Missions

The recruted researcher will work in the framework of a collaborative projet between the LCPO (Bordeaux) and the TBI (Toulouse) funded by 3BCAR.
In recent decades, catalysis has become a fundamental tool in our modern society. This success is mainly driven by two factors: (i) environmental issues, as catalysis can avoid the use of reagents in stoichiometric amounts and reduces energy consumption and (ii) selectivity and synthesis of new molecules. Moreover, in terms of sustainability, it is important to find renewable alternatives to petro-sourced molecules. Biomass appears to be a key resource in this transition, in particular thanks to the diversity of its structures. However, once extracted, biosourced molecules are rarely used directly and must undergo several chemical modifications before being considered as additives, monomers, or biomaterials. Thus, the elaboration of a modular and recyclable catalytic platform is of great interest for implementing new, more sustainable chemical processes. The objective of this project is to develop metallopolymer mechanocatalysts with optimal structures in order to allow the chemical modification of biosourced molecules. This approach is based on a fundamental study using AFM single-molecule force spectroscopy which will allow the quantification of the strength of the coordination bonds of the different systems. Once their structure optimized, these catalysts will then be used for the chemical modification of biosourced molecules derived from lignin, vegetable oils or hemicellulose.

Activités

- Synthesis and characetrization of monomers (NMR)
- Synthesis and characterization of polymers unsing controlled radical polymerization (NMR, SEC)
- Formation single chain nanoparticles (DLS, TEM)
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- Functionalization of AFM tips by surface chemistry
- Single-molecule force spectroscopy
- Elementary organic chemistry reactions applied to biobased substrates

Compétences

Applicants should hold a Ph.D degree in Polymer Science or Organic chemistry, an experience with AFM would be appreciated but is not required. Applicants should be motivated both by the synthetic aspect and the deep AFM characterization. Team capability and good skills in English are required. Flexibility to move from Bordeaux to Toulouse is also necessary.

Contexte de travail

The Laboratory of Chemistry of Organic Polymers (LCPO) is a joint research unit affiliated to the CNRS, the University of Bordeaux and the Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (http://www.lcpo.fr). The LCPO is organized into 4 research teams with a total strength of nearly 150 people, including about 50 permanent staff.
With over 30 years of expertise in polymer chemistry, researches at LCPO aim at:
- developing innovative methodologies for precision synthesis of polymers, using in particular biomimetic and/or green chemistry pathways
- designing functional polymer materials by macromolecular engineering and self-assembly, in the fields of renewable materials, health and energy
- establishing strong links with the socio-economy world.
The work of the recruited agent will be carried out in team 1 of the LCPO
Team 1 entitled "Catalysts and Polymerization Engineering" is headed by Frédéric Peruch. The team develops alternative synthetic strategies to "tailor-made" polymers with a special emphasis on:
- the design of activation or catalysis systems for highly selective polymerization reactions
- the development of recyclable and bio-inspired catalytic nanoreactors operating in various media, including in water
- the engineering of polymers, nanoparticles or nanostructures for targeted functions and applications.
The project will be supervised by Audrey Llevot (Assistant professor at Bordeaux INP) and Cécile Formosa (CR CNRS) at the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute.
Located on the campus of the Toulouse National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA), the TBI public research laboratory, supported by INSA Toulouse, CNRS and INRAE, combines fundamental and applied research in the field of biotechnology. The unit, with strong disciplinary competences in Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences, leads a multi-scale, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific strategy, in order to meet the challenges of the bioeconomy, and associates a large network of public and private collaborators. The candidate will join the TIM (Transferts Interfaces Mixing) team, whose broad scientific field concerns the study of existing transport phenomena in multiphase processes characteristic of (bio)chemical and/or microbiological environments. It is in this team that the atomic force microscopy aspects are developed for the study of interactions at (bio)interfaces. The recruited researcher will work on the synthesis part for the first 6 months at the LCPO in Bordeaux then 1 year at TBI on the characterization by AFM.

Contraintes et risques

The recruited researcher will have to show flexibility to move from Bordeaux to Toulouse.