Job offer

euraxess.ec.europa.eu - Jobboard; France; Sur place; EUR 25 000 - 35 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Une opportunité de doctorat à IMT Atlantique dans le domaine des technologies énergétiques. Le projet porte sur le développement de dispositifs innovants de collecte d'énergie RF via fabrication additive. Les candidats doivent avoir un diplôme de Master et des compétences en ingénierie électrique et électronique, ainsi qu'une forte motivation pour les travaux expérimentaux.

Qualifications

• Diplôme requis en ingénierie ou domaine connexe.
• Connaissances en 3D et électronique souhaitées.
• Compétences en recherche et développement exigées.

Responsabilités

• Développement de dispositifs de collecte d'énergie par RF.
• Conception d'antennes 3D conformales innovantes.
• Collaborer sur des projets interdisciplinaires.

Connaissances

Curiosité

Rigueur

Enthousiasme pour le travail expérimental

Connaissances en ingénierie électrique

Connaissances en radiofréquence (RF)

Connaissances en électronique

Familiarité avec fabrication additive

Compétence en anglais

Aptitude à rédiger des rapports

Capacité à travailler en équipe

Formation

Diplôme de Master ou équivalent

Description du poste

Organisation/Company IMT Atlantique Department Doctoral division Research Field Technology » Energy technology Technology » Materials technology Engineering » Electrical engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 31 Aug 2025 - 23:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Scientific Context:

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving a rapid increase in the number of deployed sensors—27 billion devices by 2025 according to IoT Analytics—across diverse environments such as smart cities, precision agriculture, and industrial or medical monitoring. These sensors require reliable and sustainable energy sources, yet are often installed in remote or hard-to-access locations, making battery replacement costly or even impractical. This dependency on conventional batteries raises issues of cost, maintenance, and environmental impact.

In this context, ambient energy harvesting is emerging as an attractive solution to ensure extended energy autonomy. Among the most promising technologies are rectifying antennas (rectennas), which can convert ambient radio-frequency (RF) waves into electrical energy with high efficiency, enabling the power supply for small devices like connected sensors. Given the ubiquity of RF signals (Wi-Fi, mobile networks, Bluetooth, etc.), the potential applications are vast—spanning the automotive, healthcare, and building sectors.

Current technologies allow for relatively simple and cost-effective fabrication of planar antennas. However, these antennas have notable limitations in terms of reception surface and directionality. In this context, the development of three-dimensional (3D) conformal antennas represents a crucial advancement. These antennas could be seamlessly integrated into the powered devices, minimizing impact on volume and shape while enhancing efficiency through optimized active surfaces and directionality. Coupled with rectifying stages and DC/DC converters, they would form highly innovative rectennas.

Plastronics, which combines 3D electrical circuits with polymer substrates, is emerging as an ideal solution. However, current technologies—such as overmolding and laser direct structuring (LDS)—remain expensive and complex, leading to higher production costs and being unsuitable for rapid prototyping needed in electromagnetic field analysis. It is in this context that the proposed PhD thesis is defined.

Thesis objectives

This thesis aims to explore an innovative combination of two simple and cost-effective techniques—resin-based additive manufacturing (AM) and screen printing—to design and fabricate new, low-cost RF energy harvesting devices.

The project focuses on developing innovative 3D conformal rectifying antenna-based RF energy harvesting devices, using accessible and economical manufacturing methods. The complexity and cost of current technologies are barriers to their widespread development. To address this, the project proposes an original approach combining 3D printing and screen printing.

A shape-memory polymer substrate will be printed in a flat configuration, screen-printed with conductive inks, then redeployed into its original 3D shape. Preliminary work has shown the feasibility of this concept with promising results, though improvements are needed—especially in dimensional control, ink adhesion, and RF performance of the 3D devices.

This highly interdisciplinary project will involve:

• Resin formulation (materials science),
• Antenna and RF rectifying device design (microwave engineering),
• DC/DC conversion (electronics).

The work is part of the IM3T initiative, strengthening collaboration between IMT Nord Europe and IMT Atlantique, and will contribute to scientific visibility through publications, conferences, potentially a patent, and possibly European project development.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Technology » Energy technology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Curiosity, rigor, enthusiasm for experimental work and real-world applications
• Knowledge in electrical engineering, radiofrequency (RF), and electronics
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing (3D printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, electroplating)
• Proficiency in English
• Ability to write reports, disseminate scientific results, and deliver presentations to various audiences
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills

All applications may be subject to an administrative background check.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Internal Application form(s) needed