M/F Fixed-Term Researcher in Soft Matter & Hydrodynamics

EURAXESS Ireland; Marseille; Hybrid; EUR 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The postdoctoral position at CNRS CINaM in Marseille invites applicants with strong background in physics, engineering, soft matter or biophysics to study deformable particles in RBC-rich flows. The project, part of the HECTOR consortium, combines microfluidics, optical microscopy and quantitative modeling to uncover transport mechanisms and cell-like analogs under flow.

Candidates should hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, with hands-on experimental skills and good English (C1).

Qualifications

• Strong background in physics, engineering, fluid mechanics, soft matter or biophysics.
• Master's degree or equivalent.
• English writing and speaking skills at C1 level.

Responsibilities

• Develop deformable abiotic cell analogs with LAI partner.
• Optimize chemical treatments to tune RBC mechanics and shape.
• Design and fabricate microfluidic devices mimicking simplified microvascular geometries.
• Investigate transport mechanisms of abiotic cell analogs or modified RBCs in RBC-rich suspensions.
• Develop upscaling statistical models to bridge cell scale phenomena to network-scale observations based on experimental data in conjunction with numerical predictions.

Skills

Physics

Engineering

Fluid mechanics

Soft matter

Biophysics

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Microfluidic devices

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 28 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 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

Postdoctoral position: Hydrodynamic and biophysical interactions in Red Blood Cell-rich cellular flows

Missions: Microfluidic experiments, handling of red blood cell and deformable particle suspensions, optical microscopy, image analysis, statistical modeling

The HECTOR (Heterotypical Active Matter Transport in Disordered Networks) project investigates the fundamental biophysical mechanisms by which the mechanical environment of the microcirculation, particularly hydrodynamic and short-range interactions with red blood cells (RBCs), influences the adhesion, mechanotransduction, and active migration of nucleated cells. It aims to determine whether transient and repeated mechanical stresses experienced during microvascular transport modify cellular properties and subsequently alter the behavior of cancer and immune cells.

The postdoc project specifically focus on the soft matter and hydrodynamics aspects of HECTOR by investigating the transport of deformable particles in a crowded suspension of RBCs mimicking the environment of microvascular flows. The postdoc will:

• participate in the development and characterization of deformable abiotic cell analogs with LAI partner;
• optimize chemical treatments to tune RBC mechanics and shape ;
• design and fabricate microfluidic devices mimicking simplified microvascular geometries ;
• investigate the transport mechanisms of abiotic cell analogs or modified RBCs in RBC-rich suspensions through the microvascular motifs ;
• develop upscaling statistical models to bridge cell scale phenomena to network-scale observations based on experimental data in conjunction with numerical predictions developed by IMAG partner.

The postdoc will be employed by CNRS, France's largest and most recognized research institution. The host laboratory, CINaM ( https://www.cinam.univ-mrs.fr/cinam/ ), is a joint lab of CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, and is located in the Luminy Campus, at the entrance of the Parc National des Calanques. The lab hosts a micro/nanofabrication facility supported by 2 engineers. The PhD student will be co-supervised by Emmanuèle Helfer (EH), PI in the Physics for Living Systems (PIV) Department from CINaM, who works on RBC dynamics under flow, and Ankur Bordoloi (ADB), PI at IRPHE lab ( https://irphe.univ-amu.fr/ ) and currently hosted in CINaM, who is an expert in biological soft matter and porous media. EH, ADB, and colleagues from PIV department belong to the Turing Centre for Living Systems ( https://centuri-livingsystems.org/ ) and have collaborations with biophysicists, computer scientists, and biologists on various interdisciplinary projects.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in physics, engineering, fluid mechanics, soft matter, biophysics or a related discipline. The project is experimental and will suit candidates interested in complex cellular flows, microfluidics and quantitative microscopy. Candidates should hold a Master's degree or equivalent, with strong hands-on skills, scientific curiosity and an ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment. English writing and speaking skills at C1 level are mandatory.