Doctorate – Multi-scale Modeling of Ultrafast Laser-Driven Thermofluid Flows for Nanostructure Reshaping – France

Job Description

Organization: Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne

Laboratory: Not specified in the supplied listing

Doctoral School: Sciences, Ingénierie, Santé – ED 488

Location: Saint-Étienne, France

Position: PhD Researcher – Multi-scale Modeling of Ultrafast Laser-Driven Thermofluid Flows for Nanostructure Reshaping

Project: ULTraFlow – Optimizing Ultrafast Laser-Driven Thermofluid Flow for Nanofabrication of Arbitrary 3D Curved Nanostructures

Reference: CF202649621 / ABG:140351

Project Overview

Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne is offering a doctoral research opportunity within the ULTraFlow project, which aims to develop computational methods for understanding and predicting how ultrafast laser irradiation modifies and reshapes surface nanostructures.

The project focuses on coupling ultrafast near-field absorption, heat transfer and phase transitions within a unified multiphysics and multiscale framework. The objective is to develop an efficient computational tool capable of predicting laser-induced modifications at length scales below 100 nanometres and identifying the physical mechanisms responsible for these changes.

Ultrashort laser pulses can produce highly localised electromagnetic energy and temperature gradients, driving melt flow, phase transitions and permanent structural modifications. By controlling laser parameters such as wavelength, polarisation and angle of incidence, researchers can investigate new approaches to fabricating complex three-dimensional nanostructures with reduced collateral damage to surrounding materials.

The research aims to advance nanofabrication beyond conventional surface geometries, enabling the development of complex curved nanostructures for multifunctional metasurfaces and other nanophotonic applications.

Research Challenges

The project addresses several challenges in modelling nanoscale laser–matter interactions:

• Extended fluid dynamics: Investigating corrections to the continuum Navier–Stokes equations at nanoscale confinement, including large Knudsen numbers, slip boundary conditions and non-Fourier thermal transport.
• Fluctuating hydrodynamics: Incorporating stochastic fluctuations and nonlocal corrections to describe nanoscale variations in thermal conductivity, shear viscosity and fluid flow.
• Multiphase dynamics: Modelling phase transitions, cavitation, hydrodynamic instabilities and nonequilibrium fluid interfaces.
• Diffuse-interface methods: Developing and evaluating phase-field approaches for compressible multiphase flows, including appropriate equations of state.
• Interfacial forces: Examining surface-tension-driven capillary and Marangoni forces that influence melt flow and nanostructure reshaping.
• Cross-scale validation: Comparing extended fluid-dynamics simulations with atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) to evaluate the strengths and limitations of the two approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop computational tools for simulating ultrafast laser-induced changes in nanostructures.
• Couple electromagnetic near-field absorption, heat transfer, fluid dynamics and phase transitions within a multiphysics framework.
• Investigate nanoscale thermofluid phenomena under strong confinement and nonequilibrium conditions.
• Implement and assess extended Navier–Stokes models, stochastic fluctuations and diffuse-interface methods.
• Study the influence of capillary and Marangoni forces on nanoscale melt flow and structural reshaping.
• Simulate complex three-dimensional nanostructure geometries.
• Compare continuum-based simulations with atomistic molecular dynamics results.
• Analyse the governing mechanisms and identify modelling strategies for optimising ultrafast laser nanofabrication.
• Contribute to the scientific objectives of the ULTraFlow project and communicate research findings.

Required Qualifications

The supplied listing does not specify the required degree, academic grade or detailed eligibility criteria. Applicants should consult the official advertisement or contact the doctoral school for the complete admission requirements.

Preferred Research Background

The interdisciplinary nature of the project makes relevant knowledge in the following areas potentially useful:

• Computational physics and numerical modelling.
• Fluid mechanics and computational fluid dynamics.
• Heat transfer and phase-transition modelling.
• Molecular dynamics and atomistic simulation.
• Multiphase flows, hydrodynamic instabilities and phase-field methods.
• Laser–matter interactions, nanophotonics or nanofabrication.
• Scientific computing and multiphysics simulation.

These are relevant research areas rather than confirmed mandatory requirements.

Funding and Employment Details

• Degree: Doctorate (PhD).
• Funding: The advertisement identifies the position as funded through multiple funding sources. The precise funding package, stipend and eligibility conditions are not specified in the supplied details.
• Duration: Not specified.
• Start date: Not specified.
• Tuition fees: Not specified.
• Language requirements: The listing contains French- and English-language requirement fields but does not provide specific proficiency levels.

Application Documents

The supplied advertisement does not list the required application documents. Applicants should consult the official Campus France listing for the complete application procedure and documentation requirements.

Doctoral School and Contacts

Doctoral School: Sciences, Ingénierie, Santé – ED 488

Contact information for the project team is available through the official listing and may require an account login.

Application Deadline

1 December 2026

External Link

Official project advertisement and application information:
https://doctorat.campusfrance.org/fr/CF202649621