Post-doctoral position Development of high value-added hemp textile fibers : impact of retting and functionalizations

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Ales, LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 26 Mar 2026

26 Feb 2026
Job Information
Organisation/Company

IMT Mines Ales
Department

Human Ressources Department
Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering
Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions

PhD Positions
Application Deadline

26 Mar 2026 - 00:00 (UTC)
Country

France
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Offer Starting Date

1 Jun 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

European Union / Next Generation EU
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Founded in 1843, IMT Mines Alès currently has 1,400 students (including 250 foreign students) and 380 staff members. The school has three high-level scientific and technological research and teaching centers working in the fields of materials and civil engineering (C2MA), the environment and risks (CREER), and artificial intelligence and industrial and digital engineering (CERIS). It has 12 technology platforms and 1,600 partner companies.

 

The research activities of the PCH Research Unit focus on the development and characterization of eco-materials primarily derived from renewable resources or recycled materials. This work employs an approach that seeks to link material structure, transformation processes, performance properties (mechanical, thermal, fire resistance, absorption, etc.), and their evolution throughout the product lifecycle. The applications of the materials studied are numerous: building construction, transportation, energy, health, environment, fashion, and more.

 

This work is part of the ANR TAFFTA project, "Towards high value-added hemp fibers produced in southern France for textile applications - Understanding and optimizing crucial processing steps."

The TAFFTA project, which began in January 2024 and will run for 42 months, aims to bring together key French academic players in the field of plant fibers and to promote a technical hemp-based textile sector in southern France, for applications ranging from clothing to materials.

The main objective of the TAFFTA project is to study all stages of hemp processing, from field cultivation to spinning, with a particular focus on upstream stages such as retting (a post-harvest operation that involves leaving the stalks on the ground for 3 to 6 weeks) and fiber extraction from the stalks after retting. These stages determine the fiber quality for the downstream stages of spinning, weaving, and finishing. In this context, the TAFFTA project addresses the impact of the harvest location (Drôme, Lot, and Normandy in this case) on optimizing the various processing stages.

The research planned for this postdoctoral study focuses on two stages of processing. The first stage is retting, where the candidate will study the physicochemical properties (evolution of the primary and secondary cell walls of the stems, the biochemical composition during retting, etc.) and the mechanical properties (tensile strength) of hemp fibers during retting and according to the harvest location. The second stage is finishing, where the candidate will focus on developing surface treatments for hemp rovings produced by spinning to provide them with various functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, fire resistance, and antibacterial resistance. These treatments will be applied either chemically and/or physically (plasma treatment) and either at the roving level (impregnation line) or at the fabric level (scarfing).


Where to apply
Website
https://www.imt-mines-ales.fr/

Requirements
Research Field
Engineering » Materials engineering
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Minimum education and/or experience required:

  • PhD in materials science, with a focus on textiles, and will have significant experience in the microstructural, physicochemical, and mechanical characterization of fibers
  • Autonomous in carrying out the project and producing deliverables (report writing, oral presentations, publications, etc.) with close interaction with the various project partners.

Required skills, knowledge, and experience:

  • Knowledge and experience in fiber or fabric processing and characterization will be a highly valued asset

Internal Application form(s) needed
FP - Post-doctoral position EN.pdf
English
(1.04 MB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Benefits

So join us and enjoy these many benefits:

  • Generous vacation time
  • On-site dining
  • 75% of public transportation costs covered
  • Sustainable mobility package for carpooling or cycling to work
  • Stimulating innovation ecosystem (startups, students, research, businesses, etc.)
  • Ideal environment for pursuing your passions (sea/mountains nearby)

Eligibility criteria

he position offered by IMT Mines Alès is a 11-month, full-time, fixed-term contract under public law, governed by the provisions of the Institut Mines-Télécom management framework, profession P, Postdoctoral Researcher, category II.

Salary: €35,400 gross per annum


Selection process

Application deadline :                                         March 26, 2026

Provisional date for the selection panel :   April 8, 2026

Desired start date :                                               June 1, 2026


Website for additional job details

https://institutminestelecom.recruitee.com/o/post-doctorante-developpement-de-f…

Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
IMT Mines Alès
Country
France
State/Province
Occitanie
City
Alès
Postal Code
30100
Street
6 Avenue de Clavières
Geofield


Contact
City

Ales
Website

https://www.imt-mines-ales.fr/
Street

6 avenue de Clavières
Postal Code

30100

STATUS: EXPIRED

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