Researcher in Materials Engineering- LGP2

Organisation/Company Grenoble INP - Institute of Engineering Department Engineering Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 15 Aug 2026 - 20:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 15 Sep 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

The BREATHTAKING project aims to develop a sustainable and flexible breath monitoring mask by integrating self-powered TENG sensors onto biodegradable substrates using printing. Starting at TRL 3, the project targets TRL 5 by the end of 24 months. It aligns withtechniques M-Topic 4 (Functional Materials) by focusing on advanced materials for health monitoring andERA.NET green manufacturing routes.The project's innovation lies in the fabrication of flexible breath sensors based on screen-printed silver inks on biodegradable electrospun and cast polymer substrates. It pioneers the integration of TENG electrodes, driver circuits, Bluetooth modules, and power units into commercial face masks, enabling wireless, real-time respiratory monitoring for diseases such as COPD, asthma, and pneumonia. Silver recovery strategies from end-of-life devices will further ensure a sustainable lifecycle and contribute to circular economy goals.The BREATHTAKING project addresses urgent healthcare needs in Türkiye, France and Poland, where chronic respiratory diseases burden aging populations and are exacerbated by air pollution and particularly smoking. Current monitoring technologies are often bulky, rigid, or not suited for continuous use, leaving a significant unmet need. BREATHTAKING’s lightweight, wearable system offers an accessible, non-invasive solution for continuous health monitoring, suitable for both clinical and at-home use.The expected impacts of BREATHTAKING are significant and well-aligned with the call. Industrially, the project strengthens European leadership in flexible, wearable medical diagnostics by advancing sustainable printed electronics. The Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Strategy for 2025– 2027 highlights three overarching strategic orientations: the green transition, the digital transition, and the advancement of a resilient, competitive, inclusive, and democratic Europe. The BREATHTAKING project is well aligned with all three priorities. By developing self-powered, eco-designed, and recyclable triboelectric nanogenerator-based platforms for respiratory health monitoring, it supports the green transition through sustainable energy harvesting and material circularity. Its integration ofsmart sensing, and digital health interfaces directly contributes to the digital transition. Moreover, by strengthening European leadership in advanced functional materials and fostering international collaboration across academia, SMEs, and healthcare stakeholders, the project promotes a more resilient and inclusive Europe grounded in responsible innovation.

Sustainability is deeply embedded in BREATHTAKING’s design:Resources: Use of biodegradable polymers (PCL, starch or cellulose-based substrates) and controlled silver use with high recycling yield (80–85%).Production: Adoption of low-temperature, solvent-minimized processing (screen printing) to reduce energy consumption.Use phase: Safe materials for skin contact and inhalation; design ensures device durability and breathability with targeted device performance of over 50 V and 100 nA under simulated breathing conditions.End-of-life: Recovery of silver from discarded masks through green recycling methods, supporting circular economy objectives.Stakeholder engagement: Involvement of SMEs specialized in customer/end-user needs ensures alignment with market expectations.In sum, BREATHTAKING will deliver a validated prototype for a next-generation breath-monitoring mask, opening pathways for industrial scale-up, commercialization, and future expansion into broader wearable health monitoring applications.

The project also contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 9 (Industry,Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).The candidate will mainly work in WP3 - Electrode fabrication via screen printing of conductive inks and polymers

Ink-Substrate characterisation:

• Printability of synthetic polymers (PVDF and PCL): determination of the compatibility ink- substrates after surface treatments on the substrates to enhance the wettability and the work of adhesion
• Modification of the biodegradable substrate material: the surface of the biodegradable printing substrate will be modified chemically with CNC and physically with corona. It will be characterized in terms of surface energy, air permeability.

Production of electrodes by screen-printing: solid tone electrodes will be produced after an optimization of the screen-printing parameters in order to provide better air permeability.Geometrical and electrical characterisation will be performed on the produced electrodes.Electrodes produced in this section will be tested in WP4.Deliverables writing:D3.1: Compatibility ink-substrate (including surface treatments) (M12)D3.2: Optimised screen-printing parameters to produce the electrodes (M18)