Missions

The various mechanisms involved in the 3D printing process of hydrogels are controlled by the synergy between rheology, microscopic structuring, and gelation dynamics. However, these phenomena are still poorly understood, particularly in small gelling self-assembled molecules. Due to their application potential in biomedical (tissue engineering, drug delivery, etc.), self-assembled bio-based biosurfactant molecules extracted from plants or microorganisms constitute a new challenge for 3D printing (Baccile et al.). The program aims to identify and understand the synergies between the mechanisms that control the association, the structuring and the transport of these molecules in a 3D printing process thanks to a multidisciplinary experimental approach at the interface of complex fluids mechanic and physical chemistry. The second part of the project aims to understand the behavior of living cells during 3D printing in order to integrate multi-structured hydrogels into tissue engineering processes.

N. Baccile, L. Van Renterghem, P. Le Griel, G. Ducouret, et al., Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 7859–7872

Activités

The activities carried out will be as follows:
- carrying out experiments coupling, physical chemistry, rheology, fluidics, optical visualization and fluorescence
- analysis and synthesis of results, data processing.
- oral and written communication of results: writing of reports and scientific articles, participation in international congresses

Compétences

- experience and knowledge in rheology and/or physics of soft matter
- know how to process data: use python or matlab (or equivalent),
- a strong predilection for experimental research, science-related skills, and concepts such as observing, and synthesizing information.
- scientific communication skills (oral and written)

Contexte de travail

The post-doctoral researcher will be recruited by the CNRS, which is a multidisciplinary public research organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation.
The work is done within the framework of the SELFAMPHI project funded by the ANR. This project associates 2 laboratories: the Rheology and Processes Laboratory (expertise in complex fluid mechanics and soft matter), the Chemistry Laboratory of Condensed Matter in Paris (expertise in physicochemistry, biophysics). The work will be carried out mainly at the Rheology and Processes Laboratory in Grenoble in collaboration with two teams from the LCMCP. Regular exchanges will be set up with these laboratories, which will provide their respective expertise and support.

The rheology and processes laboratory is a joint unit of the CNRS and the University of Grenoble-Alpes. It carries out academic and partnership research activities in the field of rheology and processes, with applications in various fields of activity such as health, synthesis processes, shaping of materials, etc. It includes about sixty members, half of whom are doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers.