[M/F] - post-doc : Experimental characterization of structure-property relationships in cellulose-based multilayer materials for food packaging

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Sols, solides, structures, risques Research Field Engineering Physics » Acoustics Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 16 Sep 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Replacing conventional plastic packaging with paper and cardboard alternatives has become a strategic priority, supported by industrial innovations and regulatory developments. To be competitive as a substitute for plastic, paper and board packaging must offer specific gas and/or liquid barrier properties depending on the food being packaged. To ensure these functionalities, one or more coating layers are deposited on the cardboard substrate. However, to date, the microstructure/property relationships in these emerging materials are poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this postdoctoral research is to experimentally characterize the structure/barrier property relationships in these multilayer paper or cardboard-based materials in order to propose design guidelines for these new materials.

To reach this objective, the hired post-doc will :

• produce the model structures with controlled impregnation by spray coating or deposition. This task will be carried out in close collaboration with the Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) in Grenoble.
• carry out the microstructural characterization of the developed materials using synchrotron X-ray microtomography to evaluate coating impregnation rates and the gradients of microstructural properties (porosity, specific surface area, etc.) that can influence their barrier properties under usage conditions.
• formalize the structure/property relationships of the developed materials. This will focus on transfer properties (oxygen, water vapor, etc.) as well as mechanical properties, which will be measured using standard protocols or simulated numerically from 3D images.

The work will be carried out at the 3SR and CTP laboratories, both located on the Saint Martin d'Hères campus in Grenoble. The successful candidate will have access to the experimental facilities of the 3SR and CTP laboratories and to the simulation software necessary for the project.

• (i) Experimental mechanics: imaging (2D or 3D visible, 3D X-ray), field measurement
• (ii) Multiscale modeling of transfer phenomena