected qubit works differently. Its two logical states are placed so far apart in phase space that no local noise can connect them. Errors are suppressed by the geometry of the circuit rather than corrected after the fact. We identified a new circuit that should solve the current roadblocks of previous attempts at making such a device. During the internship, you will measure and characterize the first version of that circuit.
Moreover, we recently experimentally demonstrated that it is possible to remove any charge offset drift in superconducting circuits, which would greatly improve the coherence time of our qubit. You will also contribute to the development of a new fabrication recipe that stabilizes the charge offset deterministically.
Contact
Benjamin Huard
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
18/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
285
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of defects in active matter
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Active matter is the class of nonequilibrium systems where every constituent extracts energy from its environment to produce an autonomous sustained dynamics. Recently, some active models have focused on the collective dynamics of repulsive particles with oscillating shape. It has been shown that shape oscillation promotes deformation waves, in line with experiments for dense biological tissues, yielding a rich family of dynamical patterns which are reminiscent of instabilities observed in reaction-diffusion systems. The internship will study the thermodynamics of defects in pulsating active matter. The project will use some recent methods of stochastic thermodynamics to derive and examine the fluctuating hydrodynamics that describes the collective dynamics of defects. Overall, this study will largely build on the crosstalk between numerical and analytical methods of modern nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. In particular, the project will combine particle-based models and hydrodynamic theories.
Contact
Etienne Fodor
Laboratory : Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg -
Team : Physics of Active Matter
Team Website
Team : Physics of Active Matter
Team Website
18/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
286
Neural mechanisms for working memory
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Context: Neuronal networks generate large-scale activity patterns that support cognitive function. However, understanding how the anatomical and physiological properties of the network shape network activity and function is still a major challenge. Working memory is defined as the ability to temporarily store and manipulate behaviourally relevant information. The objective of our project is to elucidate how synaptic properties give rise to population activity patterns in working memory, which could reveal fundamental principles linking synaptic physiology and network computation. The project relies on a hybrid approach combining neuronal recordings and theoretical modelling.
M2 project: The intern will work on the construction of predictive neuronal network models constrained by available experimental evidence both from the existing scientific literature and from the dataset collected by the project experimental partner. He/she will work exclusively at the interface between models and large-scale data analysis, without participating in animal handling. Depending on the student’s interests, the project can emphasize modelling or data analysis.
Contact
Arthur Leblois
18/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
287
Probing Short-Time Brownian Motion in 3D with Optical Traps
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Push our optical trap toward a full 3D view of Brownian motion. Having proven we can track x(t) and y(t) under white light, cross-calibrated with our ultra-fast photodiode x(t) channel, join us to add a fast y(t) channel and a brand-new z(t) axis, the first steps toward a PhD probing particles near walls.
Contact
Julien BURGIN
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
288
Infrared electroluminescence from colloidal quantum dots
Domaines
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Colloidal Quantum Dots (CQDs) are size-tunable semiconductors. They received the Nobel Prize in 2023 after being integrated into displays thanks to their spectrally narrow luminescence. While visible CQDs are now commercially available, their infrared counterparts have not yet released their full potential, whereas the short-wave infrared range lacks efficient non-coherent sources. The project aims to explore the design of light-emitting diodes operating in the 1 to 5 µm range. The infrared light-emitting layer is sandwiched between charge injection layers that selectively inject electrons and holes. In the visible range, the quantum efficiency can be as high as 20%, but it quickly drops as longer wavelengths are targeted (1% at 1.3 µm and 0.1% at 2 µm) due to the lengthening of the radiative lifetime and inefficient shielding, which makes non-radiative processes dominant. Thus, new concepts need to be introduced to circumvent this drop in efficiency. The project will explore new concepts related to charge injection based on energy transfer and cascade effects as strategies to generate electrical gain. A second aspect of the project will relate to the design and fabrication of photonic structures to achieve better light outcoupling.
Contact
Emmanuel Lhuillier
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
289
Nanocrystal-based infrared camera
Domaines
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Design of an infrared camera from colloidal quantum dots
Contact
Emmanuel Lhuillier
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
290
Toward the origin of ionic memory
Domaines
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Biology processes information with ions flowing through nanochannels. Artificial nanofluidic devices made from 2D materials such as graphene now show ionic memory, which recent optical observations attribute to voltage-induced deformation of the channels. The physics behind this deformation remains poorly understood. In this internship, the student will fabricate model devices, submerged 2D flakes on substrates, and measure how the electrostatic pressure competes with interlayer adhesion, using coupled optical and electrokinetic measurements. Tuning the substrate roughness will then allow control of adhesion. The goal is a quantitative model identifying the key parameters for designing ionic memories.
Contact
Theo Emmerich
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
291
Imaging carrier transport in cross-sectional III-nitride LEDs
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) made of nitride materials are universally used for energy-efficient lighting. However, such LEDs suffer from drastic drops in efficiency at high current densities and high emission wavelengths (green to red), whose causes are still debated due to their complexity. Understanding them requires to access carrier behavior inside the active region of the LED itself, taking into account microscopic structuration and heterogeneities. Most approaches in the literature focus on spatially averaged measurements, missing out the core of the problem.
This project proposes to develop a novel approach to directly image carrier behavior (injection, recombination et escape) in the active region of an in operando LED. The aim is to perform a pump-probe electrical and optical excitation on a cleaved device observed in cross-section in a low energy electron microscope. This approach includes several challenging steps, among them the cleavage of an operating device for an observation in cross-section and the development of a mixed electrical and optical excitation of the LED under the microscope. Numerical modelling will be developed to support experimental findings.
Contact
Mylène Sauty
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
292
Acousto-optic interaction for non-linear integrated mid-infrared photonics
Domaines
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The goal of this internship is to develop and characterize nonlinear acousto-optic devices operating in the mid-infrared (wavelength of 3-8µm), leveraging broadband transparency and piezoelectricity of III-V semiconductor heterostructures. These devices will perform phase modulation, but also potentially on-chip optical routing, a pre-requisite for magnetic field-free optical isolation.
The internship will be mostly experimental, involving the use and development of two existing setups. The first one is a mid-IR integrated photonic bench allowing to characterize the operation of the devices (see above, right). The second one is a heterodyne interferometer, that allows to image the SAW-related vibration (amplitude and phase) of the sample surface to characterize the acoustic properties of the devices (see above, left).
Contact
Mathieu Jeannin
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
293
Élaboration et caractérisation de grains cohésifs pour l'étude de milieux granulaires à polydispersité évolutive
Domaines
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Les milieux granulaires sont omniprésents dans notre environnement, qu’il soit industriel (dans les secteurs agroalimentaire, du génie civil ou pharmaceutique, par exemple) ou naturel, comme lors de glissements de terrain ou d’avalanches.
Lorsque les grains présentent des interactions cohésives, ils peuvent s’agréger en amas maintenus par des liaisons susceptibles de se rompre sous l’effet de sollicitations mécaniques. Sous cisaillement, la rupture progressive de ces liaisons intergranulaires entraîne une évolution de la microstructure, caractérisée notamment par une fragmentation des amas et une dispersion croissante de leur taille. Cette fragmentation peut à son tour favoriser l’apparition de phénomènes de ségrégation, modifiant les propriétés d’écoulement à l’échelle macroscopique. Il s’établit ainsi un couplage entre l’évolution de la microstructure et le comportement rhéologique du matériau. Malgré son importance dans de nombreuses applications, les mécanismes gouvernant ce couplage entre microstructure, rupture des liaisons et comportement rhéologique demeurent encore largement incompris.
Ce stage constitue la première étape d'un projet de recherche plus large, qui a vocation à se poursuivre par une thèse de doctorat au laboratoire MAST-GPEM (Université Gustave Eiffel, Nantes). Il permettra au/à la stagiaire de développer les bases scientifiques pour aborder ce sujet dans la durée.
Contact
Patrick Richard
Laboratory : Granulats et Procédés d'Elaboration des Matériaux -
Team : Granulats et Procédés d'Elaboration des Matériaux
Team Website
Team : Granulats et Procédés d'Elaboration des Matériaux
Team Website
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
294
Mode-locked mid-IR fiber laser combs enabled by semiconductor saturable non-linear mirrors
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Description
See pdf file for all the details
Extremely brief summary:
The goal of the internship is to develop and optimize mid-IR nonlinear mirrors, supported by recent results from the host team, that target comb operation of fiber lasers at lambda=3.5 and 4.6 um, and explore the mode locking regime. Our collaborators at CORIA/CNRS laboratory have developed these novel sources, and our SESAMs will enable their mode-locking operation
Contact
Raffaele Colombelli
17/09/2026
/
Thesis :
Funding :
295
Electrical and biochemical control of hair-cell mechanosensitivity in the inner ear
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Sound mechanoreception by the inner ear’s hair cells begins with the deflection of their hair bundle—a cohesive tuft of protruding stereocilia that serves as the hair cell’s mechanosensory antenna. Hair-bundle deflections modulate mechanical tension in elastic elements that pull on mechanosensitive ion channels and, in turn, modulate the influx of cations into the hair cell—the transduction current. Remarkably, a dynamic interplay between channel gating and an active feedback mechanism gives rise to active hair-bundle movements—reverse transduction, including spontaneous hair-bundle oscillations. This proposal aims at studying how external and internal control parameters modulate the mechanical and electrical correlates of transduction-channel gating to specify active and passive mechanosensitivity of the hair cell.
Contact
Pascal Martin
16/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
296
Ground-state cooling of multiple nanoparticles in optical levitation
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Optical levitation is a subfield of optomechanics, in which a nanoparticle is trapped in a vacuum at the focal spot of a microscope objective. Because levitated systems outperform other mechanical resonators, they offer the tantalizing prospect of investigating quantum mechanics at the mesoscale. To display quantum properties, the nanoparticle must be cooled down close to its ground state, which is typically achieved through the monitoring of its displacements and a modulation of the laser’s intensity. Currently, the most exciting endeavor in the field lays in performing levitation with many-body systems. Many-body levitation would offer the opportunity to observe effects for the first time, like the mesoscopic entanglement of nanoparticles. Sadly, conventional cooling techniques, cannot be multiplexed and fail badly to cool several elements in parallel.
Throughout this internship, the candidate will experimentally implement a new cooling technique intended to achieve the first-ever cooling of a many-body system composed of multiple nanoparticles in levitation. Compared to former strategies, here, a spatial light modulator is used to spatially shape the wavefront of the laser beam. Such a modulation enables to exert simultaneously adapted optical forces on all the nanoparticles in order to reduce their individual vibrational motions, which ultimately leads to the cooling of the many-body system. A funding is available to continue this internship through a PhD.
Contact
Nicolas Bachelard
15/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
297
The mechanics of osmotic pressure
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanical nature of osmotic pressure. To this end, we will
experimentally measure the deformations of a soft semi-permeable membrane under an osmotic flux.
Based on preliminary results, we will engineer hydrogel semi-permeable membranes seeded with nanotracers
in microfluidic chips, and quantify material displacements with confocal imaging techniques.
Beyond bringing fundamental insight into soft membranes, we expect this project will have far-reaching
implications in the fields of biophysics and polymer physics.
Contact
Nicolas Bain
15/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
298
Tipping thresholds and bistability of Antarctic continental shelf regimes
Domaines
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
The goal of the project is to investigate mechanisms and physical processes governing oceanic properties on the Antarctic continental shelf and to assess their relevance for potential bifurcations of ice-shelf cavities. Understanding this problem is crucial for reducing uncertainties in long-term climate projections, especially regarding sea-level rise. The proposed work will combine numerical simulations in an idealized setup and geophysical fluid dynamics theory.
Contact
Corentin Herbert
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
299
Build a 3D-printed holographic microscope for tracking particles in soft matter
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Holographic microscopy uses interference patterns to recover the three-dimensional positions
of many particles from a single image, making it a powerful tool for studying transport in soft and
heterogeneous materials. The NanoX-funded MEMTIM project will use this technique to determine
howdeformationhistorycreatesanisotropyandmechanicalmemoryinmucus. Thisinternshipwilldeliver
the new microscope required for these measurements.
Contact
Wylie Ahmed
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
300
Ultra-fast mid-IR modulators for applications to frequency combs
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
See pdf file for all the details
Extreme brief summary:
The goal of the internship is to develop electrically reconfigurable meta-surfaces whose optical properties, in reflection/ absorption, can be addressed electrically on ultra-fast timescales. In particular, we target ultra-fast amplitude modulators for the mid-infrared spectral range.
These developments are crucial for applications such as laser phase stabilization, spectroscopy, frequency comb generation, mode-locking, optical communications.
Contact
Raffaele Colombelli
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
301
Shaping the polarization of light for tip-enhanced photoluminescence
Domaines
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The goal of the internship is to develop an optical spectroscopy technique that is spatially resolved at the nanoscale, which is known as tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL). This technique employs a laser beam focused onto the apex of a plasmonic metal tip (gold or silver) within an atomic force microscope (AFM) or scanning tunneling microscope (STM). To maximize the field enhancement effect at the tip apex, the focused beam must be radially polarized. To achieve this specific polarization, the intern will use a liquid-crystal polarization converter. The intern will then couple this beam to the plasmonic tip of an AFM or STM microscope, contribute to developing the software interface for controlling the optical detectors, and conduct TEPL experiments on semiconductor nanomaterial samples.
Contact
Eric Le Moal
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
302
Oceanic Vortex Generation at a Sea-Ice Edge in a Rotating Tank
Domaines
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The objective of this internship is to investigate experimentally the generation and evolution of oceanic vortices at a sea-ice edge using a rotating-tank laboratory setup.
Contact
Charly De Marez
Laboratory : Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale - 6523
Team : Ocean Scale Interactions
Team Website
Team : Ocean Scale Interactions
Team Website
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
303
Statistical physics of wet active systems
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
You will develop theories for wet active systems, in order to understand how fluid flows affect their collective phenomenology. The focus will be on understanding their generic and universal properties, i.e. qualitative and quantitative properties independent of system details. The internship can naturally be continued in a PhD.
Contact
Cesare Nardini
14/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
304
PhD-thesis: Nonlinear dynamics in complex fiber networks
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
We are looking for a PhD-student to investigate the properties of complex fiber networks and the dynamics of network lasers within the framework of an ANR project. The project is mainly experimental but will be accompanied by numerical simulations.
Contact
Stefan Bittner
13/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
305
Dynamics of a DFB-laser with optical injection into a residual mode
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-linear optics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers are semiconductor lasers with a single lasing mode thanks to a cavity design that suppress all other modes (called residual modes) by reducing their quality factors. Optical injection into a laser can lead to injection locking (i.e., synchronization), but also to unstable and ultra-fast chaotic dynamics. While optical injection into the main lasing mode of a DFB-laser has been extensively studied, injection into a residual mode remains unexplored. The objective is to study the dynamics caused by injection into a residual mode and to explore the possibility to create chaotic dynamics with increased bandwidth in view of applications like chaos cryptography. A systematic experimental investigation of the laser dynamics will be complemented by the development of a theoretical model and numerical simulations.
Contact
Stefan Bittner
13/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
306
Chaotic graphs in silicon photonics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The objective of the internship and the thesis is to investigate the combined effect of nonlinearities and complex interferences in these optical graphs, particularly regarding the formation and dynamics of soliton states. In a second time, we will inject non-classical light (squeezed light or entangled photons) to test if entanglement is sensitive to chaos.
Contact
Mélanie Lebental
11/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
307
A Light Higgs Boson in Light of Ultraviolet-Infrared Mixing
Domaines
High energy physics
Fields theory/String theory
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Theory and phenomenology in particle physics beyond the Standard Model; Electroweak symmetry breaking; Higgs mechanism; Hierarchy problem. See PDF file.
Contact
Florian NORTIER
11/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
308
Streaming at the water surface induced by complex surface wave field
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This internship aims to investigate experimentally and/or theoretically the fascinating complex flow patterns induced by random surface wave fields at the water surface. Preliminary results suggest that there exists strong connexion between the flow features (vortices/rivers) and the wave field features (zeros and maximum of oscillation), that are still to be explored and understood. Possibility to apply for PhD on the same topic.
Contact
Benjamin Apffel
11/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
309
Quantum plasmonic metamaterial time crystals
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Topological materials, Quantum Transport, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Non-linear optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Photonic time crystals -optical systems that are strongly and periodically modulated in time- have recently emerged as a novel paradigm for controlling light–matter interactions through temporal modulation, analogous to how conventional spatial photonic crystals manipulate light through spatial structuring. Building on our recent demonstration of a photonic time crystal using a plasmonic metamaterial operating at Terahertz frequencies, this internship aims to lay the groundwork for realizing a quantum plasmonic metamaterial time crystal, that is a photonic time crystal that can operate in the few-photon regime. This will require developing a Terahertz spectroscopy setup with extended frequency coverage as well as the design and characterization of advanced plasmonic metamaterials.
Contact
Yannis LAPLACE
Laboratory : Laboratoire des solides irradiés - UMR 7642
Team : New electronic states - TeraX-lab
Team Website
Team : New electronic states - TeraX-lab
Team Website
11/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
310
Controlling the polarization of light with chiral plasmonic nanostructures
Domaines
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
In this project we will (1) locally and electrically excite chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and (2) to use them to enhance the chiral properties of a new class of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors called transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), which are key for a new branch of physics and technology called valleytronics
Contact
Elizabeth Boer-Duchemin
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
311
Transverse spreading of 2D localized microwaves in the presence of absorption
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Various mechanisms underlie metal-insulator transitions in condensed matter. One of these mechanisms is Anderson localization, which is caused by quantum interference induced by disorder. As a consequence, the Drude diffusion of an electron through the sample has to be corrected, and when the interferences become large enough, conduction may cease, leading to an insulating phase. Because the origin of this phenomenon lies in interference, it has been suggested 40 years ago by Anderson himself that it should be easily observed using "classical" waves as light or sound. A signature of localization lies in the transmission transverse profile: in the diffusion regime, a Gaussian beam spreads in time whereas in the localization regime it saturates. This transverse profile beam spreading should be independent of transmission.
The intern will perform an experimental test of the independence of the claim that the transverse profile spreading in the presence of Anderson localization does not depend on absorption.
Contact
Geoffroy Aubry
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
312
Critical scaling of the bandgap appearance in 2D disordered photonic materials
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Historically, photonic crystals and the concept of photonic bandgap were introduced in the seminal works of Yablonovitch and John in the 1980s. Even if natural examples exists (for instance in the blue iridescent wings of the Morpho butterfly), the first experimental realizations were done in the microwave regime by drilling holes in epoxy resin, and over the last 15 years, significant progresses in the micro and nano fabrication have been achieved enabling the availability of 3D materials with gaps or pseudo-gaps in the near-infrared. Nevertheless, despite a considerable amount of work reporting the measurement of photonic band gaps in different regimes (optical, infrared or microwave), an explanation of when to expect or not to expect a band gap is still lacking. Furthermore, even when a bandgap does exist, it is unclear exactly at which frequency it will occur and how wide it will be.
Using bandgap computation to compute the bandgap frequency and width fluctuations in two-dimensional hyperuniform dielectric materials, we propose to explore the idea of a possible continuous phase transition in the appearance of the bandgap using finite size scaling.
Contact
Geoffroy Aubry
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
313
How activity shapes transport and mechanics in crowded cellular matter
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The interior of a cell is a striking example of an active soft material: it is dense, heterogeneous, viscoelastic, and continuously driven far from equilibrium by internal energy-consuming processes. From a physics perspective, this activity can fluidize an otherwise glassy material and strongly enhance tracer motion. Yet we still lack a quantitative description of how energy injection and packing control fluctuations, transport, and mechanical response. The ANR-funded project, ActiveCyt, addresses this problem by combining controlled experiments with statistical-physics modeling.
Contact
Wylie Ahmed
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
314
Fabrication and magneto-optical characterization of a gadolinium doped silica optical fiber
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Light transport is in general reciprocal, and therefore the statement "if I see you, you see me" is in general true. The magneto optical Faraday effect is one way to break reciprocity, and it is used in optical isolators for instance. In our group, we are interested in more fundamental questions raised by the presence or not of reciprocity and its consequences on multiple scattering, and we work in particular with optical fibers as the propagation medium. The Faraday effect, and thus reciprocity breaking, is proportional to the external applied magnetic field and to the length of the Faraday active medium. The proportionality constant—called the Verdet constant—is for most materials quite low, meaning that reciprocity can only be substantially broken over very large distances for the magnetic fields achievable in the lab. We would therefore like to fabricate an optical fiber with a large Verdet constant.
Silica optical fibers doped with a small concentration of Gadolinium seem to be good candidates, as the Verdet constant of Gd-doped fibers was reported to be 2 orders of magnitude larger than standard telecom optical fibers, with reasonably low losses. For this work, we propose to fabricate Gd-doped optical fibers, and then characterize then both optically and magneto-optically.
Contact
Geoffroy Aubry
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
315
Nanoparticle diffusion in a cytoplasmic extract
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The interior of a cell is dense and crowded with polydisperse molecules, and subjected to biochemical activity that fluidizes it. Crowding and activity endow the intracellular milieu with specific properties. In particular, using single-particle tracking of genetically-encoded nanoparticles, we found that particle diffusion is not Brownian in vivo. Many reasons can explain this non-Brownian diffusion, such as particle interactions, the type of biochemical noise, or local heterogeneities due to the ultrastructure of the cytoplasm. The purpose of this internship is to study and model, using in vitro systems, how nanoparticles can diffuse in a cytoplasmic extract, as a controllable surrogate for a real cell.
Contact
Morgan Delarue
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
316
Unconventional liquid-like physics in frustrated metamaterials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Physics of liquids
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
The project centers on a macroscopic 2D metamaterial we recently developed: arrays of interacting magnets. This platform is uniquely suited for exploring and engineering frustration effects and related liquid-like physics, as it allows precise control over each individual meta-spin while enabling full spatial resolution of the overall spin configuration and real-time tracking of its evolution. With this capability, we aim to uncover unconventional emergent phenomena, reminiscent of effects encountered in different research fields—such as phase separation effects, typically studied in combinatorial mathematics, or charge separation, transport, and recombination, which are central to condensed-matter physics.
Contact
Johann Coraux
10/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :
317
Brownian motion in complex environments
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Contact
Thomas Salez
09/09/2026
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Thesis :
Funding :