Last chance PhD position in "A circular economy approach for the operation of industrial parks [...]

IMT Atlantique; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading French technological university is offering a PhD position in Computer Science and Mathematics, focusing on energy systems modeling and optimization strategies. The position is funded through Horizon Europe, involving collaboration with international partners. Candidates with a Master's degree and relevant skills in programming and energy modeling are encouraged to apply.

Prestations

Competitive funding scheme

Interdisciplinary training opportunities

Mobility allowances

Optional family allowances

Qualifications

• Knowledge of optimization strategies based on mathematical programming.
• Experience in energy systems modeling.
• Basic knowledge of multi-objective problems.

Responsabilités

• Apply mathematical programming techniques for energy circularity.
• Optimize the coupling of electricity and heat storage systems.
• Model energy generation and supply systems in an industrial ecosystem.

Connaissances

Optimization strategies

Energy systems modeling

Basic knowledge of multi-objective problems

Machine learning algorithms

Software: Julia and Python

Formation

Master's degree or equivalent diploma

Description du poste

Organisation/Company IMT Atlantique Research Field Computer science Mathematics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 28 Nov 2025 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Offer Starting Date 31 Dec 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe – COFUND Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101126644 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The PhD position is offered under a standard track (30 months at IMT Atlantique + 3 months at University of Waterloo, Canada where the PhD student will stay 3 months at Prof. Ricardez’ lab. + 3 months at a non-academic partner).

1.1 Domain and scientific/technical context

The creation of industrial ecosystems, including industrial parks, involves the exchange of resources and sharing of infrastructure among different production systems. In circular economy environments, intermediate systems have been developed to facilitate the processes of recovery, reuse, and recycling. However, in terms of energy systems, the processes of reuse, recovery, and reconditioning are not yet fully defined. This work proposes the application of mathematical optimization strategies for addressing phenomena associated with energy circularity. It leads to including factors such as distributed generation, interconnection, interaction among local grids and storage, with a particular emphasis on determining exchange prices for energy resources that can stimulate the development of sustainable energy circularity systems and focusing on the quality of thermal streams and the possible conversion process for obtaining power and biofuels as by products.

1.2 Scientific/technical challenges

It is proposed the application of mathematical programming techniques to identify strategies for coupling electricity and heat storage technologies as well as the use of waste heat to mitigate degradation or, if necessary, facilitate the conversion of thermal resources into electrical resources or implement auxiliary equipment. It focuses on minimizing system costs and heat waste, prioritizing local consumption. Compensation strategies consider the spot market, the levelized energy cost, and the average market price. The link between energy exchanges in industrial parks and the design of the network of individual companies will also be studied. The optimization model will encompass the modeling and implementation of several technologies, including steam networks, hybrid power systems, and auxiliary and storage technologies.

1.3 Considered methods, targeted results and impacts

The modeling applications consider three stages. In the first stage, energy generation and supply systems in an industrial ecosystem in France will be modeled to determine waste flows and generation surpluses. The model will make it possible to determine optimal policies for the exchange and recovery of resources, including auxiliary units for the reconditioning and recovery of energy resources. The second stage will address the inclusion of storage systems with an emphasis on determining exchange prices by linking factors such as the quality of the flows involved, including electrical and thermal services. This will enable outlining the overall cost-price relationships for all participants in the industrial ecosystem analyzed. Finally, local market strategies will be modeled to determine prices and resource exchange policies. To this end, continuous game theory will be implemented to generate compensation strategies among the actors associated with the industrial ecosystem.

1.4 Environment (partners, places, specific tools and hardware)

As a case study, an industrial ecosystem in France is proposed, where data on energy demand, local grids, utilities generation and ambient conditions are available. French energy market conditions will be considered, including the availability of bioenergy resources. Bruno Lacarrière (GEPEA Laboratory - IMT -Atlantique) will serve as co‑advisor for the project. Collaboration with the Toulouse INP - LGC in France (Marianne Boix), in the framework of the ACT‑4‑IE project PEPR SPLEEN, is proposed, for which a research stay is planned. Marianne Boix will also be co‑advisor for the project. To develop the project, it is necessary to provide the PhD student with adequate computer equipment.

1.5 Interdisciplinarity aspects

Given that the project not only addresses the optimal design and operation of energy systems in industrial ecosystems, but also links them to pricing schemes and local analysis of energy product and by‑product markets, the project can easily be linked to fields such as economic analysis to consistently address and validate pricing policies and compensation strategies for the energy services generated, as well as their derivatives.

1.6 Pre‑required skills and abilities

This position requires a candidate with knowledge of optimization strategies based on mathematical programming, experience in energy systems modeling and basic knowledge of multi‑objective problems. Master students or Engineers in the field of Process Systems Engineering are strongly encouraged to apply. Knowledge of machine learning algorithms, energy markets and experience in software like Julia and Python is desirable.

1.7 References

• 2. Boix, M., Negny, S., Montastruc, L. and Mousqué, F. (2023). Flexible networks to promote the development of industrial symbioses: A new optimization procedure. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 169, 108082.
• 3. Ayele G.T., Haurant P., Laumert B., Lacarrière B., 2018, An extended energy hub approach for load flow analysis of highly coupled district energy networks: Illustration with electricity and heating, Applied Energy. Vol. 212, 850-867.
• 4. Fuentes‑Cortés, L. F., Flores‑Tlacuahuac, A. and Ponce‑Ortega, J. M. (2019). Integrated utility pricing and design of water‑energy rural off‑grid systems. Energy, 177, 511-529.
• 5. Fuentes‑Cortés, L. F., Ma, Y., Ponce‑Ortega, J. M., Ruiz‑Mercado, G. and Zavala, V. M. (2018). Valuation of water and emissions in energy systems. Applied energy, 210, 518-528.
• 6. González‑Bravo R, Fuentes‑Cortés LF and Ponce‑Ortega JM (2017). Defining priorities in the design of power and water distribution networks. Energy, 137, 1026-1040.
• 7. Montastruc, L., Boix, M., Pibouleau, L., Azzaro‑Pantel, C. and Domenech, S. (2013). On the flexibility of an eco‑industrial park (EIP) for managing industrial water. Journal of Cleaner Production, 43, 1-11.
• 8. Ramos, M. A., Boix, M., Aussel, D. and Montastruc, L. (2024). Development of a multi‑leader multi‑follower game to design industrial symbiosis. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 183, 108598.
• 9. Sanchez‑Bautista AF, Santibañez‑Aguilar JE, Fuentes‑Cortes LF, Flores‑Tlacuahuac A and Ponce‑Ortega, JM (2018). A multistakeholder approach for the optimal planning of sustainable energy systems. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 6(7), 9451-9460.
• 10. Valencia‑Marquez D, Ortiz‑Munguia JA, Maldonado‑López E, Quintana‑Hernández PA, Louvier‑Hernández JF and Fuentes‑Cortés LF (2023). Multi‑objective and machine learning strategies for addressing the water–energy–waste nexus in the design of energy systems. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 60, 103445.

2 Partners and study periods

2.1 Supervisors and study periods

• International partner: Prof. Luis Ricardez, University of Waterloo, Canada. The PhD student will stay 3 months at Prof. Ricardez’ lab.
• Industrial partner(s) for short‑term visits have not yet been determined. Existing cooperations with non‑academic partners on similar topics will be harnessed.

2.2 Hosting organizations

2.2.1 IMT Atlantique – IMT Atlantique, internationally recognized for the quality of its research, is a leading French technological university under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Digital Technology. IMT Atlantique maintains privileged relationships with major national and international industrial partners, as well as with a dense network of SMEs, start‑ups, and innovation networks. With 290 permanent staff, 2,200 students, including 300 doctoral students, IMT Atlantique produces 1,000 publications each year and raises 18€ million in research funds.

2.2.2 University of Waterloo – With more than 42,000+ students attending annually, the University of Waterloo is a leading global research‑intensive university, renowned for entrepreneurship and innovation, providing co‑op and work‑integrated learning at scale with impact.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Computer science Mathematics

Additional Information

APhD programme of high quality training : 4 reasons to apply

• b Programme of excellence that is aware of its responsibilities: to provide a programme of high quality training to develop conscientious researchers, including training in responsible research and ethics.
• SEED’s unique approach of providing interdisciplinary, international and cross‑sector experience is tailored to work in a career‑focused manner to enhance employability and market integration.
• SEED offers a competitive funding scheme, aiming for an average monthly salary of EUR 2,000 net per ESR, topped by additional mobility allowances as well as optional family allowances.
• SEED is a forward‑looking programme that actively engages with current issues and challenges, providing research opportunities addressing industrial and academic relevant themes.

Eligibility criteria

• Mobility rule: candidates must show transnational mobility by having not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the deadline of the co‑funded program’s call (November 28th 2025). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Early‑stage researchers (ESR): candidates must have a master’s degree or an equivalent diploma at the time of their enrolment and must be in the first four years (full‑time equivalent research experience) of their research career. Moreover, they must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.