Opportunity to candidate for a Marie-Sklodowska Curie European Postdoc Fellowship in Reverse-engineered concrete formulations to evaluate the risk of Alkali-Silica Reaction in case of extended [...]

9 Feb 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Université Gustave Eiffel

Research Field

Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry
Engineering » Civil engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Application Deadline

27 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Country

France

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

30 Mar 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Université Gustave Eiffel is looking for a candidate to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the framework of the Marie-Sklodowska Curie Programme 2026.

The Candidate and Université Gustave Eiffel's supervisor will apply together to develop the following research project : Reverse-engineered concrete formulations to evaluate the risk of Alkali-Silica Reaction in case of extended life Nuclear Power Plant

This postdoctoral position is part of a proposal to be submitted for funding under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) European Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The fellowship is contingent upon the selection and approval of the proposal by the European Commission. The successful candidate will work closely with the supervisor to co-develop (from March 30th, 2026 to September 9th, 2026) and submit the funding application, which will include a detailed research plan and a personalized Career Development Plan. 

 If the application is successful, the project will start at the earliest in May 2027.

Localisation: 
- Champs sur Marne, France, in CPDM Laboratory (Physico-Chemical Behaviour and Material Durability) and EMGCU (Experimentation and Modelling in Civil and Urban Engineering), in MAST Division (Materials and Structures) of Université Gustave Eiffel (France)
- Milan, Italy, in Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Politecnico di Milano (Italy)

Research field: Physico-chemistry of cementitious materials and modelling

Research subject:
The concrete bioshield in nuclear power plants (NPPs) is a critical protective layer that absorbs neutron and gamma radiation. Neutrons may alter the crystalline phases in the concrete, possibly causing internal expansion and potential damage. Gamma rays heat up the concrete to around 60°C and, through water radiolysis, favour desiccation, shrinkage and related damage. The bioshields in existing NPPs are mostly based on cements with high clinker content, e.g. CEM I or CEM II with clinker content higher than 80% (Aubernon, Loukili et al. 2009). To date, these have been generally safe and effective (Naus, Oland et al. 1996), but the future is uncertain because of two socio-economical drives: (i) extending the service life of operational NPPs well beyond the 40 years they had been designed for (Khmurovska and Štemberk 2019); (ii) building future NPPs using unconventional materials with as-low-as-possible embodied carbon, in line with the broader process of phasing out cements with high clinker content. Both these endeavours suffer from lack of long-term experimental data. Long-term experimental data would help assess whether unconventional concretes in new NPPs will safely perform over the decades, and whether already deployed bioshields will keep resisting degradation beyond their design service life. However, we cannot wait decades for data, as decisions on new concretes and life extension must be made now.
The challenge of long-term predictions is relevant for various degradation modes of concrete, e.g. Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF), Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR), carbonation or rebar corrosion (Le Pape, Tajuelo Rodriguez et al. 2022). Moreover, Radiation Induced Volumetric Expansion (RIVE) of materials from high-clinker cement need also to be considered as a potential degradation mode in operational NPPs. Bioshields that have been in service for 40 years or less, have not displayed damage from ASR + RIVE coupling (Saouma and Hariri-Ardebili 2014). However, after 40 years, a bioshield might exceed the critical neutron fluence of 1019 n/cm2 at which the amorphization of Si-based aggregates might sharply accelerate, boosting RIVE and susceptibility to ASR (Khmurovska and Štemberk 2019). As a possible way to simulate exposure-dependent radiation effect on Si-based aggregates amorphization, ASR reactive aggregates with various content of reactive silica content are planned to be used.
Based on the context, this study aims to evaluate how various quantities of reactive silica in aggregates can impact the development of ASR in mature concretes when submitted to favourable conditions (humidity, temperature, alkali concentration). To do so, the first step of the research will be to design a reverse-engineering method allowing to formulate “young” concretes with mature concretes properties (mineral composition, mechanical strength, porosity, permeability, …), reproducing concrete characteristics of NPPs after multiple decades in service. To design these concretes, reverse Bogue, GEMS software and modelling will be used in order to select various possible initial concrete formulations leading to the expected mature properties. These concretes will be then tested with ASR favourable conditions. Experimental data will then be used as key material for long-term durability prediction with micromechanical modelling, along with thermodynamic and reactive transport models. In order to investigate a proof-of-concept of this reverse-engineered concrete, tests will start with non-reactive aggregates and CEM I before using reactive aggregates and more complex cements. Samples will be characterised through from fresh state to longer age with macroscale characterisation such as density, total porosity by water absorption, and unconfined compressive strength measurements. Microscale characterisation will evaluate the phase assemblages of cement paste and aggregates, through SEM-EDS, XRD, XRF, Raman spectroscopy, TGA-MS and ICP-MS.

Who are we?
- CPDM laboratory (Physico-Chemical Behaviour and Durability of Materials) in MAST department of Université Gustave Eiffel, conducts research projects and judicial assessments on different materials used in civil engineering. On cementitious materials, CPDM laboratory has several experts working on formulations and their impact on hydration, mineral, chemical and physical characterisation, material implementation, initial to long term performances comprehension and durability testing against internal and/or external attacks.
- EMGCU (Experimentation and Modelling in Civil and Urban Engineering) in MAST department of Université Gustave Eiffel investigates mechanical behaviour and durability of civil engineering materials and structures. Its research area covers internal swelling reactions of concrete such as AAR.
 

Contacts:
Agathe Bourchy: agathe.bourchy@univ-eiffel.fr
Tony Pons: tony.pons@univ-eiffel.fr
Renaud-Pierre Martin: renaud-pierre.martin@univ-eiffel.fr
Enrico Masoero: enrico.masoero@polimi.it

References:
Aubernon et al., 2009. CFM 2009-19ème Congrès Français de Mécanique.
Khmurovska and Štemberk, 2019. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering.
Le Pape et al., 2022. Life Beyond 80: Can Concrete Degradation Synergistic Modes Become Showstoppers for Light Water Reactors? Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA.
Naus et al., 1996. Report n° NUREG/CR--6424, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Saouma and Hariri-Ardebili, 2014. Nuclear Engineering and Design 277: 248-264.

Planned secondments

Politecnico di Milano, 12 months

Planned duration of the project

24 months

 

Where to apply

E-mail

agathe.bourchy@univ-eiffel.fr

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The postdoctoral candidate should have a PhD diploma in material sciences or civil engineering, with an important knowledge in cementitious materials, formulation and characterisation with regards to its physico-chemical behaviour (mineral analysis or mechanical and durability analysis). Knowledge or appreciation on modelling software are a need. The candidate should be quickly an independent and ingenious worker after a training period, like to work as a team and be able to publish the results in scientific journals. The use of regular office software and being fluent in English (oral and writing) are a necessity.

Specific Requirements

The postdoctoral candidate should have 1 to 4 years of experience including PhD in cementitious materials physico-chemistry ; concrete formulation ; modelling advanced user

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Additional Information
Benefits

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to excellent researchers of any nationality.

The scheme also encourages researchers to work on research and innovation projects in the non-academic sector and is open to researchers wishing to reintegrate in Europe, to those who are displaced by conflict, as well as to researchers with high potential who are seeking to restart their careers in research.

Fellowships will be provided to excellent researchers, undertaking international mobility either to or between EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, as well as to non-associated Third Countries. Applications will be made jointly by the researcher and a beneficiary in the academic or non-academic sector.

Eligibility criteria

Before applying, please make sure you checked the eligibility criteria to apply to the Post-doctoral Fellowship Call 2026: 

Post-doctoral researcher:

For EUROPEAN Fellowship:
- You must commit to submitting only one proposal to the call 2025 with one institution, université Gustave Eiffel
- You must be postdoctoral researchers / have successfully defended your thesis at the date of the MSCA PF call deadline (September 9th, 2026). The successful defence must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline.
- You must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research (from date of PhD award). Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not count towards the amount of research experience. 
- You must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in FRANCE for more than 12 months in the 36 months

Selection process

Université Gustave eiffel is looking for a candidate to prepare a joint application to the next Post-doctoral Fellowship call under the MSCA programme (deadline for the MSCA application: September 9th 2026). 

Interested candidate must send their application to université Gustave Eiffel no later than March 27th, 2026. 

The identified candidate will be contacted to prepare the joint application between March 30th until September 9th, 2026. 

Please note that the candidate must secure time to communicate with the supervisor from Université Gustave Eiffel, with partners identified for potential secondment and must secure time to write the project with the support of the supervisor form Université Gsutave Eiffel and the European Project Supporting team. 

Please keep in mind that the post-doctoral position is not secured yet. It will be subject to submitting an application to the European Commission. Should it be accepted, the results will be communicated by March 2027, the Grant agreement signature will be secured in April 2027 and the postdoctoral position can start, at the earliest, from May/June 2027. 

To apply :

1 -  Please download the Application form by clicking here

2 - Fill the Application form

3 - Send the Application form AND a Curriculum Vitae to the supervisors of the research project (Agathe Bourchy, agathe.bourchy@univ-eiffel.fr ) before March 27th, 2026.

4 - The supervisor will reach you and discuss possible joint application for the incoming MSCA-PF 2026 call.

Additional comments

Please keep in mind that the post-doctoral position is not secured yet. It will be subject to submitting an application to the European Commission. Should it be accepted, the results will be communicated by March 2027, the Grant agreement signature will be secured in April 2027 and the postdoctoral position can start, at the earliest, from May/June 2027. 

Website for additional job details

https://cpdm.univ-gustave-eiffel.fr/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Université Gustave Eiffel - MAST Department, CPDM Laboratory

Country

France

City

Marne-la-Vallée

Postal Code

77454

Street

5, Boulevard Descartes

Geofield

Contact

City

Marne-la-Vallée

Website

https://www.univ-eiffel.fr/en/

Street

5 Boulevard Descartes, Champs-sur-Marne

Postal Code

77454

STATUS: EXPIRED

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Whatsapp
• 
  More share options
  • E-mail
  • Pocket
  • Viadeo
  • Gmail
  • Weibo
  • Blogger
  • Qzone
  • YahooMail