Research Engineer (M/F) - 18-month Fixed-term Contract

Numerical and artificial intelligence methods combined with an experimental approach to design energy storage materials and devices from graphite-based biocarbon composites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

A school of the ministry in charge of industry, IMT Mines Albi is a school of the Institut Mines-Télécom, France's leading group of engineering and management schools. At the forefront of industrial and academic challenges on the international stage, it acts as a territorial scientific and economic engine by combining its 4 missions - training engineers by integrating the dynamics of sustainable development, conducting scientific research, contributing to economic development, and disseminating the culture of science, technology, and innovation - into a virtuous cycle that fosters innovation.

Its training and research positioning places IMT Mines Albi as a reference school for three of IMT's four themes: responsible future industry, energy, circular economy and society, and engineering, health and well-being.

In 2023, and for a five-year period, IMT Mines Albi has established a strategic plan broken down into 7 major actions, thus responding to the strategic orientations of the IMT group to which it belongs.

The position is to be filled within the RAPSODEE Center (Research in Albi on Particulate Solids, Energy, and Environment Engineering), a joint CNRS research unit dedicated to sustainable processes, materials, and energy.

The Postdoc will be supervised by Professor Ange Nzihou and co-supervised by a researcher from Princeton University (United States).

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This work is part of an ERC (European Research Council) Advanced Grant project. The ERC is a European funding organization that supports breakthrough research projects through highly competitive calls for proposals, as part of the European Union's Horizon Europe program.

The ERC project aims to evaluate the storage capacity of innovative biocarbon composites. This is a family of advanced and sustainable carbonaceous materials derived from biomass, enabling energy storage in various environments, unlike most current solutions relying on fossil-based or unsustainable materials. This should lead to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and energy savings. The work will be carried out in an international environment, with regular visits to partner laboratories in France, India, and the United States.

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher to contribute to the design and development of advanced and high-performance energy storage materials and devices, by combining computational methods, artificial intelligence (AI), and experimental approaches.

The objective is to develop and apply numerical models, data-driven methods, and AI-based tools to predict material properties, optimize their composition and structure, and improve energy storage capacity and performance. The work will combine theoretical and numerical studies with experimental synthesis, characterization, validation, and optimization of innovative energy storage solutions.

An important focus of the project will be the study of the thermophysical, thermomechanical, and thermal stability properties of graphite biocarbon composites. The candidate will study the relationships between material structure, functional properties, behavior, and overall device performance under operating conditions, in order to contribute to the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable energy storage technologies.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Strong skills in computational sciences, machine learning methods, and artificial intelligence-based methods
• Strong skills in materials characterization, experimental research, and energy storage technologies
• Good programming skills

Abilities and Aptitudes:

• Scientific rigor, analytical and synthesis skills
• Autonomy and initiative
• Ability to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
• Good written and oral communication skills in English

PROFILE SOUGHT:

PhD degree in Process Engineering, Materials Science, Energy Engineering, Physics, Computational Sciences, or a related field.

BEYOND THE PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, WHY JOIN US?:

• Pleasant working environment on a 22-hectare campus

• 49 days of leave per year

• On-site administrative catering

• Sustainable mobility assistance for commuting

• Social benefits (supplementary social protection and family assistance)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Nature and duration of contract: 19-month fixed-term contract

• For internal use:

  Job category and reference profession: Category II, Profession R – Research Engineer

  Reference profession(s) for applicants: All categories

• Position based at IMT Mines Albi and in partner laboratories in the United States with research stays in international partner laboratories (USA, India, France)

• Application deadline: 12/02/2026

• Desired start date: 02/01/2027

• Remuneration will be set according to the candidate's profile (profession, age, employment path, salary guarantee duration), based on the rules defined by the management framework of Institut Mines Télécom.

• Positions offered for recruitment are open to all, with, upon request, accommodations for candidates with disabilities.

• Position open to holders of Category A public service status and/or contract employees.

Contacts:

Regarding the job content:

Ange NZIHOU (Auriane AGARD (Regarding administrative/HR aspects: Laura OLIVIER, HR Manager (