This internship propose to investigate the dynamics of mucus clearance in the human airways, a process crucial for respiratory health and affected in diseases like cystic fibrosis. Mucus is cleared either by the coordinated beating of cilia or by cough-induced airflow, yet the role of its viscoelastic properties remains largely unexplored. As part of the CNRS-funded MUCUS project, you will study the behavior of liquid plugs formed during airway occlusion under different breathing scenarios. You can choose between two complementary axes: numerical, using the Basilisk solver and supercomputer simulations to explore how viscoelasticity affects plug rupture in 2D and 3D geometries; or experimental, using microfluidic models to visualize plug dynamics and rupture under pressure gradients and cough-like flows. This hands-on internship combines fluid mechanics, advanced simulations, and cutting-edge experiments, offering the possibility to continue into a PhD. It’s a chance to tackle real-world biomedical challenges while gaining deep expertise in complex fluid dynamics and bio-inspired flows.