************** my apologies for cross postings ***************

Dear colleagues,
please bring this opportunity for a PhD position to the attention of
potential candidates.

Best regards,
Thomas Pino and Pascal Parneix.

******************************************
A PhD position funded by the french Region Ile-de-France is available at
the Astrophysique et Edifices Moléculaires group at the Molecular
Sciences Institute at Orsay, France. The project is entitled: Astro-PAHs
infrared emission, from the laboratory to the interstellar medium.

_Project description:_
Dust is a key component of the interstellar medium and plays a capital
role in many astrophysical processes. During this PhD, we will tackle
the aromatic carbon bearing component responsible for the emission bands
observed in the mid-infrared, the so-called Aromatic Infrared Bands
(AIBs), thanks to dedicated laboratory experiments and numerical
simulations. The size range of the laboratory analogues will span
several Angstrom to few nanometers, that is to say containing tens to a
few hundreds of carbon atoms, a range which remains scarcely explored
although of great astrophysical relevance.

_Methods:_
To study these "astro-PAHs", the spectrometer Firefly will be coupled to
the Nanograins experimental set-up wherein a flame is used to produce
analogues of the interstellar carbonaceous dust. Firefly is dedicated to
the measurement of IR emission of molecules and nanoparticles in the gas
phase following excitation by light. A numerical simulation effort will
also be undertaken using some theoretical tools developed in the recent
years in our group. The IR emission spectra of nanoparticles resembling
those produced in Nanograins will be computed. Comparison between
experimental, theoretical and astrophysical spectra will thus be
conducted.

_Profile description:_
We are looking for a candidate having a master in the field of physics
or physical chemistry, with good experimental and programming skills.

_Application:_
Please send a complete CV, 2 letters of recommendation as well as a list
of the courses followed in 2013-2014 with grades and possibly ranking to
Prof. Pascal Parneix ([log in to unmask]) and/or  Dr. Thomas Pino
([log in to unmask]).
The deadline for application is end of July 2014 but the position will
be filled asap.

-- 
Thomas Pino, Chargé de recherche CNRS
Equipe « Astrophysique et Edifices Moléculaires »
Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay - ISMO
Université Paris-Sud; CNRS
bâtiment 210, bureau 11
F-91 405 Orsay
France

Tél :	+33 (0)1 69 15 73 19 (office)
	+33 (0)1 69 15 82 32 (Lab)
	+33 (0)1 69 15 82 33 (Lab)
Fax :	+33 (0)1 69 15 67 77
web: www.ismo.u-psud.fr