Stretchable Electronics & Optics Internship

Joining Mines Saint-Étienne means committing to an institution where science and innovation build a more sustainable future. It is a school of excellence where everyone has the opportunity to unlock their full potential and contribute to tackling the challenges of tomorrow.

Ranked among the top engineering schools in France and recognized worldwide, our school, a member of the Institut Mines-Télécom, educates the talents of tomorrow while actively addressing major industrial, digital, and environmental challenges. By joining us, you become part of a community of 500 members of staff, 2,500 students and take part in an ambitious project: combining academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and positive societal impact.

The Institut Mines-Télécom brings together France’s leading Grandes Ecoles to tackle major industrial, digital, energy, and environmental challenges. With its eight public Grandes Écoles and two affiliated Graduate Schools, it is the leading public institute dedicated to engineers and managers. Together, we imagine and build a sustainable future by educating the leaders who will shape tomorrow’s transitions.

🎯 What we expect from you ?

As an intern, you will perform innovation and research activities in the field of soft electronics for eskin applications. Within this centre of Microelectronics and the flexible electronics department, you will combine your passion for science and for societal impact.

The flexible electronics department develops technological and scientific knowledge in the field of soft electronics. The department has a strong knowledge in the field of material and interface electrical and mechanical characterization. The activities of the department are regrouped in the 660m2-area platform. This technological platform regroups facilities and technological equipment for R&D activities in Micropackaging, micro and nano-electronics, in a clean room of 220m² 1000-class and 400m² 10000-class.

Stretchable electronics can also be declined with optical systems such as waveguides. These devices will be developed within the project in order to create an artificial skin with pressure and temperature sensing capabilities.

Within this project, our work will focus on the fabrication and characterization of stretchable optical waveguides as well as fabrication and integration techniques of optical components (LEDs / Photodiodes). Related publication is “Transparent, Optical, Pressure‐Sensitive Artificial Skin for Large‐Area Stretchable Electronics” https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201200523 .

An important part of the work will be:

·         Update our characterization setup è knowledge in Python and electronics (Arduino & Rasperry Pi) is important

·         Fabrication and characterization of these waveguide (elastomer) for pressure or temperature sensors applications.

·         Integration of optically pressure or temperature sensitive material into the elastomer waveguide

·         Characterization of the complete devices.

Fabrication process and experimental setups are already existing. However, knowledges in Python is important in order to use these test benches. Hands-on lab work is essential, and will be partly performed in our clean room facility.

Demonstrations of radically new devices, possessing features and functions that cannot be achieved with existing electronics would be the exciting outcome of this work.