Eleni Effraimopoulou, première doctorante à avoir soutenu une thèse financée TTI.5, a travaillé sur les « Bio-aérogels superisolants pour la maîtrise des déperditions thermiques ».
Elle a obtenu son doctorat le 24 septembre dernier et a accepté de répondre à nos questions :
– You’ve just defended your thesis after three years of work. How do you feel?
💬It is very rewarding to see three years of effort and learning come together and to realize how much I have grown personally and professionally during this time. I am genuinely happy to conclude this important chapter of my life, surrounded by great people and wonderful memories.
– How would you define these years of doctoral work?
💬These years were very intense but also incredibly enriching. I gained not only scientific knowledge and technical skills, but also strengthen important soft skills such as communication, organization and self-management. It was a continues process of curiosity, discovery and joy.
– What made you want to join the TTI.5 doctoral program in the first place?
💬For me, the main reason of joining the TTI.5 doctoral program was its strong focus on sustainability, combined with the multidisciplinary nature of its projects. I truly believe that meaningful solutions emerge when experts from different backgrounds work together.
– Was the multidisciplinary nature of your thesis an asset and/or a source of challenges for you?
💬Both! Working across disciplines expanded my scientific perspective and allowed me to approach problems from multiple perspectives, making me more creative and adaptable in my thinking. At the same time, it required significant effort to dive deeply into each research topic, something that I found both demanding and fascinating. In the end, this multidisciplinary approach made my work richer and more impactful.
– Would you like to add something? What are your plans for the future?
💬I am very grateful to my supervisors and collaborators for their support and guidance; without them nothing would be possible. In my next steps, I plan to continue my research career through a postdoctoral position, focusing on sustainable materials.
– Do you have any advice for students starting their thesis with TTI.5?
💬My advice for the new students is to always stay curious, be open to collaboration and do not get discouraged by challenges. Doctoral studies naturally come with ups and downs, but it is completely normal and part of the process! To me, a successful PhD is not only about getting the work done, but also about learning to think critically, manage your time (and sometimes your colleagues), and collaborate effectively. The development of these skills should not be underestimated, as they are essential for a career in science but not only. Last but not least, make the most out of the TTI.5 network, as its multidisciplinary nature can significantly broaden your scope and enhance your experience.
💡A propos :
Direction et encadrement : Arnaud RIGACCI et Julien JAXEL | PERSEE Mines Paris – PSL, Tatiana BUDTOVA | CEMEF Mines Paris – PSL
Cette thèse répond au besoin prégnant de matériaux d’isolation thermique à haute performance, durables et économiquement viables dans de nombreux secteurs, face aux défis environnementaux et énergétiques croissants induits par le changement climatique. Dans ce contexte, l’isolation thermique joue un rôle clé dans la réduction de la consommation d’énergie, notamment dans le bâtiment, mais aussi dans d’autres secteurs tels que les transports et les systèmes industriels. Les matériaux isolants conventionnels, bien qu’utilisés à grande échelle, ne parviennent souvent pas à satisfaire simultanément les exigences de performance et de maitrise de l’impact environnemental, en particulier dans des environnements contraints en espace, comme la rénovation intérieure des bâtiments existants.
Parmi les solutions étudiées, les aérogels sont les seuls matériaux capables d’offrir une superisolation intrinsèque (c’est-à-dire une conductivité thermique inférieure à celle de l’air) dans des conditions ambiantes, grâce à leur nanostructure unique et leur mésoporosité. Les aérogels de pectine allient non-toxicité, conductivité thermique ultra-faible (et valorisation des déchets, en accord avec les principes de l’économie circulaire.
Cette thèse s’inscrit dans l’Axe 3 de notre programme scientifique La planète inclusive
🔑Mots-clés : matériaux nanostructurés, aérogels, pectine, isolation thermique, vieillissement thermo-hydrique, modification hydrophobe
Photos ©Laurent Schiatti de Monza