MSCA PF 2026 - Two way shape memory polymer for reconfigurable optical or electrical smart surfaces

IMT Atlantique; France; Sur place; EUR 20 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading technological university in France is offering a Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. This position focuses on 3D electronics circuitry and optical metasurfaces, allowing you to develop advanced materials in a collaborative environment. Candidates need a strong background in physics or related fields and experience in research. The fellowship offers generous funding, including living and mobility allowances. Join us to contribute to cutting-edge research addressing global challenges.

Prestations

Living allowance

Mobility allowance

Funding for research and training

Institutional support

Qualifications

• Must possess a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline.
• Must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research.
• Must comply with the mobility rule regarding residency in France.

Responsabilités

• Conceive, develop and characterize two-way shape memory polymeric materials.
• Work with an interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, and engineers.

Connaissances

Strong background in physics

Knowledge of polymeric materials

Good knowledge of modelling

Interest in advanced functional materials

Formation

Doctoral degree

Description du poste

Offer Description

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship: Apply with IMT Atlantique and join us!

Thinking about your next career step and willing to boost your career? Looking to experience intersectoral, interdisciplinary and international research? Wishing to carry out your research in a place addressing industrial, environmental, societal and digital transitions as a priority challenge?

Then apply for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship with IMT Atlantique as your host institution!

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) provide funding to promising postdoctoral researchers with a view to develop their academic and transferable skills and enhance their career prospects by moving and working abroad.

By applying with IMT Atlantique you give yourself a chance to join a technological university ranked among the top 500 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings 2026 (top 301-400 for Computer Science, top 201-250 for Engineering, top 301-400 for Physical sciences, and 124th in the THE Interdisciplinary Science ranking, and top 51-100 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in the 2025 Shanghai ranking). IMT Atlantique is also awarded with the “Bienvenue en France” label, a recognition delivered by Campus France for our capacity to welcome and host international researchers in the best working conditions.

Topic open:

High attention is given nowadays to 3D electronics circuitry and optical metasurfaces. With the supervisor’s help, the candidate will conceive, develop and characterize two-way shape memory polymeric materials adapted to the deposition of optical metasurfaces and silver electrodes. The final objective is to tune actively the properties of an electronic circuit or of an optical device. Access to a state of the art equipped new cleanroom is provided to develop such devices. The candidate will integrate an interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, optics and material scientists, electrical engineers and technologists.

Keywords: Reconfigurable surfaces, 3D electronics, optical metasurfaces, microfabrication processes, Two-way shape memory polymers, interfaces

Applicants are expected to have a strong background in physics, optics, polymeric materials, micro-technologies, chemical engineering, materials science, or other related field, a good knowledge of modelling approach, and a strong interest in the field of advanced functional materials.

Languages: ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field: Physics → Optics

Additional Information

Conditions of the European Fellowship

Duration: 12 to 24 months

Funding for the Postdoctoral Fellow’s salary:

• Living allowance of € 7404* per month (gross amount, including social contributions and income tax)

+ Mobility allowance of € 710 per month (gross amount, including social contributions, but exempt from income tax)

+ If applicable, family allowance of € 660 per month (gross amount, including social contributions and income tax)

*Taking into account the country coefficient for France: 116,6 %

Funding for research, training and networking (e.g. conferences, courses, travel, lab material…): € 1 000 per month

Training: Training portfolio on transferable skills, including a training module on innovative entrepreneurship

Secondment: An interdisciplinary and/or intersectoral mobility (3 months up to 1/3 of the fellowship’s duration) is encouraged when relevant

Additional benefits:

The Postdoctoral Fellow will receive institutional support and guidance on language courses, accommodation, banking, daycare, schooling & family related issues, entry conditions/visas, health insurance, medical care, taxation/salaries, unemployment, work permit, etc. Accommodation in Brest, Nantes and Rennes can also be facilitated upon arrival, by the International Houses in these cities.

Eligibility criteria

You can apply if:

- You are an Experienced Researcher, i.e. in possession of a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline and have got a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research, from the date of the award of your PhD degree.

- You comply with the mobility rule, i.e. you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline (9 September 2026). All nationalities are welcome!

- You want to carry out innovative research: only the best proposals will be selected by the European Commission. All domains of research are eligible!

- You already have great achievements in research: The CV is an important criterion in the MSCA application.

Selection process

How to apply for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship with IMT Atlantique:

Step 1: Find a supervisor at IMT Atlantique (application before 15 March 2026)

• Pre-determined topics: If you apply to one or two research subject(s) provided by supervisors (please see table2 below), please send us: 1) your CV and 2) a personal statement (maximum of 3 pages, free writing), which should include a personal introduction, qualifications and achievements, career development objectives, and general motivation.
• OR Open topics: If you want to propose a research topic that is not on the list, please send us: 1) your CV; 2) a personal statement (see above); 3) a two-page work plan proposal.

If your application is selected by a supervisor at IMT Atlantique (Feedback: End of March 2026), then, the next step would be to apply jointly for the MSCA PF call 2026, which will be launched by the European Commission in April 2026, with the deadline on 9 September 2026.

Step 2: Prepare the application for the MSCA PF

April 2026

• You will receive detailed information on MSCAPF from the European Project Manager at IMT Atlantique to start your proposal preparation
• You elaborate the research approach jointly with your supervisor(s) and the European Project Manager

May 2026

• You will receive a dedicated training session “Preparing for a Horizon Europe MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship” + advice on institutional aspects and transversal issues (open science, gender, ethics and research data management…) + advice on how to write your proposal
• One joint meeting (candidate for fellowship + supervisor(s) + European Project Manager at IMT Atlantique) for the proposal revision

July or August 2026

• One joint meeting (candidate for fellowship + supervisor(s) + European Project Manager at IMT Atlantique) for the proposal revision

September 2026

• One joint meeting (candidate for fellowship + supervisor(s) + European Project Manager at IMT Atlantique) for the proposal proofreading
• Administrative support for your MSCA PF application
• We submit your application for you on the EU Portal (deadline: 9 September 2026).