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PhD Researcher - Lubricants Rheology and Friction Modeling - Job Opportunity at Laboratoire de Mécanique des Contacts et des Structures, UMR5259, INSA de Lyon

Villeurbanne, France
Contract
Entry-level
Posted: May 11, 2025
On-site
EUR 30,000-35,000 per year (typical French PhD contract)

Benefits

3-year research contract with SKF Group funding
Access to advanced research facilities
Academic environment with industry collaboration
Professional development opportunities

Key Responsibilities

Conduct literature review on friction prediction limits and extreme friction regimes
Develop and extend behavior models for high-pressure lubricant applications
Analyze real lubricants including T9, T32, T68, gearbox, and aeronautical variants
Implement AI and machine learning tools for rheological behavior analysis
Study surface influences on friction across steel and ceramic materials
Model thermal environments in severe friction conditions

Requirements

Education

Master's and/or Engineering degree in mechanics, materials or fluid physics

Required Skills

Numerical modeling expertise Good English proficiency Independent research capabilities Knowledge of lubrication (preferred) Programming and simulation skills Data analysis capabilities
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Increasing focus on sustainable and efficient lubrication solutions in industrial applications Growing integration of AI and machine learning in materials science research Rising demand for high-performance lubricants in extreme operating conditions Shift towards more environmentally friendly lubricant formulations

Role Significance

Typically part of a specialized research group of 5-10 researchers, with access to broader laboratory resources
Junior researcher position with significant autonomous research responsibilities and potential for academic publication impact

Key Projects

Development of novel lubricant behavior models Machine learning applications in tribology Industrial-academic collaborative research initiatives

Success Factors

Strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles and fluid dynamics Ability to bridge theoretical models with practical applications Effective communication skills for academic and industrial stakeholders Innovation in combining traditional tribology with modern computational methods

Market Demand

High demand for specialists in advanced materials modeling and tribology, particularly with AI/ML capabilities

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Advanced numerical modeling capabilities essential for complex friction simulations Strong theoretical understanding of fluid mechanics and tribology Programming skills for implementing machine learning solutions

Beneficial Skills

Knowledge of sustainable engineering practices Experience with high-performance computing Understanding of industrial application contexts

Unique Aspects

Rare combination of fundamental research with immediate industrial applications
Access to advanced experimental and computational resources
Direct involvement with industry leader SKF
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI applications in materials science

Career Growth

3-year PhD program with potential for post-doctoral research or direct industry transition

Potential Next Roles

Senior Research Engineer R&D Specialist in Industrial Tribology Academic Research Position Technical Lead in Lubricant Development

Company Overview

Laboratoire de Mécanique des Contacts et des Structures, UMR5259, INSA de Lyon

Leading French research institution combining academic excellence with industrial applications

Highly regarded research center with strong industry partnerships, particularly through the SKF collaboration
Major player in European tribology research with international collaboration networks
Academic environment fostering innovation and research excellence, with strong industry connections
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