Position of Design Engineer in the development of an instrumented test bench for piezoelectric materials

As part of a multidisciplinary ERC (European Research Council) research project BONEREPAIR, which focuses on the study of electromechanical stimulation of biomaterials seeded with bone cells, we are looking for a design engineer to participate in the experimental characterisation of these materials and the implementation of coupled measurement protocols (electrical, mechanical, biological). The biological part of the project is being carried out by BIOS laboratory located in Reims (University of Reims Champagne Ardennes), where short-term assignments will be carried out. The research engineer recruited will have the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary context (multiphysical measurements on biomaterials, namely piezoelectricity, in collaboration with biologists).

The position is likely to evolve into a permanent contract, given the prestigious ERC label under which the activities will take place. The contract is for 18 months, with a two-month trial period renewable once. The official start date is 1 December 2025, with a possible adjustment of one month before or after this date.

Principal missions:

• Design a electromechanical testbench, in collaboration with the researchers involved, to measure the electrical response to mechanical stresses applied to biomaterials for in vitro testing.
• Set up the appropriate measurement chain and characterise the accuracy of these measurements.
• Contribute to the performance of electromechanical measurements (e.g. piezoelectric response, Young's modulus, impedance) on biomaterials and bone explants.
• Assist researchers in correlating mechanical, electrical and biological measurements (collaboration with biologists in Reims for cell testing).
• Write experimental protocols and ensure the traceability of measurements.
• Short-term assignments (one week) are to be expected at the BIOS partner in Reims, where biological testing on biomaterials will take place.

Required knowledge:

• Solid knowledge of mechanics, applied physics, physical measurements, functional materials.
• Basic knowledge of biomaterials would be an advantage.

Technical skills sought:

• Proficiency in measuring instruments: oscilloscopes, multimeters, impedance meters.
• Mechanical design.
• Experience in implementing multiphysics measurement and signal acquisition chains (sensor selection, sensitivity characterisation, measurement accuracy and acceptability).
• Processing and analysis of experimental data (Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, etc.).
• Understanding of piezoelectric phenomena.

Required interpersonal skills:

• Autonomy, rigour, ability to adapt to a multidisciplinary environment.
• Interest in experimental and collaborative work.
• Teamwork and organisational skills.
• Creativity.
• Good writing skills (reports, protocols).
• Good conversational and scientific English.

Application procedure:

Interested candidates are invited to send a CV and cover letter by email to the involved LEM3 researchers: Jean-François Ganghoffer, project PI: jean-francois.ganghoffer@univ-lorraine.fr Emilie de Brosses, head of the Biomechanics team in LEM3: emilie.de-brosses@univ-lorraine.fr

Description of the host Laboratory:

LEM3 is the mixed research unit n° 7239 CNRS - Université de Lorraine - Arts et Métiers ParisTech, mainly attached to the Institut des Sciences de l’Ingénierie et des Systèmes (INSIS) du CNRS https://lem3.univ-lorraine.fr

LEM3's areas of activity cover Materials, Mechanics, Microstructures and Processes. LEM3 has a staff of 250, including 150 permanent employees (100 EC, 7 researchers, 40 administrative and technical staff, including 20 engineers), 100 doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers.

The thematic area ‘Biomechanics and bioengineering of the musculoskeletal system’ brings together 11 lecturers and researchers within the materials, biological and structural mechanics department of LEM3. The team develops multi-scale numerical modelling tools for cognitive and practical purposes. These tools are designed to ultimately be used by practitioners and clinicians for the development of customized devices, for example, for the dental and cranio-maxillofacial fields.

The group's research activities are divided into two areas: Multi-scale and multi-physics characterisation and modelling of the instantaneous and evolving mechanical behaviour of biological tissues, using homogenisation methods (media with ‘enriched’ boundary kinematics, genetic algorithms, phase field methods, remodelling and healing models, etc.) based on experimental data. Anatomical and functional restoration of the osteoarticular system based on the development of customised numerical models (rigid bodies and finite elements) for clinical purposes or for tissue engineering (modelling, development, and characterisation of the local and global behaviour of bio-substitutes).

The members of this thematic area work according to an approach of pooling experimental and digital resources. The team thus has an experimental platform dedicated to the characterisation of biological tissues and their substitutes, including a Level 2 laboratory. On the digital side, a calculation library dedicated to biomechanics has been developed in the context of open research data.