POST DOCTORANT Optimization of the thermal and mechanical performance of earth brick walls with[...]

Artois University; France; Sur place; EUR 38 000 - 50 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prominent educational institution in France seeks a postdoctoral researcher to evaluate and optimize the performance of walls made from bio-based materials as part of a sustainability project. The successful candidate will have strong experimental skills and a PhD in engineering or a related field. The role includes laboratory studies and collaboration with a team on innovative projects aimed at improving construction sustainability.

Qualifications

• Recognised Researcher (R2) profile.
• Experience in hygrothermal and mechanical characterization.
• Strong interest in bio-based materials.

Responsabilités

• Manufacture and characterize full-scale building walls.
• Assess and optimize mechanical performance of walls.
• Conduct laboratory studies on bio-based materials.

Connaissances

Strong experimental skills

Analytical and synthesis skills

Ability to work in a team

Autonomy

Open-mindedness

Rigor

Proactive approach

Formation

PhD in relevant engineering fields

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Artois University Research Field Engineering » Civil engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 14 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Context and Objective

The construction sector faces major challenges such as population growth, increasing infrastructure needs, and environmental issues. It accounts for 38% of global CO₂ emissions, mainly due to cement. This sector must evolve toward more sustainable solutions. The use of bio-based materials, such as flax shives, appears to be a promising response. These lightweight, bio-sourced materials, used in the production of plant-based concretes and insulation, offer interesting thermal, acoustic, and environmental properties.

The OPTIMALin project focuses on the evaluation and optimization of thermal and mechanical performance of earth brick walls incorporating flax shives. The LTI Laboratory (UPJV) and LGCgE (UArtois) have complementary expertise for the implementation of this project. It requires the ability to manufacture and characterize full-scale building walls from both mechanical and thermal perspectives. The results of this project will help better understand the behavior of these bio-based materials under various conditions, paving the way for large-scale development to improve the thermal performance of housing.

The aim of the study is to assess and optimize the hygrothermal and mechanical performance of walls made of compressed earth bricks (CEB) incorporating flax shives. Since the formulation and manufacturing process of CEBs are already well-established, the task will involve assembling bricks to form representative full‑scale walls, i.e., building partitions. Laboratory studies are often carried out at the material scale rather than the structural element scale. This project therefore aims to manufacture and characterize test walls that will make it possible to evaluate the performance of this earth–bio‑based material at a semi‑pilot scale representative of real walls.

Strong experimental skills in the mechanical and/or hygrothermal characterization of materials. Analytical and synthesis skills, autonomy, open‑mindedness, rigor, proactive approach, and a strong interest in experimentation. Ability to work in a team, autonomy, and scientific rigor.