People

Pr. Antoine le Duigou is Professor at Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lome at Université de Bretagne Sud (Lorient France).

Antoine obtained his PhD in Materials Science at Université de Bretagne Sud and Ifremer in 2010, under the supervision of Pr C Baley P Davies where he developed natural fibre biocomposites for marine application. In 2014, he introduced the novel concept of Hygromorph biocomposites. Natural fibres’ main drawback, i.e moisture sensitivity, is for the first time turned into an advantage thanks to biomimicry paradigm. A new functionnality for natural fibres was proposed. He won Young’s researcher award from French Composites Association (AMAC) in 2017 and from European Society of Composite Materials (ESCM) in 2018. He defended his Habilitation in 2017 dealing with Composites materials and natural fibres : From reinforcement to hygromorph actuators . He has published more than 65 internationally peer reviewed articles and has given more than 80 conferences.

From a pedagogical and administrative point of view, Antoine is in charge of the Master 1 “Eco-Design of Polymers and Composites”.

> Resume

Dr. Mickaël CASTRO is currently a lecturer at the University of Southern Brittany, France, since 2009. He obtained his PhD at the University of Saint-Etienne in 2004, studying the morphology and rheological behavior of co-continuous immiscible polymer blends for lithium battery applications. During his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota, he studied the rheology of concentrated surfactant systems, under the supervision of Pr. C.W. Macosko. He joined the Materials Engineering Laboratory of Brittany in the Smart Plastics group in 2006 to develop self-sensing conductive polymer composites as part of a European project under the supervision of Pr. J-F. Feller. In recent years, efforts have mainly focused on the integration of conductive composite sensors in composite structures, for monitoring the health of composites structural parts (SHM). The work on the monitoring of structural parts and the submission of a patent are at the origin of the creation of a startup (Sense in).

Finally, more recently and following internal collaborations, he has collaborated in the development of functional biocomposites for applications of hygromorphic passive actuators, and have participated for example in the addition of conductive formulations in these systems to monitor and/or modify the kinetics of their response. From a pedagogical and administrative point of view, Mickael is in charge of the Master 2 “Eco-Design of Polymers and Composites”, and of a University diploma entitled “3D Printing: Innovative Composite Materials”. He is elected to the operating council of his Sciences faculty, and also to the Research Commission of the University of Southern Brittany.

Bio Quentin

Pauline is currently pursuing a PhD at Université Bretagne Sud on a multidisciplinary project named INSPECH: Inspiration from echinoderm skeletal structures and valorization of marine resources for 4D printing manufacturing for marine applications. The project is co-funded by MNHM – Region Bretagne and UBS doctoral fundings, while being supervised by Mickaël Castro and Antoine Le Duigou at the IRDL laboratory and Nadia Ameziane at the MNHN.

At the end of her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the Université de Rennes 1 (Rennes – France), Pauline had the opportunity to work with biopolymers for the first time which led her to pursue a Master’s degree in this field. Specialized in polymer materials engineering, she graduated from ECPM Strasbourg (École européenne de chimie, polymères et matériaux de Strasbourg – France) in 2024. During this Master’s degree she had the chance to contribute to a project on biocomposites in Australia at the University of Queensland. This experience confirmed her aspirations to continue working with those emerging materials.

Bio New Melvin !

Julien graduated from ENSTA Bretagne (École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées Bretagne – Brest, France) in the field of advanced modeling of materials and structures in 2023. During his engineering master, he participated in several projects that allowed him to develop skills in the fields of 3D design, advanced modeling and composite materials science. He then chose to reconcile his personal and scientific interests through his PhD project by joining the BIONICS GROUP to work on innovative solutions for the space industry. He is co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou (IRDL), Christelle Combescure (IRDL/Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan) and Mickael Castro (IRDL).

Pierre-Louis is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne-Sud on bioinspired 3D printed architectured lunar regolith-based composites able to withstand high-velocity impacts. He graduated from EEIGM (École Européenne d’Ingénieurs en Génie des Matériaux – Nancy, France) in the field of materials engineering in 2022. His research project is funded by ESA (European Space Agency) and Carnot ARTS. He is co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou (IRDL), Laurent Mahéo (IRDL/Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan), Justin Dirrenberger (PIMM) and Ugo Lafont (ESA/ESTEC).

Alaa is currently pursuing her PhD at BIA INRAe laboratory.  She graduated from Grenoble Alpes University (UGA). Her research project is on the functionalization of flax fibers to develop electroresponsive hygromorph biocomposites (ReDesgin4D) funded by ANR, while being supervised by Mickael Castro (IRDL), Ana Villares (INRAe), and Johnny Beaugrand (INRAe)

Join Bionics as a PhD !!

Jean-Baptiste is currently pursuing his PhD at Université Bretagne-Sud on adaptable biocomposite materials obtained by Learning machine and 4D printing. He graduated from INSA Strasbourg. His research project is funded by ANR CE10 while being co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou and Mickael Castro at the IRDL and Gessasma Sofiane at the INRAE BIA Nantes.

Melvin has successfully defended his PhD at Université de Bretagne-Sud on the Contribution to the development of autonomous bio-sourced actuators, shaped by 4D printing, for solar tracker applications, co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou, Mickaël Castro (IRDL), Noelie Di Cesare (UCBL) and Pr Fabrizio Scarpa (Bristol University).

Abstract: A growing interest in the development of passive actuators has been observed over the last decade. These actuators can react autonomously to environmental stimuli by providing a programmed response. To do this, they convert the energy directly available in the environment and do not require any external energy input. This thesis project aims to contribute to the development of a passive solar tracker, made of local and bio-sourced resources (flax fibres and biopolymers), and driven by environmental stimuli. Inspired by the microstructure of plant  fibres such as wood, 4D-printed tubular Hygromorph BioComposites are designed. These adaptive structures generate rotation and torque when subjected to environmental temperature and relative humidity variations. The induced actuation is tailorable through architectural parameters. Finally, a methodology based on a Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) is proposed to programme the morphing response into a heliotropic motion.

Thomas is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne-Sud on 4D printed adaptive biocomposite structures for marine applications. He graduated from ECPM (Strasbourg). His research project is funded by ISBlue (https://www.isblue.fr/fr/) and Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou and Mickaël Castro at the IRDL laboratory, Pierre Sauleau at LBCM and Ryosuke Matsuzaki et Tokyo University of Sciences (JP).

Thomas won mobility funds from ISBLUE in 2020.

Charles is currently pursuing his PhD at Université of Bristol and Université de Bretagne Sud on the design of a biologically inspired autonomous structures made with 4D printed shape-changing architectured biocomposite materials for defense application. He graduated from Arts et Metiers (Cluny). His research project is funded by DSTL (UK/FR application), while being co-supervised by Fabrizio Scarpa (Bristol University), Adam Perriman (Bristol University) and Antoine le Duigou (IRDL).

Malik is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne Sud on the design of 3D printed autonomous shape-changing structures for hydrofoil applications. He graduated from UTT (Troyes). His research project is funded by Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised by Vincent Keryvin, Noelie Di Cesare and Antoine le Duigou (IRDL)

Guillaume is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne Sud on the development of novel 3D and 4D printed composites for marine and morphing applications. He graduated from Polytech (Montpellier). His research project is funded by Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro.

Guillaume won the 2^nd place from the SAMPE Chapter contest in 2019

Qinyu Li graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology, China. I studied mechanical calculation and experimental verification of intelligent aerospace and navigation structures based on shape memory polymer in the Centre for Smart Materials and Structures. The thesis title is Multi-stimuli responsive bioinspired hygromorph biocomposites with shape memory functionality. His supervisors are Fabrizio Scarpa, Hind Saidani-Scott, Giuliano Allegri and Antoine le Duigou.

His research focuses on the smart processing of composite materials using data assimilation and continuous fiber 3D printing, especially developing a 3D printing machine, understanding the printing mechanism, and optimizing fiber path.

Nihon University

Research activities :  micro-mechanics, joining, and 3D printing of polymer matrix composites.

Noëlie DI CESARE is an Assistant Professor at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. She’s specialized in the development of smart algorithms to optimize and make the understanding of materials and structures easier. She’s worked on the development of improved versions of metaheutistic optimization algorihms (sur as a PageRank-improved version of the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm) and their application to stuctural mechanics, continuum mechanics and the development of architectured metamaterials. She’s now developing a research theme about the using of machine learning algorithms applied to theoritical mechanics. Previously, she was Assistant Professor at IRDL, UBS Lorient. She was working in the IUT de Lorient-Pontivy, in the QLIO department. Her topics are related to manufacturing engineering, programming, theoritical mechanics, and numerical modelling of structural mechanics.

Ugo Lafont is Space Materials & Technology Specialist at European Space Agency – ESA
Advanced Materials and Processes development for space application, Polymers / Graphene based technology / Energy storage / Self-healing materials and systems / Smart materials / Coatings, Composite development and associated manufacturing process, Adhesive and joining technology for space related component and structure, Additive manufacturing for space application (thermoplastics and composites) , In-space / Out-of-earth manufacturing

Professor Fabrizio Scarpa (Laurea, PhD, FRAeS) is Materials Theme Leader at the Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS) of the University of Bristol. Fabrizio Scarpa’s research interests are in the field of mechanical metamaterials, with particular focus on auxetics – negative Poisson’s ratio and negative stiffness materials. Professor Scarpa’s group designs, models and manufacture auxetic foams, composites and architected cellular structures for structural integrity, vibration damping, vibroacoustiics, shape morphing and multifunctional applications. Professor Scarpa also develops predictive micromechanical and structural models for energy dissipation performance in composite and polymeric structures. Professor Scarpa’s activities also involve the design, modelling, manufacture and characterisation of natural fibre reinforcements for composites (sisal, agave, cactus, juncus), and recycled polymers (originated from rubber tyres). Those activities are also connected with the use of Synthetic Biology tools to develop energy absorbent bio-based materials (collaboration with Perriman Group at the University of Bristol).

Another set of research activities carry out by Professor Scarpa is about nanostructures, design and manufacturing with particular emphasis on graphene, CNTs, BN, ZnO and GaN nanostructures. Special focus of the nanostructures-related activities is about the mechanical characterisation of the nanomaterials for applications ranging between nanocomposites to nanocoatings for multifunctional applications.

Professor Scarpa is national coordinator for the Mechanical Metamaterials Special Interest Group of the new UK EPSRC Metamaterials Network.

Researcher in mechanical and civil engineering, I’m interested in discovering and developing powerful and efficient tools for the study of complex materials with internal microstructure such as cellular, hierarchical or meta material. A good understanding and prediction of elastic and failure behavior of these new material is of crucial interest for the safety of people and infrastructure as well as for the financial and ecological sustainability of their use, since a better understanding leads to the possibility of a better optimisation. My work aims at improving our theoretical and numerical models of such materials through theoretical developments.

Through his background in mechanics and materials, Enzo aims to develop composite materials able to change shape quickly by exploiting the mechanical instabilities of a structure, this in a predefined way. To achieve such a challenge, a biomimicry approach is considered and translated into 4D printing. He is completing his last year of engineering school at “Polytech Nancy” and is doing his final internship in the bionics team. He is currently working on completing a double master’s degree in research and intends to write a thesis. Enzo is being mentored by Julien Deschamps, a PhD student, to design and test bio-inspired structures using 4D printing for space environments. With a strong interest in this field, he hopes to pursue a career in the space industry in the future.

Through his background in science and materials, Théo aims to develop advanced structures and high-performance composites manufactured using innovative methods. He is completing his master’s degree in eco-design at UBS Lorient and is doing his internship in the bionics group. Théo is helping Pierre-Louis Pichard, a PhD student, to fabricate and test bio-inspired structures made by 3D printing for the lunar environment. Mainly interested in this subject, he also has knowledge of bioplastics and biocomposites, and would like to combine these technologies.

You’re a master’s student or an engineering student? You love biocomposite materials? Is 3D printing your hobby? Biomimicry is the focus of your personal and professional projects? ….. Join us for a 6-month internship, a PhD or a post-doc!

Bio

After graduating in mechanical engineering from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), I completed my studies with a master’s project in the Bioinspired Lightweight Design and Functional Morphology group, supervised by Dr Christian Hamm. There, I studied the relationships between the shape and mechanical functions of complex biological structures, setting up parametric models with Grasshopper to gain a better understanding of these interactions.

This experience consolidated my interest in biomimicry, functional morphology and the optimisation of parametric models. Driven by a desire to have a positive impact on the environment and society, I have applied these skills to the environmental design of buildings and urban developments at Atelier Franck Boutté. By working upstream on the shape of buildings, I used Ladybug Tools, then Pollination, in synergy with Grasshopper, to minimise their energy requirements.

Monia Grabow is currently working on the project Bioinspired 4D printed composite structures for defense and aerospatial application as post-doc researcher.
She obtained her PhD in materials science at the University of South Brittany in 2021 where she was working on the compressive and out-of-pane strengthes of continuous fibre laminated composites. Previously, she had graduated from the University of South Brittany in mechanics and civil engineering, and from the École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Metz and the Technical University of Kaiserslautern in Germany in the field of mechanical engineering.

Elouan is currently a student at the University of South Brittany in Lorient in a Master’s in Eco-design of polymers and composites #ECPC and is doing his internship under the supervision of Antoine Le Duigou. Elouan participates in a project on the conception, the production and the optimization of continuous flax fibre reinforced PLA filament for 3D printing. Originally from the south of France, he completed a DUT of Physical measurement at the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse then followed by a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Afterward, he integrated the training of Lorient to specialize in polymeric and composite materials and eco-design.

Julia is currently pursuing her end-of-study engineer internship at Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL) in Lorient. She is helping Monia Grabow on the design of a biologically inspired autonomous structure made with 4D printed shape-changing architecture composite materials for the lunar environment, supervised by Antoine Le Duigou (IRDL). Originally coming from Dijon in Burgundy, Julia studied at IMT Mines Albi where she specialized in advance structures and materials.

Jose has a Master’s degree in Materials Mechanics from Centrale Lille, and he is currently completing my studies with an internship at the IRDL Laboratory – UMR CNRS 6027. Title of the internship subject: Instabilities, 4D printing and hygromorphic bio-composites. The subject concerns the modelling of the preponderant actuation systems, and the study of instabilities in hygromorphic composites, by FEA simulation on 4D composites, in the framework of the ANR- Redesign 4D project.

Education:
– Research Master – M2 – Specialisation R&D in Mechanics of Materials 2023
Centrale Lille Institute – Cité Scientifique – Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
– Research Master – M2R – Materials, processes and technologies of composites 2021
Lebanese University – Faculty of Engineering, Beirut-Lebanon
– Mechanical Engineering Diploma – Master Degree – CNAM-Paris 2019
Mechanical speciality – structural calculation course

Maxime is currently a student at the University of Southern Brittany in Lorient in the Eco-design of polymers and composites Master’s programme and is doing his internship under the supervision of Antoine Le Duigou. Maxime is participating in a project on double 4D printing with the aim of generating torsion through thermal variations. Originally from the south of France, he completed a DUT in mechanical engineering at the University of Toulon. This enabled him to acquire knowledge in the field of materials and then to specialise in the eco-design of composite materials.

Maxime is currently a student at the University of South Brittany in Lorient in a Master’s in Eco-design of polymers and composites and is doing his internship under the supervision of Antoine Le Duigou. Maxime N participates in a project on the analytical prediction of the shape change capacity of high performance polymers printed in 4D and the evaluation of a composite polymer with continuous fibers for space applications. Originally from the center of France, he completed a DUT in materials science and engineering at the University of Tours then followed by a one year technical university degree in plastics processes and composite materials at the IUT Alençon. This allowed him to acquire knowledge in the field of polymers and composite materials and then to specialize in eco-design.

Vanille is currently completing her second year GMM internship at the University of Southern Brittany in Lorient. Vanille is participating in the project Bioinspired 4D printed composite structures for defense and aerospatial application, supervised by Antoine Le Duigou (IRDL). Originally from Chaudefonds sur Layon in Maine et Loire, she studied in Le Mans for a DUT in Physical Measurements and continued with a degree in Physics and Applications in Angers.

Keliann is currently doing his 2nd year internship in mechanical and materials engineering at the University of South Brittany supervised by Antoine Le Duigou (IRDL) on bioinspired 4D printed composite structures for defense and aerospace. He comes from the small town of Auray not far from Lorient. He did all his post-graduate studies (L1 to M2) at the the University of South Brittany where he acquired skills in structural calculation (metallic or composite) both analytically and numerically as well as in additive manufacturing.

Thomas is  currently pursuing his Engineer Intership at Université de Bretagne Sud on the understanding of bistability effect on 4D printed biocomposites. His research project is funded by CNRS MITI Biomimetisme, while being co-supervised Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro.

Quentin is currently pursuing his first year ECPC master internship at the University of Southern Brittany. Quentin is participating in Roxane Toumi’s thesis on the development of an autonomous solar tracker for space applications, co-supervised by Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro. Originally from Pont-L’Abbé in Finistère, he studied in Nantes for a DUT in materials science and engineering, and pursued a degree in polymers and composites in UBS Lorient, where he was able to learn about 3D printing.

Juliette is currently pursuing her engineer internship at Université de Bretagne Sud, working with Thomas Fruleux on the Development of bioinspired adaptive structures in biocomposites via 4D printing co-supervised by Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro. She is from Brest in Brittany and she studied at the IMT Mines Alès where she specialized in the ecodesign of materials and processes.

Mathias is currently doing his IMECA end-of-study intership at the Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL), Lorient. He is participating in Thomas Fruleux’s thesis on hygromorph 4D printed bilayers for the development of biocompatible and intelligent artificial reefs, and supervised by Antoine le Duigou. Mathias made his master’s degree in Materials sciences with a speciality in engineering (CMI curriculum) at Pau University, where he was able to learn about polymers and composites.