PhD Position F/M PhD - Designing next-generation seismic metamaterials with hybrid particle- and wave-based simulations

Contract type : Fixed-term contract

Level of qualifications required : Graduate degree or equivalent

Fonction : PhD Position

About the research centre or Inria department

The Inria Rennes - Bretagne Atlantique Centre is one of Inria's eight centres and has more than thirty research teams. The Inria Center is a major and recognized player in the field of digital sciences. It is at the heart of a rich R&D and innovation ecosystem: highly innovative PMEs, large industrial groups, competitiveness clusters, research and higher education players, laboratories of excellence, technological research institute, etc.

Context

Inria is the National Research Institute for Digital Science and Technology. This center for scientific excellence is directing the French Digital Programs Agency and is on the frontline of digitalization in Europe while conducting world-class research covering a wide range of disciplines. International and industrial collaborations, ground-breaking research, software development, artificial intelligence, quantum- and cyber technologies (AI) and deep tech startups are the DNA of the institute. Inria ranks 16th worldwide at the AI Research ranking while being the number one European institute for frontier research in digital sciences.

Assignment

This PhD opportunity offers to join an Inria Exploratory Action, bridging fundamental research and technological applications for metamaterial design. Working alongside a team of full-time research scientists, you will push the current knowledge on fluid mechanics and metamaterials to unveil next-generation seismic protection systems.

Metamaterials are engineered structures with properties unattainable in natural materials. Using intricate sub-wavelength designs, they have advanced wave control, energy efficiency, and other fields. Acoustic meta-materials, in particular, are promising for sound attenuation, vibration control, and noise-cancellation technologies. Earthquakes, caused by plate tectonics, generate destructive surface waves that threaten infrastructure. Civil engineers have traditionally mitigated these effects with mechanical oscillators and energy-dissipation systems, adapting solutions to the power of earthquakes and the characteristics of vulnerable structures. Another critical challenge is sloshing in liquid tanks, where fluid dynamics at the free surface can cause severe structural damage. Preventing this non-linear phenomenon remains a significant obstacle.

Seismic metamaterials hold great promise for shielding structures from earthquake waves, enabling next-generation civil engineering solutions. A key focus of this project is the exploration of multi-physical coupling phenomena, where interactions between physical domains (e.g., acoustic, elastic, thermal, and fluidic) unveil unique behaviors. Non-linearities, locally resonant mechanisms, and fluid-structure interactions allow the development of highly tunable metamaterials. By examining the interplay of band-gaps, non-linearity, and multi-physical coupling, the project aims to establish a versatile design framework for wave manipulation, noise control, and seismic protection.

Main activities

Ideal profiles are those with backgrounds in computational mechanics and/or advanced scientific computing.

Candidates should have earned a MSc or equivalent degree in physics (ex. fluid mechanics, acoustics, multi-phase, interactions), applied math (statistics, probability), computational mechanics (structural dynamics, Finite Elements, waves), or in a related field.

Experience in implementing numerical methods for PDEs or physical problems in high-level programming languages (Matlab, Python, Julia) is essential.

Candidates are expected to possess outstanding problem-solving abilities and a proven aptitude for teamwork.

Benefits package

Subsidized meals
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

Remuneration

2 200 per month

Apply for this position

General Information

Theme/Domain : Optimization and control of dynamic systems
Scientific computing (BAP E)
Town/city : Rennes
Inria Center : Centre Inria de l'Université de Rennes
Starting date : 2025-09-01
Duration of contract : 3 years
Deadline to apply : 2025-03-31

Warning : you must enter your e-mail address in order to save your application to Inria. Applications must be submitted online on the Inria website. Processing of applications sent from other channels is not guaranteed.

Instruction to apply

Defence Security :
This position is likely to be situated in a restricted area (ZRR), as defined in Decree No. 2011-1425 relating to the protection of national scientific and technical potential (PPST).Authorisation to enter an area is granted by the director of the unit, following a favourable Ministerial decision, as defined in the decree of 3 July 2012 relating to the PPST. An unfavourable Ministerial decision in respect of a position situated in a ZRR would result in the cancellation of the appointment.

Recruitment Policy :
As part of its diversity policy, all Inria positions are accessible to people with disabilities.

Contacts

Inria Team : I4S
PhD Supervisor :
Droz Christophe / christophe.droz@inria.fr

About Inria

Inria is the French national research institute dedicated to digital science and technology. It employs 2,600 people. Its 200 agile project teams, generally run jointly with academic partners, include more than 3,500 scientists and engineers working to meet the challenges of digital technology, often at the interface with other disciplines. The Institute also employs numerous talents in over forty different professions. 900 research support staff contribute to the preparation and development of scientific and entrepreneurial projects that have a worldwide impact.