PhD Position F/M Modelling of curly hair

Inria, the French national research institute for the digital sciences; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institute in France seeks a candidate for a PhD position focusing on the simulation of curly fibers. The role involves developing numerical models, conducting experiments, and analyzing complex phenomena in fiber mechanics. Ideal candidates should hold an M2 degree in applied mathematics or informatics, possess strong skills in numerical simulation, and be proficient in programming languages like C/C++ and Python/Matlab. The position offers a gross monthly salary of 2300 €, with flexible working hours and various benefits.

Prestations

Partial reimbursement of public transport costs

7 weeks of annual leave plus extra days off

Possibility of teleworking after 6 months

Professional equipment available

Access to vocational training

Qualifications

• Experience in computer simulation or mechanics is expected.
• Candidates should understand numerical analysis and algorithms.
• Familiarity with programming languages is beneficial.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on numerical simulations of fiber assemblies.
• Develop and analyze models of curly fibers.
• Collaborate on experiments and data collection.

Connaissances

Numerical simulation

Mathematical modelling

Software development

Experimental skills

C/C++ proficiency

Python/Matlab proficiency

Good communication skills

Formation

M2 degree in applied mathematics or informatics

Description du poste

Inria, the French national research institute for the digital sciences

Organisation/Company Inria, the French national research institute for the digital sciences Research Field Computer science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 10 Jan 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 2025-09688 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Over the last 30 years the graphics community has actively worked on the simulation of dense fibrous assemblies such as human hair or animal fur. Whether it is for the realistic animation of characters by the entertainment industry, for its applications in cosmetology, or for the design of mechanical structures, simulating accurately such kinds of systems remains challenging and computationally costly. Furthermore, a rich underlying phenomenology arises from the interaction between fibers, driven by the interplay between geometry, frictional contact, and elasticity. Due to the large number of degrees of freedom and the strong coupling between the length-scales at which fibers interact, innovative approaches are crucial.

Recent developments for the simulation of frictional fibers have made possible the efficient simulation of tens of thousands interacting fibers producing visually appealing images. However, these simulators remain limited to fibers with small natural curvature, making them unable to retrieve the rich phenomenology observed for highly curly fibers. Additionally, in many cases, the underlying model for the simulation is not systematically tested for its validity.

To bring a breakthrough on the realistic simulation of frictional fibers, we believe that a combined effort between computer simulation, physics and mechanics is required. While computer simulation has developed a large amount of knowledge to efficiently solve large-scale problems numerically, physics and mechanics have a long‑standing culture to model and analyse complex systems through controlled experiments and theoretical developments. Progressively, these communities are joining their forces to, on the one end, produce more realistic physics‑based simulators, and on the other end, find model configurations to study the physical validity of simulations and advance the understanding of physical systems with enhanced complexity.

Objectives

While studies exist regarding the mechanics and shape characterisation of a single curly hair, extensions to the understanding and modelling of a full collection of curly filaments in 3D remains scarce.

The objective for this PhD position is to combine our current numerical and experimental works on fiber assemblies to better understand and model, at the macro‑scale, some remarkable collective phenomena appearing in curly hair due to the mixed effects of elasticity/geometry and frictional contact at the fiber scale.

This work will take advantage of the numerical Kirchhoff models for rods, contact detection, and frictional contact solvers developed by the Elan team, and additionally, we expect for this study to have an important experimental component to conceive novel setups and collect data to compare with simulations.

The candidate is expected to hold an M2 degree (Engineering degree, MRes, or equivalent) in applied mathematics or informatics. The candidate should have some experience in either:

• In a computer simulation related topic (Computer Sciences, Computer Graphics, Engineering, or Applied Mathematics) with strong expertise in numerical simulation, mathematical modelling, and software development; taste and skills in physical modelling and experiments will be appreciated.
• In a mechanics related topic (Mechanics, Physics, or Engineering) with expertise either in experimental or theoretical research; taste and skills in programming will be appreciated.

All candidates should have a good understanding in numerical analysis (modelling, discretisation of ODEs and PDES for mechanical systems, finite elements, optimisation) and algorithms. We expect for the candidates to have a minimum of understanding in C/C++ and Python/Matlab. In addition, we are looking for candidates interested in application of numerics for physics and mechanics (e.g. Computer Graphics, Virtual Prototyping, or more fundamental problems in elasticity/geometry/contact/friction), capable to work alongside in real physical experiments, and curious to discover the links between Physics and Computer Graphics. Finally, candidates are expected to have good written and oral communication skills (at least in English, French is a plus) and strong motivation to work with other researchers and students, in a multidisciplinary environment.

Languages FRENCH Level Basic

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Additional Information

• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
• Possibility of teleworking (after 6 months of employment) and flexible organization of working hours
• Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities
• Access to vocational training
• Social security coverage under conditions

2300 € gross salary / month

Selection process

Applications must include a CV, covering letter, copy of diploma and valid proof of disabled worker status.

Applications must be submitted online via the Inria website. Processing of applications submitted via other channels is not guaranteed.