Description

This PhD project aims to develop a unified multi-scale design and hybrid manufacturing methodology for functional ceramic biomedical implants. The project will focus on porous ceramic architectures produced by advanced ceramic additive manufacturing and on surface engineering strategies applied to accessible outer surfaces of complex porous components. At the structural scale, architectured porous designs will be used to tailor the effective mechanical response of the implant and improve its compatibility with bone tissue. At the surface scale, advanced laser-based surface modification will be explored to regulate local implant-tissue interactions, including mechanical interface behavior and selected biological responses. A central objective is to investigate whether a parametric, pattern-based, and rule-based design framework can connect porous architecture generation, surface-region classification, manufacturing constraints, and functional surface assignment within a coherent workflow. The work will include design, fabrication, post-processing, surface characterization, mechanical testing, and targeted biological evaluation in collaboration with specialized partners.

Skills required

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree, or an equivalent qualification, in materials science, mechanical engineering, additive manufacturing, ceramic processing, biomedical engineering, applied physics, surface engineering, computational design, computer graphics, computational geometry, or a closely related field. The candidate should have a strong interest in ceramic materials, additive manufacturing, porous architectures, laser processing, computational design, and/or biomaterials. Previous experience with CAD, computer graphics, computational geometry, lattice structures, numerical simulation, mechanical testing, or surface characterization would be highly appreciated. Knowledge of biological materials or biomedical applications would be an advantage, but is not mandatory. The successful candidate is expected to be rigorous, curious, autonomous, and strongly motivated by interdisciplinary research. Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment are also expected.

Bibliography

1. Kamble, P. P., Lamottke, M., Zeidler, H., Liu, B., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Advanced CT image pixel-based pipeline for the direct printing of complex bone structures. Rapid Prototyping Journal, 31(10), 2233-2246.
2. Wang, Z., Chen, C., Millet, D., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Parametric scaffold design for property control of multi-material structure in metallic hybrid additive manufacturing. Procedia CIRP, 119, 241-247.
3. Wang, Z., Millet, D., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Using 2D CT images to directly design and print 3D parametric porous medical models. CIRP Annals, 72(1), 117-120.
4. Zhang, Y., Tan, S., Ding, L., & Bernard, A. (2021). A toolpath-based layer construction method for designing & printing porous structure. CIRP Annals, 70(1), 123-126.
5. Mathieu, V., Vayron, R., Richard, G., Lambert, G., Naili, S., Meningaud, J. P., & Haiat, G. (2014). Biomechanical determinants of the stability of dental implants: Influence of the bone–implant interface properties. Journal of biomechanics, 47(1), 3-13.
6. Vayron, R., Soffer, E., Anagnostou, F., & Haïat, G. (2014). Ultrasonic evaluation of dental implant osseointegration. Journal of biomechanics, 47(14), 3562-3568.
7. Hériveaux, Y., Nguyen, V. H., Vayron, R., & Haïat, G. (2020). Ultrasonic evaluation of dental implant stability. Dental Ultrasound in Periodontology and Implantology: Examination, Diagnosis and Treatment Outcome Evaluation, 197-213.
8. Fraulob, M., Pang, S., Le Cann, S., Vayron, R., Laurent-Brocq, M., Todatry, S., ... & Haiat, G. (2020). Multimodal characterization of the bone-implant interface using Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation. Medical engineering & physics, 84(1), 60-67.

Keywords

multi-scale design, hybrid manufacturing, ceramic biomedical implants