PhD position – REFOAM: Cellulosic Foam Insulation Panels from Paper and Board Recycling Fibrous Waste

This PhD position at Université Grenoble Alpes focuses on the development of 100% bio-based cellulosic foam insulation panels derived from fibrous waste generated during paper and board recycling. The project addresses the urgent need for sustainable building insulation materials, as current market options are largely non-renewable and difficult to recycle. The research aims to transform cellulose-rich waste, which is typically discarded after multiple recycling cycles, into high-performance insulation panels using a liquid foam forming process. This innovative technique produces ultra-porous structures without synthetic binders, relying on natural fiber bonding during drying. The PhD will optimize the foaming process by adjusting surfactant types, concentrations, and mixing parameters to achieve stable foams, and will refine drainage and drying conditions to maintain high porosity and strong fiber bonding with minimal shrinkage. Alternative, energy-efficient drying methods such as infrared or vacuum drying will also be explored to reduce energy consumption and processing time. The project will be conducted in two leading laboratories on the Grenoble campus: LGP2, renowned for expertise in lignocellulosic fibers and sustainable process development, and 3SR, specializing in experimental and numerical modeling of porous media. The research will benefit from advanced technical infrastructure, including high-shear mixers, foam analyzers, morphological analyzers, rheometers, electron microscopes, controlled drying chambers, and X-ray microtomography for structural analysis. Two complementary research axes are available: one focusing on multiscale relationships between feedstock characteristics, foam properties, and final material performance, and another on developing numerical models to predict thermal and moisture transport properties in ultra-porous materials. The PhD will be supervised by Professor Sabine Rolland du Roscoat (3SR, CNRS), an expert in multiphysics modeling and X-ray tomography, and Dr. Jérémie Viguié (LGP2, Grenoble INP), an expert in lignocellulosic materials. The position is part of the PhD@Tec21 Programme, co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND actions, and offers a 36-month full-time contract with a competitive salary, full social security, health insurance, visa and registration fee coverage, and access to high-level training and networking opportunities. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, strong motivation for experimental research, and skills in materials processing, characterization, and/or modeling. The application deadline is February 28, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the PhD@Tec21 website.