New Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Architecture for Decarbonized Heavy-Duty Transport
This postdoctoral project aims to develop a novel PEM fuel cell architecture to decarbonize heavy-duty transport (trucks, maritime, rail, and aviation). Current PEMFCs require external humidification to maintain performance, as their polymer membrane needs near 100% humidity. Above 80°C, water management, and especially keeping high hydration level, becomes inefficient, limiting operating temperature and necessitating bulky cooling systems.
The CEA has patented an innovative architecture that doubles fluid inlets/outlets, enabling independent control of cell pairs (bicells). By reversing thermal gradients between the anode and cathode, this design optimizes internal water circulation, maximizing retention and reducing the need for external humidifiers. The goal is to validate this architecture through an instrumented bicell, operational within 1–2 years, combining modeling, experimental testing, and parameter optimization (flow rates, humidity, pressure, thermal gradients).
This project could lead to a new generation of high-temperature PEMFCs (>80°C) without humidifiers, simplifying integration into industrial applications. Results may yield publications and patents.
Coupled X-ray / neutron tomography to reveal fluid evaporation in porous materials made by additive manufacturing for heat pipe applications
Improving efficiency of electronic cooling systems is paramount in many industrial domains. This is why CEA is currently developing a new heat pipe technology, based on the integration of a porous network produced by additive manufacturing. This project is a collaborative work between two laboratories of CEA Grenoble, in which you will develop an experimental bench dedicated to multi-modal tomography using X-ray and neutron beams. The goal is to characterize vapor region formation in porous networks infiltrated by a fluid and in contact with a hot source. Such advanced characterization method will allow you to better understand the physical phenomena at play, and propose new porous designs so as to increase the thermal powder density that can be dissipated by the system. The postdoc will supervise all development regarding the test setup, lead experimental campaign(s) at beamlines such as those offered by the Institute Laue Langevin (or equivalent facilities abroad), and analyze the data.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Separation Chemistry – Actinium/Rare Earth Separation
A postdoctoral researcher position in separative Chemistry with expertise in solvent extraction (SX) is open for an R&D project on Actinium/Rare Earth separation. Actinium, a radioactive element found in trace amounts in rare earth ores, must be separated for industrial and regulatory reasons. The project, conducted in the secure ATALANTE facility, aims to develop innovative separation processes, based on literature and the chemical properties of actinium and lanthanides.
The candidate will design and perform experimental tests (extractants, operating conditions, distribution equilibria, kinetics), analyze results (separation factors, selectivity), and use spectroscopic techniques to understand the mechanisms. Experience in separation chemistry, hydrometallurgy, or liquid-liquid extraction, ideally in a nuclear environment, is required, along with the ability to work in a radiochemical laboratory and to valorize results (patents, publications).
Extraction Protocols for the GC-Orbitrap Analysis of Organic Compounds in Nuclear Matrices
The analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other persistent organic compounds, primarily relies on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the reference technique for their identification and quantification. However, complex matrices from the nuclear sector (sludges, soot, ashes, soils, concrete, etc.) require dedicated sample preparation protocols to ensure reliable analytical results. Interactions between contaminants and the solid matrix, particularly adsorption phenomena, may significantly reduce extraction efficiency.
The objective of this project is to develop and validate robust extraction protocols for the analysis of these contaminants using high-resolution GC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Following a comprehensive literature review, the successful candidate will define an experimental strategy, evaluate and compare different sample preparation and extraction methods, and validate the selected protocols before applying them to representative nuclear matrices.
The postdoctoral position will be based at the Institute for Research on Nuclear Systems for Low-Carbon Energy (IRESNE) at CEA Cadarache, France. The successful candidate will develop expertise in the analytical chemistry of complex matrices, with a particular focus on sample preparation, organic contaminant extraction, and GC-Orbitrap analysis. They will design and validate innovative analytical protocols while addressing the specific challenges associated with nuclear matrices. The research outcomes will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international scientific conferences.
Exploratory study of actinium-225 production capabilities in research reactors and particle accelerators
This postdoctoral research project will examine various methods of producing the medical radioisotope 225Ac. These methods will involve irradiating 226Ra using either a material testing reactor (such as the Jules Horowitz Reactor) or a particle accelerator (such as a cyclotron or a rhodotron). The study will determine the optimal conditions for producing 225Ac, including the type and energy of the incident particles, the target material used, and the corresponding production yields, as well as the quantity of contaminants generated.
The first part of the work will involve modelling the irradiation characteristics in research reactors and particle accelerators. This modelling will be carried out at the Department of Reactor Studies at the IRESNE Institute, at the CEA Cadarache site. Monte Carlo simulations using TRIPOLI4®, GEANT4 and PHITS – developed by the CEA, CERN and JAEA, respectively – will be employed to model the JHR and the particle accelerators.
The second part of the project will be carried out in close collaboration with several CEA laboratories. These laboratories will host the postdoctoral researcher on an ad hoc basis to support them through the subsequent stages of the project.
The CHICADE facility in Cadarache is responsible for designing the targets. The proposed work involves identifying the main steps for manufacturing the targets by electrodeposition, starting with a stock of 226Ra-containing material. If possible, a feasibility study will also be conducted on non-irradiated targets with the same properties (cerium/barium model material).
In collaboration with the DRMP units responsible for modelling the thermomechanical aspects of the targets, the proposed work will also involve conducting a feasibility study on the ion irradiation of a model target at a facility such as JANNuS-Saclay or GANIL.
Robust and Reliable Sizing of Multi-Energy Systems at the Local Scale
The decarbonization of territorial or industrial energy systems requires multi-vector integration (electricity, heat, gas) and optimized management of flexibilities (storage, flexible demand). However, uncertainties in exogenous data and those due to modeling choices limit the confidence in the sizing obtained by classical approaches (e.g., deterministic Mixed Integer Linear Programming models).
The post-doctoral research aims to evaluate and improve the robustness, reliability, and precision of sizing and KPIs (cost, CO2 emissions) under these uncertainties. The post-doctoral work will combine:
- A comparative analysis of existing approaches (scenario analysis, rolling horizon, MPC) using quantitative metrics (inspired, for example, by meteorology: robustness, reliability, precision).
- The implementation of a case study to serve as a benchmark, building upon existing work and generating scenarios and results.
- The development of a sizing approach that reduces the impact of uncertainties, with validation on realistic case studies.
Development and Deployment of an Automated Processing Framework for Earthquake Ground-Motion Databases
The project aims to develop, deploy and apply a processing framework dedicated to the construction of earthquake ground-motion databases. These databases constitute a key component of seismic hazard assessment studies. The postdoctoral researcher will design a processing workflow to automate the retrieval, quality control, processing and archiving of seismic recordings from various national and international data sources. The framework may incorporate recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning whenever they provide demonstrated benefits in terms of automation, robustness, or data quality. Processing traceability, result reproducibility, and the long-term sustainability of the framework will constitute key requirements of the project. Beyond the methodological developments, the workflow will be applied to the creation and enrichment of strong-motion databases supporting studies conducted within the SIGMA3 programme. The project will also include the production of harmonized metadata and the associated documentation. The expected outcomes are an operational processing framework together with enriched databases that can be directly used for research and engineering applications in seismology and earthquake engineering.
BRO-IA-GE: Multi-sensor instrumentation and hybrid modelling of ball milling processes
The Uranium Fuel Laboratory of the Institute for Research on Nuclear Systems for Low-Carbon Energy (IRESNE) at CEA Cadarache develops innovative tools to improve the understanding and control of nuclear fuel manufacturing processes. In the context of nuclear fuel cycle closure and the renewal of future industrial facilities, mastering powder processing operations has become a strategic challenge.
Ball milling is a key step in the production of UOX and MOX nuclear fuels, as it directly impacts powder homogeneity and particle size characteristics prior to pellet fabrication. Despite its industrial importance, the mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood due to the complexity of the fragmentation mechanisms and the interactions between particles with different properties.
This postdoctoral project aims to develop an in-depth understanding of milling processes through a combination of experimental instrumentation, signal processing, data analysis, and modelling. The successful candidate will rely on an instrumented experimental platform incorporating acoustic emission monitoring and high-speed imaging, as well as on an extensive experimental database currently being established using model materials such as alumina.
Particular attention will be devoted to multi-component powder systems in order to better understand the influence of powder properties on fragmentation, mixing, and homogenization mechanisms. The results will contribute to the development of predictive models and a digital twin of the milling process for real-time monitoring and process optimization.
The candidate will acquire expertise in advanced instrumentation, materials science, granular physics, artificial intelligence, and process modelling. These skills are highly transferable to many industrial sectors involving powders and granular materials, including energy, powder metallurgy, advanced ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and food processing industries.
Optimization of an optical pyrometry measurement in a nuclear environment.
This topic focuses on the optimization of a contactless temperature measurement technique based on multispectral optical pyrometry for nuclear environments. The scientific objective is to improve the reliability of an instrumentation chain capable of measuring the temperature of a fuel cladding under extreme conditions, particularly during a loss-of-coolant accident. The method relies on collecting the infrared radiation emitted by the investigated surface and transporting it through optical fibers to a multispectral detection system. A key challenge is the simultaneous estimation of temperature and emissivity, two parameters that are strongly coupled in pyrometry. The work also aims to improve optical calibration, channel-by-channel transmission stability, and signal acquisition speed. Particular attention is given to the design of micro-sensors and optical collection heads compatible with pressurized, irradiating, and thermally constrained environments. The project includes the study of lower temperature measurement limits in order to extend the sensor’s operating range. Tests in a pressurized chamber will be carried out to validate sealing, optical transmission, and metrological robustness. From a scientific perspective, this postdoctoral project combines optics, radiometry, signal processing, metrology, and instrumentation for harsh environments. Ultimately, this technology could be transferred to other nuclear experiments requiring fast, accurate, and non-intrusive temperature measurements.
Improvement of High-Temperature Electrolyzer Interconnect Performance
High-Temperature Electrolyzers (HTEs) are currently being developed at the CEA for the production of “green” hydrogen. One of the components, the stainless-steel interconnect, is affected by two phenomena that progressively reduce cell efficiency: surface oxidation and chromium oxide volatilization. For these reasons, protective coatings are being developed at the CEA and with industrial partners. The performance of these samples (oxidation behavior, electrical resistance, etc.) must be evaluated both in contact with air, in contact with an H2/H2O mixture, and under dual-atmosphere conditions with the two environments on either side of the sample.
The proposed postdoctoral position includes several missions presented below:
• Development of an experimental setup to evaluate the oxidation behavior and area-specific resistance of coated and uncoated samples under all environmental conditions.
• Investigation of the observed phenomena using the many characterization techniques available at the CEA (SEM, Raman microscopy, TEM, GD-OES, XPS, XRD, etc.).
• Proposal of the degradation mechanisms involved and identification of the most relevant coating for industrial applications.