POST-DOC Data-driven discovery of constitutive models for granular materials from physics and in-operando intruder experiments (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for designing and implementing physics-informed machine learning strategies for identifying constitutive laws in granular media. This includes the development of thermodynamically consistent models and their integration into numerical simulation tools coupled with boundary value problem solvers (e.g. finite element-based frameworks).
A significant part of the work will focus on exploiting and enriching an existing experimental database. The candidate will contribute to the design, execution, and analysis of in operando intrusion experiments, including the acquisition and processing of both macroscopic measurements (forces, torques) and internal fields obtained via tomographic imaging.
The postdoctoral researcher will also be responsible for validating and evaluating the developed models, assessing their robustness and extrapolation capabilities on unseen configurations. They will contribute to the physical interpretation of results, particularly regarding localisation mechanisms in granular materials.
Finally, the candidate will participate in the dissemination of results through scientific publications, presentations at international conferences, and interactions with academic and industrial partners.

Activity

Main activities:
• Develop constitutive models for granular media using physics-informed Machine Learning — high responsibility
• Implement a coupled learning / boundary value problem solver framework (FEM) — high responsibility
• Exploit and enrich experimental databases (forces, torques, tomography) — high responsibility
• Participate in and analyse in operando intrusion experiments — medium to high responsibility
• Validate models and assess their extrapolation capabilities — high responsibility

Secondary activities:
• Analyse localisation mechanisms — medium responsibility
• Contribute to scientific publications and communications — medium responsibility
• Collaborate with partners and provide occasional supervision — limited responsibility

Your Profil

Skills

-Technical skills:
• Continuum mechanics / granular media mechanics — good to expert level
• Numerical modelling (finite elements or equivalent) — good level
• Machine Learning applied to physics — good to confirmed level
• Materials thermodynamics — good level
• Experimental data analysis (forces, fields, imaging) — good level
• Scientific programming (Python/C++ or equivalent) — good level

Technical know-how:
• Coupling physical models with experimental data — expected proficiency
• Model validation and testing on new datasets — good level
• Scientific writing and communication — good level

Soft skills:
• Scientific rigor and autonomy — high level expected
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team — high level expected
• Curiosity and interdisciplinary openness — high level expected

Your Work Environment

Laboratoire 3SR (Soils, Solids, Structures, Risks, UMR 5521) is a joint research unit affiliated with Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP-UGA, and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS). It is located on the Saint-Martin-d'Hères campus (Grenoble), with offices and experimental facilities distributed across several buildings (including the Galilée building and experimental halls), particularly following the 2020 fire.
Its research focuses on the mechanics of solids, materials, and structures, with applications in civil engineering, energy, environment, transport, and health. The unit develops multi-scale and multi-physics approaches (thermo-hydro-mechanical couplings, fluid/solid interactions), combining experimentation, theoretical modelling, and numerical simulation. It mainly investigates geomaterials (soils, rocks, concrete), porous or divided media (fibres, biological and bio-based materials), as well as construction materials (wood, earth, composites, ceramics).
The unit comprises 130 staff members, including 56 permanent staff (faculty members, researchers, and support staff). It is strongly integrated into local, national, and international scientific networks related to mechanics, materials, and risk analysis.
The post-doctoral researcher will be hosted within the laboratory and integrated into the GéoMécanique research team. In terms of hierarchy, the postdoctoral fellow will report scientifically to the project leader, Mr. Gioacchino Viggiani, Professor at Université Grenoble Alpes, and will also be under the administrative authority of the laboratory director, in accordance with the governance structure of Laboratoire 3SR. He/she will work in close interaction with permanent staff, PhD students, and engineers of the laboratory, as well as with experimental and modelling partners involved in the project.

Constraints and risks

None

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

monthly gross salary: 3041 €

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions