PhD position – X-Ploring Snow: 4D exploration of the ductile-to-brittle transition in snow

This PhD project, hosted at Université Grenoble Alpes within the Tec21 labs (Institute of Geosciences of the Environment and 3SR Laboratory), focuses on the 4D exploration of the ductile-to-brittle transition in snow. The research aims to advance the understanding of snow’s mechanical behavior, which is vital for avalanche forecasting, infrastructure safety, and environmental modeling. Snow is a complex, porous, and heterogeneous material whose microstructure and mechanical response evolve with environmental conditions. The project’s core objective is to conduct original mechanical experiments on snow samples, coupled with in-situ microstructural characterization using X-ray microtomography. Special emphasis is placed on the brittle-to-ductile transition, a phenomenon associated with localized deformation patterns at specific strain rates. The research will develop and apply advanced image processing techniques, including Digital Image Correlation (DIC), Digital Volume Correlation (DVC), and AI-assisted methods, to recover kinematic fields and analyze deformation mechanisms at the grain scale. The project is structured around three main research axes: (1) developing robust workflows for characterizing kinematic fields in snow across a range of strain rates using DIC/DVC, (2) exploring the ductile-to-brittle transition under varying temperature conditions and its impact on microstructure, and (3) advancing image analysis methods such as projection-based DVC and AI-assisted reconstruction to enable high-resolution 4D monitoring of fast, localized deformation processes. The research will contribute to the development of microstructure-inspired constitutive models for snow and has broader applications in porous media and materials science. The PhD will be supervised by Maurine Montagnat (IGE), Olga Stamati (3SR), and Emmanuel Roubin (3SR), with collaborations involving experts from the Center for Snow Study (CEN-CNRM). The candidate will benefit from a vibrant research environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities for secondments at leading institutions such as the SLF-WSL Centre for Snow and Avalanche Research in Switzerland. The position is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND actions, offering a 36-month contract with a competitive salary, full social security, health insurance, and additional benefits including training, networking, and support for international students. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Engineering or Applied Sciences, with skills in mechanics of materials, material science, applied mathematics, or quantitative image analysis. Experience with experimental work, advanced material characterization (e.g., X-ray tomography), and programming (Python, Matlab, or C++) is required. Fluency in English and strong teamwork, communication, and reporting skills are essential. The application deadline is February 28, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the PhD@Tec21 website.