Postdoc - Robust optimisation of bifurcation diagrams for flutter design Inria Saclay - Île-de-France in France

Inria Saclay - Île-de-France is offering a full-time postdoctoral position in robust optimisation of bifurcation diagrams for flutter design. The project sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering and applied mathematics, with a strong emphasis on nonlinear dynamics, uncertainty quantification, and surrogate-based optimisation.

The research focuses on the optimisation and design of the dynamic behaviour of mechanical structures under uncertainty. Nonlinearities can create multiple dynamic responses, softening/stiffening resonance peaks, and bifurcations that mark stability limits in parameter space. These issues are especially relevant for aeroelastic systems, where flutter can produce severe structural failures if not predicted and controlled robustly. The postdoc will contribute to methods for analysing bifurcation diagrams under large parametric variations and uncertainty, with the long-term goal of identifying reliable and robust designs.

The main scientific objectives are to develop uncertainty propagation methods for characterising bifurcation behaviour of stochastic nonlinear dynamic systems, to create robust optimisation methods for bifurcation diagrams, and to build approaches that work in real-world settings, especially for a HALE drone flutter mitigation test case. Because both bifurcation analysis and uncertainty propagation are computationally expensive, the project will investigate surrogate modelling strategies to reduce numerical cost.

The recruited researcher will numerically implement, test, and compare the proposed approaches. The work will be carried out in the Platon team, a joint research group between École Polytechnique and CNRS hosted by the Center for Applied Mathematics (CMAP) of École Polytechnique. The team develops innovative methods and algorithms for uncertainty management in numerical models, including calibration from data and uncertainty reduction.

Supervision will be provided by Enora Denimal-Goy, P. M. Congedo, and B. Chouvion. The postdoc benefits from an interdisciplinary environment that combines expertise in uncertainty quantification, nonlinear aeroelastic modelling, and flutter calculation for structures with geometric nonlinearities and aerodynamic coupling.

The position is a temporary, full-time postdoc starting 1 December 2026. The application deadline is 15 October 2026 at 12:00 (Europe/Paris). Applicants should apply through the Inria recruitment website and include a detailed academic CV, proof of PhD evaluation if available, and a cover letter. English proficiency is required.