Job offer

Organisation/Company: Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour

Research Field: Engineering » Mechanical engineering, Physics » Other, Engineering » Chemical engineering, Chemistry » Physical chemistry

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions, PhD Positions

Country: France

Application Deadline: 1 May 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

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

This thesis aims to deepen the understanding of wetting and evaporation phenomena through a detailed analysis of the contact line. These phenomena, ubiquitous in nature and industry, depend on the dynamics of the contact line, which is still only partially understood and predicted. The present thesis proposes to develop an original experimental approach based on the simultaneous coupling of several optical techniques. The goal is to characterize in situ, with high precision and high spatial and temporal resolution, the entire morphology of a sessile wetting drop, from the precursor film to the apex, as well as the hydrodynamics within these regions. Different contact line dynamics will then be explored in controlled experiments (including spreading, evaporation, ...) under various surface physicochemical properties and atmospheric conditions. These investigations will allow for revisiting some classic experiments and exploring new, more original ones. The results will be analyzed in comparison with advanced mathematical models. Predominantly experimental and interdisciplinary (hydrodynamics, transfer, physico-chemistry, soft matter, and optics), this thesis is part of the µMEGA research project, co-financed by the Carnot Institute ISIFoR and the Pau Béarn Pyrénées Urban Community. It will be carried out in collaboration with the TIPs laboratory at ULB, with the possibility of research stays co-supervised by Pierre Colinet.

Keywords: Fluid Mechanics, Heat and Mass Transfers, Drops/Films, Surfaces & Interfaces, Wetting, Evaporation, Contact Line, Optical Methods.

Supervision

Co-Supervision: Ross BROWN, LFCR, UMR 5150 CNRS UPPA, Pau, France.

Where to apply

E-mail: benjamin.sobac@univ-pau.fr

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering » Mechanical engineering, Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering, Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field: Physics » Other, Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications:

• Engineering/Master student with a major in physics, mechanics, physical chemistry, or optics.
• Knowledge or experience appreciated in fluid mechanics, transport phenomena, interfacial phenomena, and/or signal and image processing
• Motivated by experimental work
• Attracted by a multidisciplinary environment and technological innovation
• Good communication skills to share information and results within different teams

Languages: ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

The successful candidates will be enrolled in the PhD program of the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (Anglet/Pau, France). In addition to the individual scientific projects, you will benefit from further continuing education, a variety of training courses for specific and transferable skills, and active participation in international conferences. Also, you will benefit from an international collaboration.

Eligibility criteria

• Educational Level: Master in engineering, physics, or equivalent.
• Required languages: English
• Skills/Qualifications: The candidate should ideally have experimental/modeling skills or at least a proven interest in it.
• Eligibility to enroll in the PhD program of the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour: acquired 60 ECTS of bachelor and master training.

Selection process

The selection committee uses a number of indicators to evaluate the applicant’s preparedness, motivation and potential.

1st phase, remote pre-selection:

• Quality of the CV, in general
• Any demonstrated research experience, in particular internships on similar topics or using similar techniques.
• Undergraduate performance: overall, with a special focus on relevant field-specific courses
• Any demonstrated previous recognitions (grants, awards, ...)
• Preferably, two recommendation letters, or at a minimum, the contact information for two references.
• Statement of purpose: past research experience, motivation for applying to this particular PhD project, academic fit, project contribution to the candidate’s future career plans, ...
• Additional relevant skills (field-specific): demonstrated, e.g. through previous projects, and or through previous participation in scientific contests, trainings, …

2nd phase, interview(s):

Should the candidate be preselected at phase 1, a second phase will consist in at least one interview (in presence or at distance) through which the motivation, the proactive behaviour, the capacity to work collaboratively, the organizational skills, the communication skills and the capacity to engage in a scientific discussion and manage problems, will be assessed, among other aspects.

The final decision will be the result of a consensus of an evaluation committee that will take into account the results of both recruitment phases 1 and 2. The candidate will be informed of the section results by email.

Application Process:

All the documents that prove the eligibility of the candidate and should be provided. As for the selection process candidates are expected to provide at least the following documents:

• A brief introduction letter (no more than one A4 page) that summarizes the documents and the nature of the information provided for the selection
• A full CV
• The two requested reference letters or contacts
• The letter of purpose (no more than two A4 pages)

All documents must be sent by email to the Principal Investigator of the proposed project (Benjamin Sobac – bsobac@univ-pau.fr ) before 01/05/2025. The title of the application email should be “µMEGA PhD position UPPA” in order to ensure correct processing.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: LFCR - Laboratory of Complex Fluids and theirs Reservoirs

Country: France

City: Anglet

Postal Code: 64600

Street: 55 rue Mirambeau