Post Doc Offer: I2M Bordeaux / Hoffmann-La Roche – End 2019

Context:

I2M Bordeaux (Institute of Mechanical Engineering) includes a large range of topics related to research fields in mechanical
engineering on the campus of the University of Bordeaux, France. Although the topics are of fundamental nature, they
cannot be separated from the applications as well as from training activities in the field of mechanical engineering. The
research of this project will be performed in the Team “Pharmaceutics” of the department “Processes, Materials,
Interactions”. This team develops a research about pharmaceutical powder compaction.

The project will be developed in collaboration with Hoffmann-La Roche teams in Basel (Switzerland), especially the Global
Small Molecules Technical Development team. This group transforms synthetic molecules into medicines. They develop
robust, cost-efficient manufacturing processes while delivering clinical supplies; create knowledge through innovation and
continuous improvement in an environment of collaboration.

Project Summary

In the pharmaceutical industry, tablets are produced using high speed die-compaction of powders. Despite an apparent
simplicity of the process, producing tablet can still be challenging and industrial issues like capping and lamination, that
correspond to the failure of the tablet after its ejection from the die, are still nor fully understood nor solved.

Non-dimensional mechanical properties indicators of compacted materials like Brittle Fracture Index give a suitable
forecast about the general fracture propensity during tableting, but a correlation with the specific failure mode and its
criticality during the compression step is missing. Further understanding of this phenomenon will allow screening in an
early phase between materials with different tableting failure modes and proposing a mitigation strategy, even for those that
present suitable cohesion/tensile strength.

Previous studies have shown that strength anisotropy is one of the factors that can promote capping and lamination. The
objective of the Post-Doc project is to develop an evaluation method for anisotropic bulk mechanical properties to assess
and predict fracture failure modes under specific tableting conditions based on an enhanced mechanical properties analysis.
During the project, the successful candidate will first develop a suitable methodology to easily determine the anisotropy of
strength in pharmaceutical tablets. Then the influence of both material attributes and process parameters on the occurrence
of anisotropy will be studied. In order to understand completely the problem, the microstructural origin of anisotropy will
also be analyzed using techniques like X-Ray tomography.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Mechanics, mechanical engineering or material sciences. He has experiences in
material testing (Fracture, elasticity) and numerical simulation (FEM). Experience in Digital Image Correlation and/or X-
Ray Tomography would be an advantage. In addition, the ideal candidate possesses the following qualifications:
- Fluent English
- Curiousity, ability to implement innovative solutions

Duration of the project:

From end 2019 (November) for two years.

Contact and response

Please send your CV and motivation letter to Dr. Vincent Mazel vincent.mazel@u-bordeaux.fr