Vincent Keryvin

Université Bretagne Sud in Lorient, France is advertising a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Advanced Composite Materials for Sustainable Maritime Applications . The project sits at the intersection of materials science , mechanical engineering , solid mechanics , computational modelling , and composite manufacturing , with a strong application focus on competitive sailing and next-generation maritime transport. The research challenge is to understand how microscopic fibre misalignments, including fibre waviness and ply waviness , form during manufacturing and resin curing, and how these defects affect the compressive strength of thick carbon-fibre composite structures. The work combines AI-based image analysis and deep learning, thermo-chemo-mechanical modelling of curing and residual stresses, numerical simulation of compressive failure, and experimental characterisation of resins and carbon fibres under varying environmental conditions. The successful candidate will join the composite materials research activities at Université Bretagne Sud and collaborate with industrial partners in competitive sailing , offshore racing , sustainable maritime transport , and automated composite manufacturing (AFP/ATL), including Avel Robotics and SMAF. Validation will be carried out on industrial-scale structures such as masts and hydrofoils. Eligibility highlights: a PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Solid Mechanics, or a closely related field; strong skills in composite materials, finite element modelling, machine learning/image analysis, or experimental mechanics; and compliance with the mobility rule requiring at least 18 months outside France between 1 May 2022 and the project start date. Funding: 24-month postdoctoral contract with a net salary of approximately €2,600 per month. Deadline: 15 September 2026. The expected start date is December 2026. How to apply: send a CV by email to [email protected] and [email protected]. These contacts can also be used for further information.