Postdoctoral researcher

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will be hosted within the PROSE Research Unit (Biotechnological Processes in the Service of the Environment), located in Antony (92), which comprises 19 permanent staff members. PROSE conducts research on environmental biotechnologies, from the scale of microbial communities up to that of processes (wastewater treatment plants, anaerobic digesters, bioelectrochemical processes for biorefinery, etc.), in connection with the major societal challenges of sustainable development, circular economy and bioeconomy.

Within the PROSE unit, you will be responsible for the design, operation and evaluation of an integrated, multi-compartment microbial electrochemical process at laboratory scale. The work will rely on adapting existing lab-scale microbial electrolysis pilots (TRL4–TRL5) inherited from previous projects, as well as on adapting commercial electrochemical cells to the specific needs of the ElectroMIC process. The position has a strong experimental dimension, based at the laboratory.

- More specificaly, you will be in charge of: 

• Adapting and instrumenting existing lab-scale microbial electrolysis pilots (TRL4–TRL5), and adapting commercial electrochemical cells to the requirements of the ElectroMIC process;
• Progressively integrating the advances produced across the project: anode design, cathode operation and the transfer of carboxylates between compartments within a single pilot;
• Operating the integrated pilot: maintenance, sampling, analyses, data acquisition and characterization of process performance;
• Defining long-term process management strategies, with particular attention to the management modes of the different compartments (anodic, central and cathodic);
• Analysing the results, benchmarking process performance and proposing optimisation pathways;
• Promoting and disseminating all results through presentations at conferences and the writing of scientific publications.

- Specific working conditions: 

• You will be hosted at UR PROSE in Antony (92). The position is primarily laboratory-based. Occasional travel is to be expected for project meetings with consortium partners and for national and international scientific conferences.

Training and skills

-Recommended education: You hold a PhD in process engineering, chemical engineering, electrochemistry or environmental biotechnology.

-Desired knowledge: Theoretical and practical knowledge of microbial electrochemical technologies and/or environmental biotechnologies. Knowledge of electrochemical and (electro)membrane processes, as well as of process modelling, would be an asset.

-Appreciated experience: Experience in the operation of (bio)reactors or electrochemical reactors at laboratory or pilot scale will be appreciated, as will experience in the design and instrumentation of experimental set-ups.

-Sought-after skills: You have a strong interest in waste/water treatment, electromicrobial processes and experimental work. You are rigorous and autonomous and able to work within a multidisciplinary consortium. Strong scientific writing and communication skills in English are required.

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 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.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter