Thesis subject: Structural study of a stratum corneum model consisting of corneocytes and intercellular lipids.

Human skin is the body’s largest organ and its primary barrier against the penetration of external compounds. This protective function is largely governed by the outermost layer, the stratum corneum. According to the well-established “brick-and-mortar” model, the stratum corneum consists of corneocytes (the “bricks”) embedded in an intercellular lipid matrix (the “mortar”). Despite its importance, the detailed structure of the interface between these two components remains insufficiently understood.

This PhD project aims to deliver a quantitative structural characterization of the corneocyte–lipid interface using state-of-the-art neutron diffraction and neutron reflectometry, combined with advanced optical microscopy approaches. The project is fundamentally oriented but addresses questions of strong relevance to applied and industrial contexts.

The work will be conducted in close collaboration with L'Oréal, a global leader in cosmetic science and innovation.
Research environment: The successful candidate will join the Large Scale Structures (LSS) group at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, one of the world’s leading centers for neutron science. The student will be employed by the ILL and will benefit from access to cutting-edge large-scale facilities and an international research environment.

The PhD will be academically supervised by Dr. Carlos Marques at the École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon), where the candidate will be formally enrolled and where part of the research program will be carried out.