PhD in Process Engineering in Mines Saint-Étienne – France

Summary

Mines Saint-Étienne is offering a PhD student position in Process Engineering for the development and characterization of a multi-sensor platform to monitor onshore CO2 storage sites. This is a 3-year fixed-term doctoral contract, full-time, with a desired start date of January 2027. The project is part of the CO2MET consortium, aiming to improve the reliability and public acceptance of geological CO2 storage through advanced monitoring systems. The successful candidate will be based at the SPIN – LGF center in Saint-Etienne, France. Applicants should hold a Master 2 degree in Measurement Instrumentation Metrology Data Acquisition Processing Analysis. The role involves selecting and studying sensors, defining prediction algorithms, and conducting case studies on a specific site.

Key Facts

Department	SPIN (Science of Industrial and Natural Processes) center – Process engineering, production systems and advanced manufacturing – Science of Industrial and Natural Processes – Process Engineering applied to dispersed systems: grains, particles, droplets, bubbles, porous media – Sensors and instrumentation
Position Type	PhD student
Discipline	Process Engineering
Research Area	Process Engineering, Production systems and advanced manufacturing, Multi-sensor platform, Monitoring onshore CO2 storage, Carbon capture and storage CCS, CO2MET, Environmental sensors, NDIR photoacoustic O2 sensor, Data Acquisition Processing Analysis, Multivariate analysis, Instrumentation Measurement Metrology
Degree Required	Master's degree Master 2 in Measurement Instrumentation Metrology Data Acquisition Processing Analysis
Experience	First Stage Researcher (R1) – PhD student – Doctoral contract – Bac +5 degree or equivalent
Salary	Not specified
Funding	Doctoral contract
Contract Duration	3-year fixed-term contract
Employer Address	Saint-Etienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France – On site – SPIN – LGF center Georges Friedel Laboratory UMR CNRS 5307 – Mines Saint-Etienne – Sainte-Marguerite site Puy-de-Dôme case studies

About the Project

The PhD project focuses on developing and characterizing a multi-sensor platform for monitoring onshore CO2 storage sites. This is crucial for decarbonizing the industrial sector and increasing storage capacity. The CO2MET project, involving a consortium including IFPEN, BRGM, Mines Saint-Etienne, and Cerema, aims to create an integrated long-term digital monitoring system to enhance reliability and public acceptance of geological CO2 storage. The research will address challenges in environmental sensors, signal processing, long-term variations, and accurate source attribution for CO2 and other gases, considering diverse origins and environmental conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Select existing sensors that meet specifications to develop a detection platform.
• Study, under laboratory conditions, the selectivity of sensors with respect to interfering gaseous species, using multivariate analysis.
• Define prediction algorithms that account for reproducibility, drift, linearity, and variability in complex gas mixtures and variable environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, and relative humidity).
• Study the influence of sensor aging on their response and on predictions made, to propose a compensation algorithm.
• Conduct concrete case studies on the Sainte-Marguerite site (Puy-de-Dôme), with varying levels of CO₂ emissions, to test and validate the developed sensor platforms.

Required Skills

• Master 2 in Measurement Instrumentation Metrology Data Acquisition Processing Analysis
• Ability to work in project mode
• Ability to create dialogue between teaching, research, and practical application

Who Should Apply

This position is suitable for a First Stage Researcher (R1) with a Master 2 degree in Measurement Instrumentation Metrology Data Acquisition Processing Analysis. Candidates should have a scientific passion and an interest in societal impact, particularly in the field of Process Engineering applied to dispersed systems and sensor development. The role requires an ability to work in project mode and foster dialogue between teaching, research, and practical application.

Benefits

• 49 days of leave and RTT
• Partial teleworking
• 75% coverage of public transport costs
• Financial support for carpooling and cycling
• Stimulating environment
• Real impact on contract research projects (€11 million/year)
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion employer
• Accommodations for disabilities

About the Employer

Mines Saint-Étienne is an institution committed to science and innovation for a sustainable future, ranked among top engineering schools in France and recognized worldwide. It is a member of Institut Mines-Télécom, training talents and contributing to major industrial, digital, and environmental challenges. The institution has a community of 500 employees and 2,500 students across human-scale campuses in an urban setting, featuring state-of-the-art experimental facilities and a strong international network (TIME EULIST). Its five Training and Research Centers act as innovation hubs, focusing on industrial, environmental, societal, and technological challenges. The SPIN center specifically prioritizes clean, efficient, and sustainable industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main objective of the PhD project?

The main objective is to develop and characterize a multi-sensor platform for monitoring onshore CO2 storage sites, as part of the CO2MET project to improve reliability and public acceptance of geological CO2 storage.

What type of contract is offered for this PhD position?

The position is offered as a 3-year fixed-term doctoral contract.

What is the desired start date for the position?

The desired start date for the position is January 2027.

What degree is required for applicants?

Applicants must hold a Master 2 degree in Measurement Instrumentation Metrology Data Acquisition Processing Analysis.

Where will the PhD student be based?

The PhD student will be based at the SPIN – LGF center (Georges Friedel Laboratory, UMR CNRS 5307) in Saint-Etienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Are there any benefits mentioned for this position?

Yes, benefits include 49 days of leave and RTT, partial teleworking, 75% coverage of public transport, financial support for carpooling and cycling, and accommodations for disabilities.