Junior research scientist specialized in process design for granular matter

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research establishment under the dual authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Research.

INRAE is recruiting researchers by open competition and offering permanent position.

It is a major player in research and innovation created on 1^st of January 2020. INRAE is a research institute resulting from the merger of INRA and IRSTEA. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France.

The institute is among the world leaders in agricultural and food sciences, in plant and animal sciences, and is 11^th in the world in ecology and environment. INRAE’s main goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. In the face of the increase in population, climate change, scarcity of resources and decline in biodiversity, the institute develops solutions for multiperformance agriculture, high quality food and sustainable management of resources and ecosystems.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will join the IATE (Agropolymer Engineering and Emerging Technologies) joint research unit, which employs 79 permanent staff and is under the joint stewardship of INRAE, Montpellier University, and the Agro Institute (Montpellier). The laboratory is located on the Montpellier Agro Institute campus. IATE focuses its research on the study and use of renewable biomass resources for advanced products in the fields of food, biomaterials, and bioenergy. Using its expertise in biochemistry, physics, chemical engineering, and computer science, and the cutting-edge instruments of the unit’s PLANET platform, IATE designs and implements a variety of innovative technologies for biomass conversion and renewable product design.
You will join IATE’s PhyProDiv (Physique des Procédés et Matériaux Divisés d’origine Végétale, 7 permanent staff members) team. This team develops research on the controlled production of biomass powders, as well as their behaviour in dense suspensions and charged composites; the resulting knowledge applies to both food and non-food industries. The team deploys a variety of experimental and computational methods to understand the behaviour of biomass-derived particulate matter, from microscopic to process scale.
To reinforce IATE’s ability to understand the mechanisms that underpin the conversion of biomass into granular matter, INRAE wishes to recruit a junior research scientist (CRCN). You will elucidate the microscopic origin of the behaviour of biomass in various dynamic processes. Your overarching goal will be to contribute to the development of novel biomass processing prototypes.

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent.
A PhD in chemical/mechanical engineering or engineering physics is highly recommended, as well as proven skills in the study of granular or particulate systems. Moreover, within the framework of this position, skills in experimental design and the analysis and interpretation of multiscale physical phenomena would be appreciated.
Candidates should have a good command of English (both written and spoken), and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be required to do so after their probationary period (1st year).

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from:

- 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

For international scientists: please visit your guide to facilitate your arrival and stay at INRAE.