The rapid integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into clinical workflows presents a fundamental tension: while generative agents offer unprecedented capabilities for processing unstructured medical narratives, their stochastic nature conflicts with the deterministic safety requirements of medical practice. Within the European and French regulatory landscape—defined by the EU AI Act, GDPR, and the HDS (Hébergeur de Données de Santé) certification—deploying clinical AI is simultaneously a performance challenge and a sovereignty mandate. Healthcare institutions require systems that operate on-premise while providing rigorous, auditable decision support.

The objective of this thesis is to propose a neuro-symbolic middleware that prevents direct LLM interpretation of raw EHR or medical data. In this design, LLM agents interact exclusively through a Clinical Semantic API backed by a formal Medical Knowledge Graph and governed by Semantic Contracts.

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

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).

Project description

At the cutting edge of the Second Quantum Revolution, the scaling of entanglement schemes has become a central challenge in Quantum Sciences and Technologies (QSTs) in general and in quantum information processing and quantum metrology in particular.

The goals of this PhD project are to prepare and stabilize highly entangled Dicke states in a large ensembles of NV centers placed in microwave cavities and to explore their utilization as an entanglement source for quantum information processing tasks or for quantum metrology. This involves triggering and controlling superradiance (SR) in the microwave domain (~3 GHz) and quantifying the collective quantum properties using dispersive measurements. 

The outcomes will advance our understanding of quantum coherence in solid-state systems, contribute to the development of scalable quantum technologies and provide innovative tool for exploring collective effect in Cavity QED.

Key Responsibilities:

• Simulation and Optimization: Design and optimize microwave resonator able to trigger the superradiance of NV centers.
• Experimentation: Develop the experimental setup and protocols to trigger and stabilize the collective superradiance in NV centers placed in microwave cavities.
• Quantum Characterization: Quantifying the Dicke states properties by mean of both local measurements and advanced dispersive measurements techniques.
• Theoretical Collaboration: Collaborate with theorists to model the dynamics of superradiance.
• Team Collaboration: Work with the rest of the team to investigate applications in quantum metrology and quantum information processing.
• Dissemination: Publish your findings in high-impact journals and present your work at international conferences.

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.

This thesis is conducted within the framework of the ANR PRCE Power-Twin project, which aims to develop a digital twin for the diagnosis and prognosis of power module components, with particular attention to bonding wire degradation under variable load profiles.

The main objective of this thesis is to extend the health state prediction capabilities of prognostic models to conditions that are poorly represented in training data or entirely unseen. This will be achieved through three complementary research directions, each structured around a core research question and a set of concrete tasks.

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.

Context: Position opened in the framework of the RoboTop project funded by the National Research Agency (ANR)

 Employer: University of Marie and Louis Pasteur, Besançon, France Location: FEMTO-ST Institute, AS2M department, 24 rue Alain Savary, 25000 Besançon, France 

 Duration: three years full-time employment, starting 1st October 2026 

Contact information: Abdenbi MOHAND OUSAID, abdenbi.mohand [at] femto-st.fr (abdenbi[dot]mohand[at]femto-st[dot]fr) 

Supervision team: Abdenbi MOHAND OUSAID, Aude Bolopion and Michael Gauthier

Working environment: The PhD student will be hired by the university of Marie and Louis Pasteur and will be working in the FEMTO-ST research laboratory / AS2M department. He/she will work in the context of the ANR PRC RoboTop project. All expenses related to this thesis work will be covered by this project

Context : Microrobots are tiny robots specifically designed, fabricated and controlled to perform complex tasks in confined and hard-to-reach environments. With their ability to position, manipulate, sort and characterize objects with sizes ranging from 1 μm to 1 mm, they offer potential solutions across scientific (e.g., scientific tools), industrial (e.g., accurate mani-pulation and assembly, inspection), environmental (e.g., water treatment) and societal domains (e.g., medicine and bio-logy).