PhD student in Physics for Project NWARPS (PRISM programme, MSCA COFUND) Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris in France

The PRISM programme (PhD Research Programme for International Training in Sustainable Soft Matter) at Paris Sciences & Lettres University is offering a fully funded PhD opportunity in physics within the project NWARPS: Nucleation, Wetting, Adhesion, and Rheology of Polymeric Surfaces. The position is based in the Folding Sliding Stretching Lab at the Laboratoire de Physique de l’École Normale Supérieure (LPENS), in central Paris, and is part of the first PRISM call for applications.

This PhD sits at the interface of statistical physics and physical chemistry, with a strong experimental component complemented by analytical modelling and/or numerical simulation. The research addresses how polymer architectures influence condensation, droplet nucleation, wetting, adhesion, and contact-line depinning on soft interfaces. The topic is relevant to sustainable applications such as dew harvesting in arid environments, thermal management, anti-icing technologies, and broader questions linked to carbon capture, CO2 mineralization, and reversible concrete.

The project builds on prior work from the team and collaborators at the University of Twente, including studies on soft nucleation and droplet dynamics. The successful candidate may investigate one or both of these themes, or propose related questions involving polymers at interfaces and the microscopic mechanisms governing capillary trapping and phase transitions. A new experimental setup will be developed to study vapor transport and droplet formation, with access to techniques such as AFM and ellipsometry, and the possibility to explore the transition from nanoscale nucleation to macroscopic droplets.

Research at LPENS combines laboratory experiments, theory, and numerical simulations, with strong links to international and industrial partners. The programme also includes secondments and training in sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, career development, and transferable skills. The project’s international dimension includes a collaboration with the University of Twente, and an industrial connection may be developed with Saint-Gobain.

Eligibility highlights include a Master’s degree or equivalent in physics, chemistry, or a closely related discipline, strong interest in interdisciplinary fundamental research, comfort with programming for data analysis, and excellent scientific English. A minimum C1 English level is required for applicants from non-English-speaking countries, and French is not required. Applicants must also satisfy the MSCA mobility rule by not having spent more than 12 months in France during the three years before the deadline.

The fellowship is fully funded through Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND. Doctoral candidates receive an approximate net monthly salary of €2,200, with additional family and mobility allowances for eligible fellows. The application deadline is 31 October 2026, and the expected start date is 1 March 2027.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisors, Bruno Andreotti and Kristina Davitt, before applying. Applications must be submitted through the PRISM website, and shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online after the remote evaluation stage.