PhD 2026 : Thermal Superinsulating Bio-Aerogels with Stable Performance and Sustainable and Cost-Efficient Processing

The overall objective of the multi-partner ANR-funded national project IsoMat is to develop innovative bio-based thermal superinsulating materials with thermal conductivity below that of air, excellent long-term performance, and strong potential for technology transfer and industrial implementation.

The goal of the PhD project is to design bio-based aerogels —ultralight porous materials with high specific surface area and exceptional thermal insulation properties. Two major scientific and technological challenges will be addressed: (i) selecting appropriate physico-chemical modifications to prevent material aging while preserving their superinsulating performance, and (ii) developing processing strategies that eliminate the need for high- or low-pressure drying technologies, thereby enabling simpler, more cost-effective, and scalable manufacturing.  

The work is at the frontier of polymer physics and physical chemistry, and materials processing. It will be carried out in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners within the IsoMat consortium. The research will involve formulation and processing of bio-based materials, rheological characterization, optical and electron microscopy, characterization of solutions, gels, and porous materials, measurements of thermal and mechanical properties, and the establishment of structure–property–processing relationships.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this project.

• see more here : https://www.cemef.minesparis.psl.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Isomat-job-position_2026.pdf

• Apply on line :   https://applyfor.cemef.mines-paristech.fr/phd/

CEMEF is a research lab. of MINES ParisTech I PSL University associated with CNRS, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Unité Mixte de Recherche CNRS, UMR7635).

Overall, our missions are research and training in collaboration with industry.

Our research focuses specifically on materials and their transformation processes in the broadest sense. It extends additionally to other fields such as fluid mechanics, biomechanics or HPC for instance. On the other hand, our training programmes offer post-graduate courses related to our scientific fields of expertise. Furthermore, we are attentive to the scientific needs of industry and we set up research projects with industrial companies.

A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH LABORATORY

CEMEF studies the science of materials and forming processes. This twofold research theme is in fact at the origin of the creation of our research lab. Thus, from the outset, CEMEF has been interested in the analysis of manufacturing processes, i.e. it studies the entire chain consisting of the material / the process / the finished product .

• Master degree or equivalent. Knowledge in polymer chemical physics, capability to work in group, fluent in English, mobility, motivation and sense of initiative and capability to report regularly on their work

Contact:

• tatiana.budtova@minesparis.psl.eu