PhD position multi-scale analysis

• Location

Laboratoire FARE INRAE/URCA, 2 esplanade Roland Garros, 51100 Reims

Chaire Biotechnologie CentraleSupélec, CEBB, 3 rue des Terres Rouges, 51110 Pomacle

• Mission

The MODELEX project aims to develop combinations of physico-chemical, biochemical, microscopic and mechanical characterization of the LB before, during and after pre-treatment by steam explosion. All the data collected should make it possible to propose a predictive model of the LB reaction behaviour as a function of its initial properties. The goal is to modulate the pre-treatment conditions in relation to the nature of the LB and the subsequent stages of its transformation. 

The project will be carried out in three main steps. Firstly, different samples of LB of industrial interest will be selected and then pre-treated by steam explosion, under conditions of varying severity, in order to have a panel of contrasted samples before, during (in situ rheological measurements) and after pre-treatment. Secondly, the expertise of the two laboratories involved in this project will allow a fine characterization of these samples in terms of chemical composition, structure at the micro- and macroscopic scales, and mechanical properties. Finally, all the information obtained will be used to feed a model of the alteration dynamics during treatment, which will help to adapt the pre-treatment conditions to the properties of the BL.

• Skills

The candidate will have graduated from a Master or equivalent, and will have received training in disciplines related to the subject: physical chemistry of biopolymers, biopolymer analysis techniques, rheology, modelling. Theoretical and practical knowledge of tools for manipulating and integrating heterogeneous data will be appreciated.

• Application

Applicants should send a letter of motivation and a detailed CV, including the contact details of at least two academic referees to supervisors before the 15th of June 2020 to Dr Gabriel Pas and Pr Patrick Perré

• Contact

Dr Gabriel Paës, gabriel.paes@inrae.fr, + 33 326 77 3625 

Pr Patrick Perré, patrick.perre@centralesupelec.fr, + 33 352 620 501