Synthetic materials with active contractions

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Lyon, RHONE ALPES
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 20 Nov 2024

22 Mar 2024
Job Information
Organisation/Company

CNRS - Institut Lumière-Matière
Research Field

Physics
Chemistry
Technology » Materials technology
Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)
Country

France
Application Deadline

20 Nov 2024 - 22:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

In many biological systems, small things control mechanical properties at a much larger scale. In the cellular cytoskeleton, molecular motors control the mechanical response of the actin network. In the extracellular matrix, micrometric fibroblasts contract and relax to maintain nearly constant mechanical stresses over centimetric scales even when the matrix is stretched. In blood clots, aggregates of contractile platelets are responsible for the stiffening during coagulation. These phenonema are usually described within the framework of homogenization theories, identical to the one for composite materials. In particular, recent work showed that active mechanical dipoles were conserved over length scales, and that the dipole strength could be enhanced or reduced depending on material nonlinear properties, as well as in fibrous materials.

At the Institut Lumière Matière, we recently developped the first synthetic system that creates local reversible contractions inside a homogeneous material. It exploits the light-absorbing properties of micrometric particles and the phase-transition dynamics of a hydrogel. The goal of this project is twofold. Fully describe the phase-transition-triggered local contraction mechanism, and scale up this mechanism to create centimetric light-controllable hydrogels.

Funding category: Sans financement dédié
Candidature à déposer à l'école doctorale EDPHAST
PHD title: Doctorat de Physique
PHD Country: France


Requirements
Specific Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with graduate-level knowledge of physics, mechanics, or chemistry, motivated to work on a project at the interface of fundamental and developmental research.


Additional Information
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
CNRS - Institut Lumière-Matière
Country
France
City
Lyon
Geofield


Where to apply
Website

https://www.abg.asso.fr/fr/candidatOffres/show/id_offre/121532

Contact
Website

https://ilm.univ-lyon1.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=27&id=403

STATUS: EXPIRED