PhD student (M/F) Physics of raw earth for construction

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Physical Understanding of the Thermo-Hygro-Mechanical Behavior of Raw Earth for Construction
The use of raw earth-based materials represents a promising solution for reducing the significant CO2 emissions associated with the production of cementitious building materials. These materials, used in traditional construction, have the advantage of being able to be prepared with limited energy input and close to the construction site. However, they possess specific mechanical, thermal, and hygroscopic properties (absorption and transport of moisture) that need to be controlled and/or improved. The work of this thesis aims to clarify, through a fundamental approach, the physical origin of these behaviors in order to provide a solid foundation for the formulation and characterization of these materials.
In this context, we will focus on model materials composed, for example, of clay, grains, and cellulosic fibers, and we will study the properties described above by varying the relative concentrations of these components and the overall porosity, thus enabling an original physical approach in this field. The experiments will be carried out using original approaches and tools developed in our group that allow us to clarify and quantify, over time, internal heat and mass transfers, in particular, through new NMR and MRI techniques [1-4] that provide the distributions of water in its different phases. Models of these different behaviors can be developed based on physical approaches inspired by those developed to describe the hygrothermal behavior of bio-based materials composed solely of fibers [4-6].
Required skills: The candidate must have solid skills in the field of mechanics or physics, as well as an interest in physical modelling and a strong motivation for research.
[1] Maillet et al., Langmuir, 38, 15009−15025 (2022)
[2] Cocusse et al., Science Advances, 8, eabm7830 (2022)
[3] Zou et al., Cellulose, 30, 7463–7478 (2023)
[4] Zou et al., PNAS Nexus, 3, pgad450 (2024)
[5] Yan et al, Physical Review Applied 24, 044002 (2025)
[6] Daunais et al., Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer 256, 127973 (2026)

Your Work Environment

This work will be carried out at the Navier Laboratory, within the framework of European funding (ERC Advanced Grant PHYSBIOMAT (2023-2028)). The student will thus benefit from a very favorable working environment within a research group comprising various students or researchers with expertise in the different experimental or theoretical aspects of the project, as well as access to all the equipment for characterizing and preparing materials.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

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

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