PhD position: DYNAMICS OF INTERLAYER WATER CONFINED AT THE NANOMETER SCALE IN SWELLING CLAYS MINERALS (Grenoble (France))

The Institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, has an open Ph. D. position for studying the dynamics of interlayer water confined in swelling clays minerals by means on neutron scattering techniques. Swelling clay minerals control for a large part numerous natural processes (retention and release of water and nutrients in soils and water and elements in sedimentary rocks), and are also widely used in industry especially in waste repositories (pollutant retention capacity/ability in civil or nuclear waste repositories). Understanding of the structural and dynamical properties of confined water in the interlayer space of swelling clay minerals is thus of prime importance due to its impact on the environments where they are found. Additionally, from a fundamental point of view, this model system will allow us to study the dynamics of water confined at a nanometer scale in a perfectly bidimensional system and therefore to investigate the effect of anisotropy on water dynamics. For this purpose our motivation is to use a combination of neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and dynamical computer modeling to study the structural and dynamical properties of confined! water as well as the main parameters controlling its potential variability. The PhD project involves interdisciplinary cooperation with computer scientists, physicists and geologist. Suitable candidates should have a Diploma or Master’s degree in physics, geophysics or related fields. A good knowledge in programming (fortran or C) is desirable. The desire and ability to communicate and interact within an interdisciplinary team is important. The position is for three years and is already available. To apply, please send a motivation letter and a CV before the 30th September to: Dr. Mónica Jiménez Ruiz (Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France), jimenez@ill.fr

PhD position: DYNAMICS OF INTERLAYER WATER CONFINED AT THE NANOMETER SCALE IN SWELLING CLAYS MINERALS (Grenoble (France))

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