To find the right proposal !
Internship and thesis proposals
Criteria for selection
Number of proposals
32
1
Drop impact on a pool of immiscible liquid
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Drop impact on a pool of immiscible liquid
Context: The impact of a liquid drop onto a liquid surface is a commonly observed phenomenon in nature and throughout daily life, and is important for many industrial processes such as spray painting, inkjet printing and spreading of pesticides. It has been demonstrated recently that this process could be used for the mass production of particles with complex shapes and cell encapsulation [1]. The geometry of the resulting particles strongly depends on the impact dynamics and the deformation of the interfaces.
Goals: In this project, we propose to investigate the formation of complex encapsulations formed by the impact of a liquid drop on a pool of immiscible liquid. We will systematically study the impact of water drops on a pool of an immiscible liquid such as silicone oil. We will combine high-speed imaging experiments with high resolution numerical simulations (using the open-source code Basilisk) to investigate these complex dynamics, and uncover the physical processes involved.
Profile: Candidates should have a good training in Fluid Mechanics. The project can either be focused on experimental observations and/or numerical simulations depending on the applicant.
Environment: The project will take place in the laboratory of Prof. Marie-Jean THORAVAL at LadHyX in École Polytechnique, in the South of Paris.
Contact
Marie-Jean THORAVAL
08/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
2
Impact of compound drops: Bouncing or Sticky?
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Impact of compound drops: Bouncing or Sticky? -
Context: The impact of a drop onto a solid or liquid surface has a wide range of applications including combustion, 3D printing, biological microarrays, pharmaceutics and the food industry. While most of them rely on single fluid drops, the emergence of new additive manufacturing techniques promises to revolutionize these industries by combining multiple fluids into compound drops. One of the critical challenges in these applications is to control the deposition process of the impacting drop and therefore its spreading, potential rebound and splashing.
Goals: We propose in this project to control the rebound of the water core by varying the viscosity and thickness of the outer oil layer. We will combine high-speed imaging experiments with high resolution numerical simulations (using the open-source code Basilisk) to investigate these complex dynamics, and uncover the physical processes involved in the deposition of compound drops.
Profile: Candidates should have a good training in Fluid Mechanics. The project can either be focused on experimental observations and/or numerical simulations depending on the applicant.
Environment: The project will take place in the laboratory of Professor Marie-Jean THORAVAL at LadHyX in École Polytechnique, in the South of Paris.
Contact
Marie-Jean THORAVAL
08/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
3
Air film dynamics
Domaines
Condensed matter
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Air film dynamics -
Context: Gas transfer at the ocean surface has a critical importance for climate, as it captures around 30% of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, and for marine biological activity, as it provides the necessary O2. This transfer can be promoted by the entrapment of bubbles, produced through impacting rain drops or breaking waves. The shape and dynamics of the bubbles are important to model these transfers.
Goals: We propose in this project to study the contraction dynamics of an air film into a fluid. We will systematically vary the gas and fluid properties in different geometries to understand their contraction velocity and rupture mechanisms. This project will combine numerical simulations (using the open-source code Basilisk) with theoretical analysis to uncover the physical processes involved in the gas transfer into the ocean.
Profile: Candidates should have a good training in Fluid Mechanics and Computational Fluid Dynamics.
Environment: The project will take place in the laboratory of Prof. Marie-Jean THORAVAL at LadHyX in École Polytechnique, in the South of Paris.
Contact
Marie-Jean THORAVAL
08/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
4
Towards entanglement between relativistic electrons and photons mediated by plasmons
Domaines
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 et théorique Description
Quantum coherence, central to modern physics, underlies phenomena such as entanglement and Rabi oscillations, which lack classical analogues. This internship aims to explore a fundamental open question: can a relativistic free electron be entangled with a photon through its interaction with a plasmon? The project, which may evolve into a PhD thesis, combines experimental, instrumental, and theoretical efforts to reveal temporal correlations between ~100 keV electrons and photons mediated by surface plasmons. Using a scanning transmission electron microscope, a nanoscale electron probe will be positioned with nanometric precision on specially designed chiral plasmonic structures that emit circularly polarized photons at specific plasmonic resonances. Preliminary calculations indicate that in these conditions, each inelastic electron acquires a defined orbital angular momentum and becomes nearly perfectly entangled with a circularly polarized photon. The internship will focus on performing correlation measurements between electrons and photons to probe this entanglement, including tests of Bell inequality violations. These experiments will leverage a unique combination of advanced instrumentation, tailored nanostructures, and state-of-the-art detectors available in our group.
Contact
Mathieu Kociak
07/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
5
Coherent control of artificial atoms with relativistic electrons
Domaines
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 et théorique Description
Nano-optics explores optical phenomena occurring far below the diffraction limit of light. To overcome this limit, new concepts and techniques have emerged, among which the use of fast electrons—traveling at about half the speed of light—has proven uniquely powerful for probing the optical properties of nanomaterials. Our team has been a pioneer in this field, using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) to study a wide range of excitations in solids, from phonons to excitons, with unprecedented spatial and spectral resolution. More recently, we have developed energy-gain spectroscopy (EEGS), which combines the picometer-scale spatial precision of fast electrons with the sub-µeV spectral resolution of a laser. This innovation enables the investigation of quantum-optical systems such as ultra-high-finesse optical cavities. However, a key question remains open: can we coherently study and manipulate optical states in atomic or quasi-atomic systems such as quantum dots using relativistic electrons? The aim of this internship, potentially leading to a PhD, is to explore this new regime of coherent control of artificial atoms with electron beams. The project will take place on a unique platform coupling a monochromated transmission electron microscope with a laser system and custom-designed lithographic samples, opening unprecedented perspectives in quantum nano-optics.
Contact
Mathieu Kociak
07/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
6
Active droplets for cargo transport and micro-engines
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Emulsions are composed of at least two immiscible liquids, with the droplet interface stabilized by surfactants. In previous work we showed that when the droplet slowly dissolves into the continuous phase, self-sustained motion can occurs. More recently, we also demonstrated that as they shrink over their lifetime, single droplets interact with their own trail in a self-avoiding random walk. Yet, many questions remain: what are the collective behaviors of these active particles? What is the nature of inter-particle interactions? This internship explores active emulsion droplets as model systems of non-equilibrium soft matter. By combining experiments and theory, the project investigates how an active droplet can transport a passive one (cargo mode) or form a micro-rotor. The work involves microscopy, image analysis, and modeling to unravel the underlying dynamics and interactions. Beyond fundamental insight, the study aims to inspire microfluidic machinery and bio-inspired applications such as targeted delivery.
Contact
Adrien Izzet
07/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
7
Effect of viscoelasticity on mucus clearance in the pulmonary airways.
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This internship propose to investigate the dynamics of mucus clearance in the human airways, a process crucial for respiratory health and affected in diseases like cystic fibrosis. Mucus is cleared either by the coordinated beating of cilia or by cough-induced airflow, yet the role of its viscoelastic properties remains largely unexplored. As part of the CNRS-funded MUCUS project, you will study the behavior of liquid plugs formed during airway occlusion under different breathing scenarios.
You can choose between two complementary axes: numerical, using the Basilisk solver and supercomputer simulations to explore how viscoelasticity affects plug rupture in 2D and 3D geometries; or experimental, using microfluidic models to visualize plug dynamics and rupture under pressure gradients and cough-like flows. This hands-on internship combines fluid mechanics, advanced simulations, and cutting-edge experiments, offering the possibility to continue into a PhD. It’s a chance to tackle real-world biomedical challenges while gaining deep expertise in complex fluid dynamics and bio-inspired flows.
Contact
Charlotte De Blois
06/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
8
Nanopore and Polymer Feedback in Flow
Domaines
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship propose to explore the hidden world of complex fluids at the single-molecule level. Traditional rheometers only reveal bulk properties, missing the microscopic details that truly govern how polymers move and interact—especially in biologically relevant environments such as mucus transport, where long mucin chains meet arrays of cilia. Using nanopore technology and fluorescence microscopy, you’ll directly visualize individual DNA molecules as they pass through nanometer-sized channels under controlled pressure. From these experiments, you’ll uncover key insights into polymer dynamics and fluid rheology by measuring translocation times, event frequencies, and critical pressures. You’ll be actively involved in setting up and calibrating the experimental system, preparing samples, and analyzing data in both Newtonian (water, water–glycerol) and non-Newtonian (DNA, PEO) fluids.
Contact
Charlotte De Blois
06/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
9
Towards neuromorphic applications with 2D ferroelectrics materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
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 et théorique Description
The 2D+ Research Group at CRHEA, located on the French Riviera near Nice, France, is seeking a highly motivated and talented master candidate to join our cutting-edge research in nanophotonics with 2D materials. We offer a unique opportunity to explore emerging phenomena such as sliding ferroelectricity, ultra-low-threshold nonlinear photonics, and exciton engineering. The project is part of the European-funded 2DFERROPLEX consortium, bringing together leading experts in the field.
Contact
Antoine Reserbat-plantey
06/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
10
Physics of granular materials reinforced with fibres
Domaines
Soft matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The internship explores the physics of granular materials reinforced with fibers, a system where the addition of a small fraction of flexible fibers can significantly enhance mechanical strength. While such reinforcement is widely used in engineering and observed in natural root-soil systems, the fundamental mechanisms behind fiber–grain interactions remain poorly understood. The project will involve controlled experiments with grains and synthetic fibers of varying aspect ratios and flexibilities, using setups such as vane rheometry, inclined-plane avalanches, and column collapse. The objective is to identify how parameters like fiber concentration, geometry, and flexibility affect flow behavior and mechanical response, and to contribute to the development of a physical framework and modeling approach that predicts the behavior of fiber-reinforced granular systems across different regimes.
Contact
Baptiste Darbois Texier
05/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
11
Locomotion in granular media
Domaines
Soft matter
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
This internship investigates locomotion in granular media such as sand, a highly complex material that can exhibit both solid- and fluid-like behaviors. Drawing inspiration from animals like snakes, lizards, and clams, the project aims to experimentally analyze their movement strategies and quantify their efficiency in controlled environments. By designing and testing bio-inspired robotic models, the research seeks to identify the physical principles that govern interactions between moving bodies and granular substrates, contributing to a deeper understanding of granular mechanics and locomotion physics.
Contact
Baptiste Darbois Texier
05/10/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
12
Physics models for the origins of Darwinian evolution
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Life is both the result of and the engine behind Darwinian evolution. In modern life forms, the underlying mechanisms of Darwinian evolution are complex and are also products of billions of years of evolution. At the origin of life, however, Darwinian evolution must have emerged from simpler processes. What could these processes be? We approach this question from a physics perspective by developing statistical physics models.
Our goal is to identify the fundamental physical and chemical processes that could give rise to Darwinian-like evolutionary dynamics and, more generally, life-like features, beyond the specific pathway that led to life on Earth.
Contact
Olivier Rivoire
03/10/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
13
Quark Gluon Plasma equation of state
Domaines
High energy physics
Physics of liquids
Relativity/Astrophysics/Cosmology
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Nuclear physics and Nuclear astrophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Le plasma quark-gluon (QGP) est un état exotique de la matière créé dans des conditions extrêmes au LHC du CERN. Il s'agit de l'un des premiers états de la matière après le Big Bang. Le stage consistera à étudier l'équation d'état du QGP à l'aide de simulations hydrodynamiques relativistes.
Contact
Michael Winn
02/10/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
14
A flick to get in : Active transport through mimetic nanopores
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
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 Description
Biological nanopores are uncanny molecular machines that perform a wide variety of cellular functions, from sorting biomolecules to building cellular osmotic pressure and folding newly synthesised proteins. Their performance, as measured, for instance, by their energy efficiency, is unmatched by any other artificial system. Some biological nanopores as the nuclear pore complex induce the directionnal transport of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins.
In this internship/PhD project, our aim is to investigate directional transport using to two distincts scenario :
- Translocation ratchet : A molecular agent present downstream bind to the transported molecule and exert an effective translocation force on the species present upstream.
- Translocation induced by the enhanced mobility of enzymes in presence of their substrate.
The transport of single macromolecules will be measured by a near-field optical technique developed in the laboratory (Zero-Mode Waveguide for nanopores). Using a unique in France optical tweezers system coupled to a confocal microscope and a microfluidic system (Lumicks C-Trap) the forces involved in the transport will also be measured. From this measurement, we will extract the change in the translocation energy landscape in the presence of ratchet agents.
Contact
Fabien Montel
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
29/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
15
Optical sequencing of molecules for molecular data storage
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Non-linear optics
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 Description
Molecular data storage relies on the ability to write and read digital information encoded onto large molecules. Recently, digital synthetic polymers have been introduced offering interesting perspectives for data storage due to a larger versatility and variety. However, sequencing of macromolecules, i.e. reading the digital information they contain, is a major challenge for molecular data storage. Nowadays, the main characterization techniques are based on mass spectrometry or electrical current detection. Despite their high sensitivity, these methods remain restricted to specific polymers and low level of parallelization.
Our transdisciplinary consortium of 3 laboratories (Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, Lyon; Laboratoire de Physique ENS de Lyon / CNRS ; Institut Fresnel, Marseille) aims to explore a novel approach involving the development of fluorescently encoded synthetic polymers and also DNA origamis, combined with an optical sequencing technique that enables faster reading of their controlled sequence. Our main goal is to set up an innovative platform based on the real-time optical sequencing of digital synthetic and natural polymers (Figure 1).
Contact
Fabien Montel
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
29/09/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
16
Protein droplets on a DNA wire : Optical tweezers to decipher biocondensate formation
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
Inside our cells, compartments also known as organelles enable to separate and regulate biomolecular processes : e.g. DNA replication in the nucleus or ATP production inside the mitochondria. Beyond these objects delimited by lipid bilayers it has been shown more recently that membrane-less structures known as biomolecular condensates can also segregate specific molecules. Such assemblies are formed by a demixing process called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), in which molecular partners spontaneously enrich in a condensed phase usually forming droplets.
Here at the Physics Laboratory of ENS de Lyon / CNRS, we propose a single molecule approach using cutting-edge technology to manipulate DNA molecules together with a protein involved in DNA maintenance, DciA,. This protein from Deinococcus radiodurans, has been shown to form LLPS with DNA molecules and is postulated to be able to recruit other repair factors.
Using optical tweezers coupled with confocal microscopy and a microfluidic control, we will characterize the formation, the structure and the dynamics of these assemblies. Based on the ability of our system to exert and measure forces at the same time as they are visualized in fluorescence microscopy, our aim will be to understand the key molecular processes involved.
Contact
Fabien Montel
Laboratory : laboratoire de physique, ENS de Lyon - umr 5672
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
Team : ENS de Lyon, Physique
Team Website
29/09/2025
/
Thesis :
Funding :
17
Superfluorescence of semiconductor quantum light nano-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
The topic of the internship is to probe chains of semiconductor nanoplatelets by fluorescence microscopy and examine whether these structures exhibit superfluorescence, a mechanism by which incoherently excited dipoles, because of their coupling to the electromagnetic field, spontaneously develop a coherence and interfere constructively, leading to accelerated emission and original properties for emission correlations and directionality.
Contact
Laurent Coolen
29/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
18
Sedimentation of diatom chain colonies in complex flows
Domaines
Biophysics
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
Diatom chains are cohesive assemblies of unicellular microorganisms that are found in still and fresh
waters. Some species are passively transported by ambient currents and settle due to the weight of their dense
silica shells, while others have use various strategies to move or self-propel. One species in particular, called
Bacillaria Paxillifer, forms colonies of stacked rectangular cells that slide along each other while remaining
parallel. Their intriguing coordinated motion, leads to beautiful and nontrivial trajectories at the scale of the colony.
However, the effect of gravity and externat ambient flows on the dynamics of diatom chains must be investigated
to understand the behavior of plankton and marine snow aggregates as they sink, and capture CO2, to the ocean
depths.
Contact
Blaise Delmotte
26/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
19
Internship at University of Califonia, Santa Barbara
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Low dimension physics
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Physics of living systems
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
We are looking for motivated students in Physics or Applied Math who are interested in soft matter and complex systems.
Our group combines Theory, table top Experiments, and numerical Simulation to Test ideas and gain insights into the evolution of patterns in in soft matter and fluids mechanics. Also, we use machine learning methods to learn the underlying physical laws of these complex systems.
Both theorists and experimentalists are welcome to apply to the group. Current topics of research include: pattern formation in active matter, statistical mechanics of filaments, instability in thin films, fluids-solids interaction, impact on soft interfaces.
Contact
Ousmane Kodio
26/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
20
Patterns generated by erosion by dissolution
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
25/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
21
Chaotic graphs in silicon photonics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Chaotic systems have a particular quantum behavior and several conjectures remain to be demonstrated concerning their spectrum and their wave functions [1]. Graphs can be chaotic or not and allow a relatively simple theoretical study of the classical and quantum limits [2]. These experiments are easier to carry out in photonics and the formalism fits well to the wave-particle duality of light. We have therefore produced graphs (chaotic or not) where light circulates in silicon waveguides (Fig. 1a) and we study their spectrum (Fig. 1c) and their wave functions (Fig. 1b).
The first objective is to verify the validity of the conjectures according to different types of graphs. In a second step, we will inject non-classical light (squeezed light or entangled photons for instance) to know if entanglement is sensitive to chaos.
The silicon graphs are fabricated in the C2N cleanroom. Their design requires numerical simulations performed under the supervision of Xavier Chécoury (C2N). The experiments are carried out on a dedicated characterization setup at C2N and the theory is developed in collaboration with Barbara Dietz (Dresden). The student may be involved in one or several of these tasks, depending on his/her preferences.
Contact
Mélanie Lebental
25/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
22
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’s student will join Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL) to develop a compact microwave (MW) spectrometer operating from 2–20 GHz. This instrument is designed both as a sensitive detector of internal quantum states in polyatomic molecules and as a precision tool for molecular frequency metrology. Proof-of-principle measurements have already shown free induction decay signals on the OCS J = 0 → 1 transition at 12.163 GHz with excellent signal-to-noise ratios. The next objective is sub-Hz accuracy, made possible by ultrastable, SI-traceable frequency references distributed by the REFIMEVE network.
Within the ANR Ultiμos project, the spectrometer will enable cross-checks between MW rotational frequencies and mid-infrared (MIR) rovibrational data measured at the 100 Hz level. These comparisons are motivated by the search for variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ, a key constant of the Standard Model. Methanol and ammonia, with transitions highly sensitive to μ, are particularly powerful probes. MIR and MW results, obtained via independent experimental chains, will provide robust cross-validation of frequencies and uncertainty budgets.
The student will contribute to optimizing waveguide and cavity configurations, performing precision spectroscopy on benchmark species, developing MIR–MW double-resonance schemes to enhance sensitivity, and preparing integration with a cryogenic buffer-gas cooling source (~3 K).
Contact
Mathieu Manceau
Laboratory : Laboratoire de physique des lasers - UMR7538
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
24/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
23
Precision Measurements and tests of fundamental physics with cold molecules
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type of internship
Expérimental Description
The master’s student will contribute to the development of a new-generation molecular clock dedicated to precision vibrational spectroscopy of cold molecules in the gas phase. This cutting-edge platform combines cold molecule research and frequency metrology, enabling fundamental tests of physics beyond the Standard Model. A key first objective is the measurement of the tiny electroweak-induced energy difference between enantiomers of a chiral molecule—a direct signature of parity (left-right symmetry) violation and a sensitive probe of dark matter.
Molecules, with their rich internal structure, offer unique opportunities compared to atoms for precision measurements. They are increasingly used to test fundamental symmetries, measure fundamental constants and their possible time variations, and search for dark matter. Such experiments rely on ultra-precise determination of molecular transition frequencies, requiring advanced techniques familiar in atomic physics: selective state control, high detection efficiency, long coherence times, and cooling of internal and external degrees of freedom.
The student will play an active role in early developments of the experiment, including: setting up mid-infrared quantum cascade laser systems at 6.4 μm and 15.5 μm to probe molecular vibrations; and performing first Doppler and sub-Doppler absorption spectroscopy on cold molecules (~1 K) generated in a novel apparatus.
Contact
Mathieu Manceau
Laboratory : Laboratoire de physique des lasers - UMR7538
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
24/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
24
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
The master’s student will take part in forefront experiments dedicated to ultra-precise measurements of rovibrational molecular transitions to test a possible time variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio (μ), a key constant of the Standard Model. Detecting such a drift would signal new physics and shed light on dark matter and dark energy. The approach relies on comparing astronomical molecular spectra with laboratory data. The experimental setup uses quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) stabilized to optical frequency combs traceable to primary standards, a technology pioneered at LPL that enables unprecedented precision in the mid-infrared.
The internship centers on methanol (CH₃OH), whose transitions are especially sensitive to μ-variation. The student will install and stabilize a QCL in the relevant spectral region, aiming for sub-Doppler resolution and ~100 Hz frequency accuracy, necessary for astrophysical comparisons. This work is part of the ANR Ultiμos project with LKB and MONARIS, combining spectroscopy of methanol and other species such as ammonia to identify key transitions for Earth- and space-based campaigns. Partners including Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Onsala Space Observatory provide theory and astronomical input.
Contact
Mathieu Manceau
Laboratory : Laboratoire de physique des lasers - UMR7538
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
Team : Métrologie, Molécules et Tests Fondamentaux
Team Website
24/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
25
Multiscale computational investigation of PAR-seeded condensates in DNA damage response
Domaines
Biophysics
Type of internship
Théorique, numérique Description
This M2 project aims to understand the formation and structure of biomolecular condensates, which are crucial for DNA damage repair. Specifically, it will use multiscale simulations to investigate the interaction between PAR chains (nucleic acid scaffolds for these condensates) and the FUS protein, a key player in DNA repair. The project will be divided in two tasks: 1) Atomistic simulations with refined force fields to characterize PAR-FUS interactions in dilute solutions; 2) Coarse-grained simulations to explore the physical properties of PAR-FUS condensates under varying conditions. This internship should yield an improved molecular understanding of these crucial processes, with long term potential therapeutic impact as dysfunctional condensates are linked to diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders
Contact
Elise Duboué-Dijon
24/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
26
Machine-learning approaches to model interatomic interactions
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
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
Research overview
Materials can be studied using computer simulation which enables one to probe the motion of each constituent atoms and to build correlations between the macroscopic properties and the microscopic behaviors. On the one hand, traditional quantum mechanics methods provides particularly accurate results up to the electronic structure of the material. Yet, the drawback of this method concerns its computational cost which prevents from studying large system sizes and long time scales. On the other hand, effective potentials have been developed to mimic atomic interactions thereby reducing those issues. However, these potentials are often built to reproduce bulk properties of the materials and can hardly be employed to study some specific systems including interfaces and nanomaterials. In this context, a new class of interatomic potentials based on machine-learning algorithms is being developed to retain the accuracy of traditional quantum mechanics methods while being able to run simulations with larger system sizes and longer time scales.
Simulation project
Using computer simulations, the student will construct a database that should be representative of the different interactions occurring in a specific material. Machine-learning potentials based on the least-angle regression algorithm as well as neural network potentials will be trained and their accuracy will be studied as a function of the size and the complexity of the database.
Contact
Julien LAM
18/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
27
Crystallization of nanomaterials: theory and simulation
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
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
Research overview
The formation of a crystal is triggered by the emergence of a nucleation core. Classical nucleation theory (CNT) is widely employed to discuss its nature and its origin. In CNT, the thermodynamically stable phase is always the one that grows first and its size is then driven by the free energy competition between how much it costs to build a liquid-crystal interface and the gain from growing the crystal. Yet, following Ostwald’s rule, another structure may emerge beforehand if it is closer in free energy to the mother phase. Then, structural and also chemical reorganizations happen during the growth. This multi-stage nucleation mechanism already appears in bulk systems but can be amplified in nanocrystal nucleation where surface effects and chemical reactivity are enhanced. For nanoscience to be inspired by the practical applications instead of still being driven by the synthesis possibilities, it is crucial to reach a better understanding of the unique crystallization mechanisms leading to nanocrystals.
Simulation project
Atomistic simulations will be performed to study crystallization of binary particles. Examples will be taken from well-studied materials including CuZr, NiAl, NaCl, Water... We will investigate the correlation between the thermodynamic conditions and the final nanoparticles. The goal is to ultimately better understand how nucleation theory is affected by downsizing to the nanometric scale.
Contact
Julien LAM
18/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
28
Physics of plants: Solving the mystery of embolism repair in plants after a period of drought
Domaines
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Physics of living systems
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
It is not really understood how a plant can recover after the development of an air embolism after the nucleation of cavitation bubbles in their hydraulic network, some studies calling for a "miracle". An emerging hypothesis focuses on solutes (salts, sugars) to trigger the nucleation and growth of new droplets, which will refill the dry parts of the hydraulic circuit. The main objective of the internship is to understand the physics of the refilling when solutes are present. Our approach will be to manufacture biomimetic leaves made of a thin layer of transparent silicone.
Contact
Philippe Marmottant
16/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
29
Bosons and fermions in van der Waals heterostructures
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
The project focuses on mixtures of electrons (fermion) and excitons (electron-hole pair, a boson) in a new class of materials: van der Waals heterostructures. The latter can be seen as a “mille-feuille”, obtained by stacking atomically thin sheets of various materials. They recently became a prominent platform to study many-body physics, after a milestone discovery of superconductivity in bilayer graphene. Our long term ambition is to introduce superconductivity in a controlled manner, using excitons as force-carrier bosons (instead of phonons in conventional superconductors). The internship will pave the way toward this goal. It includes two steps, (i) the fabrication of the heterostructures and (ii) a first characterization with optical spectroscopy.
Contact
Bertrand Evrard
12/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
30
Information flow and polymer physics of gene activity
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Our 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
12/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
31
SELF-ORGANIZED PATTERNING IN MAMMALIAN STEM-CELL AGGREGATES
Domaines
Statistical physics
Biophysics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
This research project aims to uncover the biophysical principles that enable mammalian embryonic stem cells to self-organize into synthetic organoid structures reminiscent of mouse embryos. Our approach blends mathematical modeling with precise single-cell
measurements to investigate the emergence of positional and correlative information within differentiating stem-cell aggregates. By integrating theoretical predictions with experimental data, the project will compare dynamic information flow across various
developmental systems, such as fly embryos and stem-cell-derived organoids. This interdisciplinary effort not only bridges quantitative and life sciences but also offers students a collaborative environment where they can take ownership of their research and help define the project’s direction.
Contact
Thomas Gregor
12/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :
32
FISH SCHOOLS AS SOFT ACTIVE MATTER
Domaines
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of living systems
Type of internship
Expérimental et théorique Description
Can the motion of animal collectives be described as the flows of soft active matter? To answer this question, we combine field studies of massive fish schools, extensive data analysis, machine learning, and mathematical modelling. Depending on your interests and the scope of your internship, you will contribute to a selection of these efforts. Reach out to learn more about our research!
Contact
Denis Bartolo
12/09/2025
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Thesis :
Funding :