Post-doctoral position : Multi-scale characterization of the porosity of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass
31 Jan 2024
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN)- Department
Physics and analysis division- Research Field
Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Chemistry » Analytical chemistry- Researcher Profile
Recognised Researcher (R2)- Country
France- Application Deadline
30 Apr 2024 - 12:10 (Europe/Paris)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
35- Offer Starting Date
4 Mar 2024- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Context
The architecture of biomass is highly complex and variable across species, and can be defined as a
continuum of spatial scales ranging from molecules to particles, polymers, nano-structures,
assemblies, cells and tissues. These scales are highly interconnected and reflect not only the
chemical and structural properties of biomass, but above all its reactivity to transformation
processes such as chemical, physical, mechanical or biological reactions.
The mission is part of the FillingGaps project funded by the French National Research Agency
(ANR) through the Biomass, Biotechnologies, Technologies for Green Chemistry and Renewable
Energies (B-BEST) program and priority research equipment (PEPR) co-piloted by IFPEN and
INRAE. The aim is to develop multi-scale approaches, for representative biomass species, in order
to establish relationships between scales with a view to highlighting markers of biomass
properties and reactivity. This will require the application and development of high-level
characterization tools that will provide information at complementary scales. The proposed
strategy will also lead to the development of new methods for coupling scales and integrating
information, ultimately proposing virtual models of biomass reactivity.
Post-doctoral researcher's mission
As part of the FillingGaps project involving the IFPEN (Physics and Analysis Division) and FARE
(Fractionation of AgroResources and Environment) laboratories, your mission will be to
characterize the porosity at different spatial scales of biomass samples from several origins before
and after pretreatment. Indeed, the porosity of lignocellulosic biomass is a critical parameter for
its biochemical transformation, since it determines the diffusion of enzymes before their
adsorption on cellulose and conversion into glucose.
You will have access to a wide range of equipment and characterization techniques, including
nitrogen physisorption, mercury porosimetry, water sorption (DVS), X-ray microtomography,
small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), FPG-NMR and confocal fluorescence microscopy (FRAP).
Protocols have already been established for most of these characterization techniques, but
further fine-tuning is required in terms of sample preparation to guarantee the repeatability and
quality of the data acquired. Data of various kinds will also have to be processed using statistical
approaches, analytical or morphological models.
All the data produced will be used to feed a predictive model of biomass reactivity developed
jointly with other project partners.
Requirements
- Research Field
- Chemistry » Analytical chemistry
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
- Research Field
- Chemistry » Physical chemistry
- Education Level
- PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Training and skills required
The candidate will hold a PhD degree and have skills in physical chemistry, ideally in the analysis
of porous media, with knowledge of SAXS, X-ray tomography, NMR or water sorption techniques,
for example. Knowledge of plant resource development and an interest in multi-disciplinary
projects would be appreciated.
Rigor and organization, listening skills, ability to work as part of a team, interacting with several
staff and quickly integrating into a research group to organize experiments, report and
communicate results are all skills required to carry out the mission in the best possible conditions.
Specific Requirements
Host laboratory address
IFPEN, Direction Physique et Analyse, rond-point de l’échangeur de Solaize, BP3, 69360 Solaize
UMR FARE, 2 esplanade Roland Garros, 51100 Reims, https://fare.nancy.hub.inrae.fr/
Contract duration
18 months from March 1 or April 1, 2024. The position is based in Solaize, south of Lyon, for at
least 1 year before a 4 to 6 month move to Reims.
Salary
3399 euros gross /month
Persons in charge and contacts
Dr Séverine Humbert, [email protected]
Dr Gabriel Paës, [email protected]
- Languages
- FRENCH
- Level
- Basic
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Good
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- IFPEN
- Country
- France
- City
- Solaize
- Postal Code
- 69360
- Geofield
Where to apply
[email protected]
Contact
- City
Solaize- Website
http://www.ifpenergiesnouvelles.com/- Street
Rond Point de l'échangeur de Solaize- Postal Code
69360
[email protected]
STATUS: EXPIRED