Fire-Safe Materials for Space Exploration ‘Development of Materials and Experimental Rigs for Testing in Microgravity’

25 Nov 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Centrale Lille Institut

Department

UMET

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering
Engineering » Mechanical engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

PhD Positions

Country

France

Application Deadline

1 Mar 2026 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

39

Offer Starting Date

1 Apr 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - ERC

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

No

Offer Description

Spacecraft environments, characterized by reduced gravity, lower pressures, and elevated oxygen concentrations, pose unique fire risks. Traditional fire safety approaches are inadequate for these conditions, necessitating groundbreaking research in material science, combustion dynamics, and active/passive fire control. FireSpace will address these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach, combining experimental, numerical, and systems-level analyses.

The scientific objectives of this PhD are:

Developing and characterizing fire-retardant (FR) polymers for use in spacecraft and space habitats, with an emphasis on materials that can withstand oxygen-rich, low-pressure, and microgravity conditions.

Evaluating the performance of FR materials in 1g and microgravity conditions, in collaboration with partners conducting experiments in drop towers, parabolic flights, and sounding rockets.

Optimizing material formulations based on feedback from experimental and numerical simulations to enhance fire safety in space environments.

Characterizing the thermal and fire behavior of FR materials using advanced techniques (TGA, DSC, FTIR, ss NMR …)

Participating in designing and constructing experimental rigs for testing the fire behavior of FR materials in microgravity conditions, specifically for use onboard the Airbus A310 ZeroG (parabolic flights).

Integrating advanced diagnostics in the new rig (e.g., optical sensors, thermal imaging, gas analyzers) to monitor flame spread, material degradation, and combustion products in real-time.

Where to apply

E-mail

serge.bourbigot@centralelille.fr

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Material Science, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong background in fire science, thermal analysis and instrumentation.
• Familiarity with sensors, data acquisition systems, and real-time monitoring techniques.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) for scientific communication.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with fire testing equipment (e.g., cone calorimeters, oxygen index testers).
• Knowledge of fire-retardant mechanisms, combustion dynamics, fluid mechanics, or thermal analysis.
• Experience with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Catia) and prototyping tools (e.g., 3D printing, CNC machining).
• Familiarity with microgravity experimentation (e.g., parabolic flights, drop towers).
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB) for data analysis and automation.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international team.

Personal Attributes

• Innovative and hands-on approach to solving complex engineering challenges.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently while contributing to collaborative research.
• Willingness to travel for experiments and collaborations with international partners.
• Curiosity and creativity in solving complex scientific challenges.

Specific Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and prepare FR materials.
• Conduct thermal and fire testing (e.g., LOI, HOI, cone calorimetry, vertical Bunsen burner tests, TGA, DSC, STA… ) to assess material performance.
• Collaborate with international partners to test materials in microgravity platforms (drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets).
• Contribute to the development of numerical models by providing experimental data on material properties and fire behavior.
• Disseminate results through publications in high-impact journals and presentations at international conferences.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering

Additional Information
Benefits

Gross salary: about 3000€/month

 

Contract duration: 4 years

 

Starting date: between April and October 2026 (some flexibility is allowed)

Selection process

Application process: Interested candidates should submit the following documents (in English) to S. Bourbigot and J. Sarazin by emails (i)              Curriculum Vitae (CV), (ii) Cover letter (max. 2 pages) describing your motivation, research interests, and suitability for the position and (iii) Two recommendation letters

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Centrale Lille Institut

Country

France

State/Province

Nord-Pas-De-Calais

City

Villeneuve d Ascq

Postal Code

59650

Street

Centrale Lille Institut

Contact

State/Province

Nord-Pas-De-Calais

City

Villeneuve d Ascq

Website

https://centralelille.fr/

Street

Cité Scientifique

Postal Code

59650

E-Mail

serge.bourbigot@centralelille.fr

Phone

0374951321

STATUS: EXPIRED

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