MSCA COFUND PhD@Tec21 - PhD position in Biomechanics: Rheophysics of Biomimetic Blood Clots under Flow

Universite Grenoble Alpes; France; On-site; EUR 23,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High-quality work environment

120 hours of doctoral courses

2-month secondments

Networking events

Accommodation assistance

Visa fees covered

45 days paid holidays

Sick leave

Parental leave

Job summary

Université Grenoble Alpes invites applications for a 36-month, full-time PhD position under the Tec21 programme. The project focuses on experimental rheology and microfluidics to study thromboembolic clot models, with collaborations between LIPhy and LRP on Grenoble Campus.

The successful candidate will work under supervisors Claude Verdier and Thomas Podgorski, and may benefit from secondments and extensive doctoral training through the programme.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Applied Sciences, or related field.
• Fluent English (spoken and written).
• Available for employment at enrolment date (1 October 2027).

Responsibilities

• Conduct experimental investigations on deformation and rupture of clot models under physiological flow conditions.
• Characterize rheological properties of gel/hydrogel models using rheometry and microscopy.
• Use microfluidic platforms to measure clot deformation and surrounding flow fields.
• Perform data analysis and contribute to fluid-structure interaction simulations.

Skills

Fluent English

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Organisation/Company Universite Grenoble Alpes Department COFUND PhD_at_Tec21 Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 28 Feb 2027 - 13:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe – COFUND Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101217261 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Context and work environment

Blood clots are complex, dynamic and multiscale structures composed of a fibrinmesh that traps red and white blood cells. These clots typically form in veins, arteries, ororgans, and especially in vein segments of the lower limbs, withsizes ranging from 200µm to several millimeters in cases of deep vein thrombosis(DVT). A critical risk arises from detachment, induced by high shear flows or toweak vessel wall adhesion, which can lead to embolism and life-threatening complications.

The objective of this PhD is to experimentally investigate the deformation and rupture of polymer or hydrogel-based clot models under physiological and pathological flow conditions. The models will be fabricated to reproduce the key mechanical properties of natural blood clots, and their rheological behavior will be thoroughly characterized. A dedicated microfluidic platform will be used to subject these models to controlled shear flows, mimicking the hydrodynamic stresses encountered in vascular environments. Advanced experimental techniques will be used, including Digital Image and Volume Correlation for measuring clot deformations under rapid confocal microscopy, and Particle Image Velocimetre (PIV) or other advanced techniques to characterize the velocity fields around the clots. The resulting data will be compiled into a large database and with fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations to validate improved numerical models,with the long-term goal of better understanding thromboembolic risks.

The PhD will be conducted in two Tec21 laboratories on the Grenoble Campus:

• Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Physics (LIPhy) specializes in physics at the interface with other disciplines, focusing on three main research axes, namely the physics of life, complex matter and optics. It fosters active collaborations with institutes in biology and medical research.
• Laboratory of Rheology and Processing (LRP), is a leading center for rheology, complex fluids, soft matter and process engineering, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including rheometers, advanced microscopes, structural characterization tools, and process resources.

This project will also benefit from a collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury, NZ (Profs M. Sellier, V. Nock and J. Hewett), experts in modelling and simulation of fluid-structure interactions. Their ongoing work will provide a strong numerical framework to complement the experimental results of this PhD.

The PhD project will be supervised by Claude Verdier (LIPhy), an expert in the rheology of biological materials and Thomas Podgorski (LRP), an expert in the rheology of blood flows and microfluidics, particularly the deformation and aggregation of Red Blood Cells under flow.

Description of the project

The project aims to relate the complex rheological behavior of biomimetic blood clots to their deformation and rupture under shear flows. The models will be designed to reproduce key rheological properties of natural clots, from simple gels to complex multiphase materials, with the possibility to test actual clots. A dedicated microfluidic platform will enable the simultaneous characterization of clot deformation and the flow fields, providing insights into the mechanisms of clot failure and detachment

Possible research axes

1. Design of biomimetic gel models. While natural blood clors exhibit complex poro-viscoelastic behavior, this project will focus on gel models designed to reproduce their key mechanical properties (e.g. elastic modulus, yield stress). Different approaches will be explored, including polymer gels, multi-component materials prepared by photopolymerisation, hydrogels or other techniques. The rheological properties of the models will be thoroughly characterized using rheometry techniques to select or derive a constitutive equation for simulations.

2. Development of a microfluidic platform. A custom microfluidic platform will be designed to reproduce physiologically relevant shear and oscillatory flows, typical of veins or arteries. The platform will enable real-time visualization of clot deformation, time-dependent motions, flow velocities, adhesion effects using 2D microscopy and rapid confocal microscopy. Pressure and flow transducers could be integrated to measure hydrodynamic conditions and decipher the mechanisms leading to clot failure.

3. Advanced experimental characterization. The project will involve capturing complex events such as deformation, detachment and flow-induced clot failure. To achieve this, advanced 4D image processing (e.g. Digital Image and Volume Correlation in combination with Particle Image Velocimetry to quantify both clot deformations and surrounding flow fields) will be employed.

4. Fluid-structure interaction simulations. Numerical simulations will be performed to model clot deformation and rupture under flow. This will involve implementing the constitutive equation (derived from experimental rheological characterisation) and coupling it with fluid flow equations to solve a fluid-structure interaction problem. Existing simulation tools may be adapted to address the specific challenges of this project.

Depending on the candidates’ background and specific interests, the focus of the PhD may be more on two or t hree ofthese research axes, although all four are i important for the project.

Supervisors: Claude Verdier, Thomas Podgorski
Research fields: Rheology of complex matter, Fluid-structure interactions, Microfluidics, Biomimetic materials, Blood flows
Possible secondments (industrial or academic partners): University of Canterbury (NZ), Prof. M. Sellier
Doctoral school: IMEP² (Engineering – Materials, Mechanics, Environment, Energy, Processes, Production).

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Applied Sciences, or a related field, with a background in oneor more of the following areas:

• Mechanics and physics of materials: characterisation, rheology
• Biomechanics or biophysics
• Applied mathematics or quantitative image analysis

Disciplinary skills, experience

Experience of experimental work, particularly in advanced material characterization (rheometry, microscopy) will be an advantage. Fluent English (spoken and written) is required for oral presentations at conferences and for writing scientific articles.

Personal skills

The candidate should be able to adapt/work in a collaborative environment, working across two laboratories and during a secondment at a partner university. Therefore she/he should demonstrate strong communication skills to effectively interact with different teams.

The candidate should show rigor, perseverance and problem-solving skills in designing and conducting experiments, as well as in analyzing complex data. She/he should show scientific curiosity and motivation to tackle interdisciplinary challenges.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) is offering a 36-month full-time work contract. In line with the European Commission rules for Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant holders, the remuneration will consist of a gross monthly salary of 2,650 EUR. The estimated net salary to be perceived by the PhD fellow will be between 2,050 and 2,150 EUR.

Benefits include:

• Access to a high-quality work environment, including a personal computer, scientific equipment and access to library and shared lab facilities
• Access to high-level scientific and inter-sectoral training through 120 hours of doctoral courses and workshops
• Opportunity for 2-month secondments at an academic institution or industrial partner during the 2nd year of the PhD
• A vast choice of networking events and activities within the PhD@Tec21 Programme and through the international network of MSCA fellows
• Access to the UGA International Student Office, to assist the PhD fellows in searching for accommodation in Grenoble and support with administrative issues including visas, health, bank accounts, etc.
• Visa fees and registration to the UGA Doctoral School are covered by PhD@Tec21
• 45 days of paid holidays
• Sick leave
• Parental leave

Eligibility criteria

The programme is open to applicants of all nationalities. To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

• Have completed a Master’s degree or an equivalent diploma by the deadline of the programme’s call (28 February 2027)
• Do NOT already be in possession of a Doctoral degree
• Do NOT have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately preceding the deadline of the programme's call (mobility rule). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, or time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, will not be taken into account
• Be fluent in English (at least B2 level)
• Be available for employment at the enrolment date (1 October 2027).

Selection process

This recruitment takes place within the PhD@Tec21 Programme, which is co-funded as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND actions under the grant agreement #101217261. The recruitment process follows a specific selection and evaluation procedure with particular eligibility criteria, all of which are detailed in the applicant guide available on PhD@Tec21 Website.