PhD (M/F) in biomechanics

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PhD (M/F) in biomechanics

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Job description

Offer DescriptionThis PhD is part of the joint laboratory “Mucus,” established in 2019 under the impetus of the Labcom program by the ANR (National Research Agency), involving Rheonova company, the Laboratory of Rheology and Processes, and the CHU-Grenoble-Alpes.More specifically, this doctoral project is funded and supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region as part of the “PACTE de RECHERCHE” program. The work will be primarily conducted at the Laboratory of Rheology and Processes (LRP), under the joint supervision of Hugues Bodiguel, a university professor specializing in fluid mechanics and rheology, and Bruno Degano, a university professor and hospital practitioner specializing in pulmonology.The LRP is a university laboratory affiliated with the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) and the UGA (Université Grenoble Alpes), located on the Saint-Martin d’Hères university campus. It comprises around twenty permanent researchers and professors, a technical team, an administrative team, and about thirty doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, the latter being mostly of international origin. The laboratory conducts fundamental and applied research in two societal challenges: health and the environment, focusing on rheology and processes. It is structured into three themes: rheophysics of soft matter, mechanics of complex fluids, and processes for materials and their intensification. The recruited PhD student will be integrated into the first of these themes.Mechanical and Structural Properties of Pulmonary Expectorations in Relation to Obstructive PathologiesRespiratory obstructive pathologies such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma are chronic conditions that significantly impact patients’ quality of life and respiratory health. A crucial aspect of these conditions lies in the alterations of pulmonary mucus, which can influence disease progression and treatment response. This thesis focuses on exploring the mechanical and structural properties of pulmonary secretions in relation to these obstructive pathologies, utilizing rheometry, microscopy, spectroscopy, and evaluating the efficacy of certain active agents such as mucolytics, rhDNase, etc. Several research axes are envisaged:1. Characterization of Mechanical Properties of Pulmonary Mucus: This part of the thesis aims to characterize the rheological properties of pulmonary mucus. Global and local rheometry techniques will be employed to assess how these properties vary depending on different obstructive pathologies and patients’ clinical conditions.2. Analysis of Pulmonary Mucus Structure: This section concentrates on analyzing the structure of pulmonary mucus at various scales, ranging from molecular microstructure to expectoration macrostructure. Advanced imaging techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, and spectroscopy will be utilized to explore structural variations of mucus in relation to obstructive pathologies.3. Evaluation of Mucolytic Therapies on Mucus Samples: Using mucus samples from patients with various obstructive pathologies, this part of the thesis aims to evaluate the efficacy of mucolytic therapies such as NAC or rhDNase. In vitro tests will be conducted to study the impact of these treatments on the rheological and structural properties of mucus, utilizing rheometry to track changes in the molecular composition of mucus post-treatment.4. Clinical and Therapeutic Implications: By integrating mechanical, structural, and spectroscopic characterization data with patients’ clinical information, this part of the thesis will explore the clinical implications of the findings. It will assess how mucus characteristics could be utilized to enhance diagnosis, predict disease progression, and guide the development of targeted therapies for obstructive pathologies.Conclusion: This thesis proposes an integrated approach to better understand the modifications of pulmonary mucus associated with obstructive respiratory pathologies. By exploring the mechanical and structural properties of mucus in relation to patients’ clinical status and evaluating the efficacy of mucolytic therapies, this research could pave the way for new perspectives in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of obstructive respiratory diseases.RequirementsResearch Field Physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalentLanguages FRENCH Level BasicResearch Field Physics Years of Research Experience NoneAdditional InformationWebsite for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Laboratoire Rhéologie et Procédés Country France City GIERES GeofieldWhere to apply WebsiteContact CityGIERES WebsiteSTATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Gières, Isère

Job date

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 23:48:52 GMT

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