Postdoctoral Researcher (M/F) – Degradation of Bio-Based PLA Materials
New
- Researcher in FTC
- 12 months
- Doctorate
This offer is available in English version
This offer is open to people with a document recognizing their status as a disabled worker.
Offer at a glance
The Unit
Laboratoire de chimie des polymères organiques
Contract Type
Researcher in FTC
Working hHours
Full Time
Workplace
33607 PESSAC
Contract Duration
12 months
Date of Hire
02/11/2026
Remuneration
Between €3,041 and €4,216 (gross salary) per month, depending on experience.
Apply Application Deadline : 28 September 2026 23:59
Job Description
Missions
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Studying the ageing of selected bio-based materials and its impact on their (bio)degradability under industrial composting or anaerobic digestion conditions, with composting and anaerobic digestion experiments conducted by our INRAE partners.
Characterizing the selected materials before, during and after degradation tests using chemical and physicochemical techniques (NMR, FTIR and other spectroscopies, SEC, DSC, thermal analysis, microscopy, mechanical testing, etc.).
Synthesizing nanoparticles from these same materials in order to investigate their behaviour in various environments.
Activity
The LCPO (Laboratory of Organic Polymer Chemistry) is a renowned research laboratory specializing in the design, synthesis and characterization of innovative polymers and materials. At the interface between chemical synthese, materials science and environmental research, Team 5 (Polymers and Environment) conducts both fundamental and applied research in areas such as functional materials, bio-based polymers, recycling and the end-of-life of materials.
Joining the LCPO as a postdoctoral researcher offers the opportunity to work in a high-level scientific environment, in collaboration with both academic and industrial partners.
Your Profil
Skills
Hold a PhD in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, or a related discipline;
Have solid experimental experience in polymer/materials characterization;
Have an excellent scientific English level, both written and spoken;
Experience in the field of bio-based polymers would be highly appreciated;
Demonstrate autonomy, rigor, and initiative;
Enjoy working as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
Your Work Environment
The project aims to understand and improve the biodegradation of commercial cellulose- and polylactic acid (PLA)-based materials. It will focus on:
i) studying the impact of ageing of food trays under real-life use conditions on their subsequent biodegradability in organic waste recovery pathways, namely industrial composting and mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion;
ii) monitoring the degradation process based on the physicochemical characteristics of the materials before and during degradation, and identifying the microbial communities colonizing these materials.
In addition, since PLA biodegradation is known to be limited under mesophilic anaerobic digestion conditions, a complementary objective will be to:
iii) improve the biodegradation of the trays by developing thermochemical and biological pretreatment processes prior to mesophilic anaerobic digestion.
Ultimately, recommendations will be provided regarding suitable recovery pathways for these new materials.
Constraints and risks
No specific risks.
Travel to INRAE partner sites (Narbonne and Rennes) may be required, with arrangements to be agreed upon with the researcher.
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
Between €3,041 and €4,216 (gross salary) per month, depending on experience.
Annual leave and RTT
44 jours
Remote Working practice and compensation
Pratique et indemnisation du TT
Transport
Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€
About the offer
| Offer reference | UMR5629-VERCOM-004 |
|---|---|
| CN Section(s) / Research Area | Materials, nanomaterials and processes chemistry |
About the CNRS
The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.
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