Postdoctoral: Monitoring of trace metal elements in a complex matrix

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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 welcomed in the Animal Products Quality research unit (QuaPA), the leading research unit in France conducting work on the various aspects of the quality of food of animal origin. You will join the ANR JCJC VECTOR project (Chemical contaminant vectorization by microplastics during food waste recycling: the case study of insect-based bioconversion; 2026–2030), where you will collaborate with members of two of the unit’s research teams: Micro-contaminants, Aroma and Separative Sciences (MASS) and Imaging and Transfers (IT).

With over 359 million tons of plastic produced each year, plastic pollution has become a global problem and the presence of microparticles (particles < 5 mm) has now been confirmed in all terrestrial ecosystems. These microplastics can have various harmful effects on the environment and living organisms, including humans. These adverse effects could, at least in part, be explained by the fact that microplastics can act as carriers of various chemical contaminants, whether these are additives, deliberately added during the manufacturing process to modify the physical and mechanical properties of plastics, or environmental pollutants, such as trace metal elements, which may adsorb onto the surface of microplastics and be transported along with them. Preliminary studies have shown that the concentration of chemical contaminants accumulated on microparticles could be 6 to 70 times higher than that in their surrounding environment. However, due to the analytical challenge posed by the simultaneous quantification of microplastics and the chemical contaminants they carry – often in trace amounts – we currently have very little data on this phenomenon of contaminant transport.

Your mission will be to develop an analytical workflow for monitoring trace metal elements carried by microplastics in a complex biological matrix.

You will be more specifically in charge of:

1. producing model microplastics intentionally contaminated with trace metal elements;
2. optimising a robust extraction method for microplastics contained within a complex biological matrix;
3. comparing imaging and mass spectrometry methods in terms of performance and detection limits for the analysis of trace metal elements adsorbed onto microplastics.

Special conditions of activity: Travel to French partner laboratories is expected.

Training and skills

Recommended training: PhD.

Desired knowledge: 

• proficiency in analytical chemistry techniques, particularly mass spectrometry;
• knowledge of imaging, microscopy and histology;
• skills in statistics, and the interpretation and processing of scientific data;
• ability to analyse, synthesise and write scientific reports.

Appreciated experience: Initial experience in the study and characterisation of plastic particles.

Skills: Ability to work independently, attention to detail, organisational skills, team spirit.

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.

The Theix site in Saint-Genès-Champanelle is served by the T2C line (route P39) and an on-demand transport service; it also has parking facilities and services designed for cyclists.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter