Drying and deformation phenomena of paper pulp in an injection moulding process - H/F

Overview

ENDURE Doctoral Candidate (DC) position hosted by CT-IPC (Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites) on the Oyonnax campus of INSA Lyon. Duration: 36 months, starting as early as possible in 2026. Host organisation: CT-IPC; associated partners: INSA Lyon, LaMCoS. Research field: Thermomechanical properties of bio-based fibre materials, Papermaking, Injection Moulding. Researcher profile: First Stage Researcher (R1). Positions: PhD Positions. Country: France. Reference: . Status: Full-time. The MSCA ENDURE Doctoral Network funds this position and collaborates with multiple universities, RTOs and industry partners across four countries.

Note: This description is focused on the doctoral research role and its context within the ENDURE programme.

Responsibilities / Research Objectives

• Investigate the drying phenomena of injection-moulded paper pulp using an approach that combines mechanical and thermal aspects.
• Develop predictive models and optimize the drying process for industrial applications.
• Adopt an experimental approach alongside numerical modelling.
• Characterise paper pulps: determine rheological and thermal properties of formulations; identify effects of composition on drying and deformation behavior.
• Conduct drying tests under controlled conditions: measure drying curves, moisture distribution and deformation evolution during drying; use characterization equipment (e.g., electron microscopy, in situ drying using X-ray microtomography).
• Develop numerical models based on heat and mass transfer in porous media, including capillary and thermomechanical effects; simulate part deformation with appropriate mechanical laws.
• Apply CFD and FEM tools to solve coupled equations and assess changes in material properties under varying temperature, humidity and airflow during drying.

Industrial / Academic Context

The results aim to optimise industrial drying processes for injected paper pulp, improving energy efficiency, reducing production costs and enhancing durability of products.

Profile / Qualifications

• Required: Master degree (or equivalent).
• Essential Skills: Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Papermaking.
• Experience with peer-reviewed publications is an advantage.
• Secondments: two secondments — first with Georges Pernoud SAS (≈4 months) focusing on mould drying technology; second with Technical University of Denmark (≈2 months) focusing on drying modelling.

Funding & Salary

This is a full-time Doctoral Candidate position funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) ENDURE programme. Total duration: 36 months. Salary/stipend in accordance with MSCA conditions.

Contacts / Information

For more information, contact the named supervisors at CT-IPC and INSA Lyon: Thomas Joffre, Pierre Dumont, Florian Martoïa.

Application Process

General eligibility criteria apply for ENDURE doctoral candidate positions. Applicants must meet both general and project-specific criteria as described in the ENDURE documentation. The working language is English and candidates must satisfy language requirements if applicable. The application should include: application form with eligibility declaration; CV; motivation letter; qualifications; English language certificate (if applicable); two references; and a research proposal (up to 2000 words). All applications are submitted according to the ENDURE process and by CET to the coordinating entity. Interviews will be conducted online between May and June 2026.