Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Grenoble INP - UGA
- Department: G-SCOP
- Research Field: Engineering » Industrial engineering; Information science » Information management; Engineering » Systems engineering
Offer Description
The thesis aims to develop an integrated framework and dynamic social indicators to assess accessibility and inclusivity in product design, with a specific focus on people with diverse disabilities. It delivers inclusive design guidelines and a scoring tool supporting social sustainability evaluations in engineering processes.
Context of the project
This PhD is part of thhe ECODESIGN Doctoral Network (DN) which aims to train a new generation of experts with the skills and knowledge required to ensure that, in the future, only environmentally sustainable and circular products enter the EU market. The project enables 15 PhDs to work on various aspects of ecodesign and to exchange about their approaches.
With the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force very recently on 18 July 2024 and the ongoing revision of the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) directive, the European Commission (EC) has set out what are to be known as the Ecodesign Objectives for Sustainable Products, e.g., products that use less energy, last longer, can be easily repaired and with parts that can be easily disassembled and put to subsequent use. In a pan-EU action to put Europe at the forefront of international efforts, these products will be selected progressively, group by group.
To support these objectives, the DN will conduct research into new designs of electronic components, aiming to enhance human-robot cooperative reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling (ReX) strategies as part of the European circular economy (CE) and Industry 5.0 (WP1). This will be integrated into ground-breaking, information-exchange technologies in line with the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) (WP2). To assess how the adoption of these designs and technologies will contribute to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), new methodologies for assessing environmental (WP3), social (WP4), and economic (WP5) impacts will be developed.
Where to apply
E-mail: damien.evrard@grenoble-inp.fr
Requirements
Research Fields and Education Level
- Engineering » Industrial engineering — Master Degree or equivalent
- Engineering » Mechanical engineering — Master Degree or equivalent
- Computer science » Modelling tools — Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
The candidate must have Master’s degree in industrial engineering or equivalent, with a background in Life Cycle Assessement and a strong interest for sustainability and social welfare in particular.
Specific Requirements
About this PhD subject
The objectives of this PhD are:
- to develop an integrated design framework that includes social impact assessments to guide the creation of products that are also easy to use and ensure the inclusion in society of people with disabilities;
- to develop dynamic, context-sensitive social impact indicators that account for distinct disabilities.
- To develop an engineering approach that systematically includes the developed social impact indicators.
With a focus on accessible and inclusive products, the outcome will be design guidelines and a scoring tool to quantify the product design from different social perspectives.
A case study which will include secondments within the World Resource Forum about sustainability policy and research sector), and training on assessing inclusive social dimensions of product design. And within Ottobock about the medical devices sector). This training and case study on evaluating the social impact of customised orthopaedic appliance and their human empowerment will enable to apply the PhD’s development on a realistic case.
Languages: English — Level: Excellent
Internal Application form(s) needed
Summary sheet.pdf (English, 139 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits
The MSCA-DN programme offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early stage researchers.
Eligibility criteria
To foster international exchange, at the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work or studies) in France for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding 01/10/2026.
Selection process
Recruitment
The network adheres to the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, ensuring a transparent and fair selection process. We believe that ambitious research requires a variety of voices, and we view diversity as a core strength of our team.
Our recruitment is based on a broad definition of merit: we value not only academic grades but also your teamwork abilities, interdisciplinary knowledge, and soft skills. We are committed to equal opportunity and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including, but not limited to, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religious diversity, neurodiversity, or socioeconomic background.
In line with our commitment to gender balance, we particularly encourage applications from women. We also welcome researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and new EU Member States to join our multidisciplinary environment.
To support our commitment to equity and meritocracy, please ensure you compile the “Summary Sheet” document (available here: Summary sheet.docx) and include it as the first pages of your motivation letter. In addition, avoid using your family name or first name in the Motivation Letter and when naming your files (e.g., Summary_Motivation.pdf).
Location of the research: The PhD will be mostly located in Grenoble France, with missions for project meetings and secondments.
Additional comments
For more information, please contact:
Damien Evrard, damien.evrard@grenoble-inp.fr
Peggy Zwolinski, peggy.zwolinski@grenoble-inp.fr
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Grenoble INP - UGA
- Country: France
- City: Grenoble
- Postal Code: 38000
- Street: 46 avenue Félix Viallet
Contact
- City: Grenoble
- Website: https://www.grenoble-inp.fr/
- Street: 46 avenue Félix Viallet
- Postal Code: 38000
- E-Mail: damien.evrard@grenoble-inp.fr, peggy.zwolinski@grenoble-inp.fr
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