En France, 11% des salariés utilisent des machines vibrantes tenues ou portées à la main qui menacent pernicieusement leur santé vasculaire. Parce que la réglementation actuelle sous-estime ce danger, l'INRS lance une contre-offensive scientifique avec le projet BIOPULSE. 

L'enjeu de cette thèse : simuler numériquement l'impact de ces vibrations sur le flux sanguin et sur les contraintes mécaniques dans les parois de nos artères digitales. Une plongée biomécanique inédite au cœur des vaisseaux sanguins pour comprendre l'origine des lésions vasculaires afin de réduire le risque sur la santé des travailleurs.

Objectifs : L'objectif principal de la thèse est de développer un cadre de modélisation d'interaction fluide-structure minutieux, exigeant, et original pour simuler les comportements mécaniques structurel et fluide d'une artère digitale propre soumise simultanément à un écoulement pulsé et à une sollicitation vibratoire représentative de l'exposition professionnelle. Ces modèles seront, ensuite, ajustés et validés expérimentalement en comparant les résultats des simulations à des mesures effectuées sur des fantômes d'artères en élastomère. À l'issue de ces validations, un plan d'expérience numérique sera réalisé sur les paramètres des modèles pour comprendre comment les caractéristiques de la vibration, couplées à celles du comportement mécanique de l'artère et au régime pulsé du sang, modifient le WSS et les contraintes circonférentielles dans la couche media de l'artère. 

Profil recherché : Le(a) candidat(e) sera titulaire d'un diplôme d'ingénieur ou d'un Master 2 recherche en mécanique, biomécanique, modélisation numérique ou discipline apparentée. 

Compétences techniques : en mécanique des milieux continus, dynamique des structures, et mécanique des fluides. Une bonne maîtrise en programmation scientifique (Matlab, Python) est demandée, ainsi que la connaissance de la méthode des éléments finis et une expérience d'utilisation d'au moins un solveur. 

This thesis aims to develop new theoretical and computational tools to model light–matter interactions in nanophotonic systems while fully accounting for dissipation, which is unavoidable in real devices but remains difficult to describe in conventional quantum approaches. It will rely on a non-Hermitian formalism based on quasinormal mode theory to investigate resonant interactions between photonic or plasmonic resonators and quantum emitters. The goal is to provide a more realistic and physically transparent framework for the design of future nanophotonic and quantum technologies, including single-photon sources, quantum sensors, and strongly coupled light–matter systems.

A detailed description of the position is attached; it includes the application requirements and guidelines.

In the context of the ecological transition and efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of materials, the incorporation of bio-based components into composites represents a major strategic opportunity.
Among these solutions, the use of plant-based fibers (such as flax or hemp) as a substitute for synthetic reinforcements in composites is attracting growing interest. Indeed, these plant fibers exhibit competitive tensile properties, with specific stiffness levels comparable to those of glass fibers.
However, these natural fibers also have defects (kink bands, etc.) as well as natural variability in structure and morphology that can affect their fracture properties and the performance of parts in service. A thorough understanding of the damage mechanisms in plant fibers is therefore necessary to enable their use in high-value-added applications. A few studies in the literature have examined damage at the plant fiber scale, using in situ mechanical testing under X-ray tomography.
However, a number of questions remain unanswered to this day: where does damage initiation occur within the fiber? What are the characteristic lengths involved during fracture? How does the composite matrix interact with the fiber? To answer these questions, a number of obstacles must be overcome regarding (i) the manage of fracture tests down to the single-fiber scale, (ii) the characterization of damage at these small scales, and (iii) the identification of relevant parameters and lengths to be incorporated into fiber-scale damage models.

Applicant profile
A student currently enrolled in an engineering school or a Master’s 2 program in mechanical engineering or materials science, with a strong interest in experimentation, image analysis, and/or numerical modeling. Candidates with a background in both experimental and numerical methods will be particularly sought after. A specialization in bio-based composites, material damage, or digital image correlation would be a plus. Knowledge of X-ray tomography is also desirable but not a strict requirement.

Descriptif de la thèse : 

La thèse portera sur la génération de cavéoles, nano-objets biologiques calibrés et produits à façon pour le développement de micro dispositifs de détection et quantifications d’objets eucaryotes et procaryotes. Les cavéoles sont des nano-objets pouvant être utilisés en recherche fondamentale comme appliquée, notamment pour la caractérisation des protéines membranaires, cibles de plus de 70% des médicaments chimiques actuels et pour la production de biomédicaments. Ces nano-objets sont obtenus par expression de la protéine cavéoline dans la bactérie Lactococcus lactis. Ils présentent des tailles comprises entre 30 et 50 nm, équivalentes à celles des exosomes ou petits vésicules extracellulaires (EVs) eucaryotes et BEVs (EVs bactériennes). Il est nécessaire de mieux connaître et d'optimiser la production de ces cavéoles, mais aussi de simplifier l'isolement de celles ci, en évitant le gradient de sucrose qui permet, actuellement, d’isoler ces éléments des autres vésicules membranaires.

Profil demandé :

Le/la doctorant(e) devra posséder un Master 2 ou diplôme d’ingénieur en Biologie et Santé, Biochimie, Biotechnologie avec un intérêt pour les caractérisations de nano-éléments par des techniques biophysiques, optiques et en flux.

The aim of this thesis in automatic control is to use the port Hamiltonian framework to develop a model and a robust control for systems actuated by dielectrophoresis for applications linked to biological cells manipulation and characterization.

This work will be carried out in the MOCOPHYS team at the AS2M department at the FEMTO-ST institute.

A detailed description of the position is attached; it includes the application requirements and guidelines.

The objective of this thesis is to develop generalized protocols for calibrating robotic micromanipulators, based on the use of microforce sensors together with joint encoders. The proposed strategies shall integrate micro-force sensors as an exteroceptive measurement technology, which is to measure forces that are external to the robot (palpation). The force measurement can either be done using on-board micro-force sensors or by scattering multiple sensors around the robot’s workspace. It would also be possible to use indirect proprioceptive measurements (robot joint measurements) synthesized using observers. All these measures shall be fused together in a coherent matter to correct the static robotic model of the micro-manipulator and to develop dynamic control strategies to reach precise contact positions for the calibration procedure and obtain a submicrometric level of precision. The microforce sensors used for this purpose may be based on one of many different measurement technologies used for micromanipulation, such as piezoelectric sensors, piezoresistive force sensing or capacitive measurement among others.

The final goal of developing such procedures is on the one hand, to significantly improve the precision for the positioning and rotational control of these systems, and on the other hand, to improve the accuracy of microforce measurements using micromanipulators regardless of the direction of the force or the robot’s configuration. The fulfilment of the latter is of particular importance, so that the procedure can be used in various applications such as the characterization of mechanical properties of microstructures under different loading conditions like compression, tension and shear forces.

This PhD thesis aims to develop a new generation of soft microrobots to address major challenges in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. It leverages cutting-edge technologies such as 4D printing and two-photon stereolithography to create smart, responsive 3D microrobots. These light-activated microrobots, integrated at the tip of optical fibers, will enable precise, multi-degree-of-freedom actuation in extremely confined spaces.

The hired PhD student will actively participate in the newly launched national research network in miniature robotics (PEPR Miniro "miniature robotics", 2025-2032) and will have full access to equipements and facilities notably provided by the CMNR (Center for Micro and Nano Robotics – National infrastructure for cutting-edge robotics research) and the Mimento clean-room technological facility (National network of major technology hubs for Basic Technological Research).

The objective of this Ph.D. thesis is twofold: first, to develop a nonlinear infinite-dimensional port- Hamiltonian (pH) model for flexible structures undergoing large deformations with strongly nonlinear (electro-)mechanical behavior; and second, to synthesize robust controllers with clear physical interpreta-tions to stabilize such structures at desired configurations and to follow desired trajectories.

A detailed description of the position is attached; it includes the application requirements and guidelines.

The RoMoCo team at the FEMTO-ST laboratory and the ETIS Lab at CY Cergy Paris University are offering a PhD position on “Embodied Perception in Modular Soft Robots for Affective and Social Human–Robot Interaction.”

Within the framework of the structuring axis “Material, Architecture, and Embodied Intelligence” (AS1) of the PEPR O2R program, and more specifically WP2 dedicated to deformation for motion and interaction, this PhD project aims to develop new soft robotic solutions for human–robot interaction with expressive motion capabilities and the ability to perceive their own deformation during interaction.

The thesis will be primarily hosted at FEMTO-ST, with extended research stays (up to half of the PhD duration) at ETIS.

Candidates with a background in mechatronics, robotics, or mechanics are encouraged to apply.

A detailed description of the topic is attached, including application information and conditions.

The RDH team of the ICube laboratory and the RoMoCo team of the FEMTO-ST laboratory propose a thesis subject around the design of active soft surfaces for new modes of human-robot interaction. 

The work takes place within the framework of the AS1 project of the exploratory PEPR O2R, with a multidisciplinary consortium involving robotics, arts&design and humanities and social sciences. 

The work will focus on the design of solutions integrating a physical intelligence in soft systems, for new modes of interaction. Design, manufacturing notably by additive manufacturing and control will be associated with an important experimental dimension. Training in mechatronics, robotics, or mechanics expected. 

The thesis will take place on the 2 sites, Strasbourg and Besançon, with access to experimental platforms of the first order. Starting in October, funding of the thesis acquired. Description of the subject in attachment, information and conditions to apply are described there.