Missions

This project aims to develop new enzymatic processes operating under mild reaction conditions to convert aldehydes into alcohols. It is an EU-funded project within the framework of a European project.

Activities

- Literature review
- Selection of enzymes and their immobilization
- Determination of enzymatic activity
- Conducting catalytic tests (liquid-phase hydrogenation)
- Interpreting results to understand reaction pathways and observed phenomena, and proposing practical and effective solutions to optimize reaction yields (selection of the best material and the best catalytic process configuration)
- Oral presentation of results obtained at project progress meetings and conferences in France and abroad - Writing activity reports and scientific publications related to this work

Skills

The researcher will have defended a PhD in enzymatic catalysis between 2024 and 2026. Ideally, the researcher will have experience in handling enzyme assays and in analyzing mixtures of organic molecules by liquid and gas chromatography. Additional experience in enzyme immobilization will be highly desirable. Fluency in written and spoken English is required for writing scientific articles and communicating about the research.

Work Context

This project is highly multidisciplinary, as its development will draw upon skills from complementary fields, namely chemistry/synthesis of nanomaterials, enzymatic catalysis, and process engineering, while also utilizing a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize the synthesized catalysts and their application potential. Therefore, the multidisciplinary nature of this research project will be a significant asset to the training of the young researcher who will lead these developments. The project includes collaborations with other laboratories in the Nancy area and abroad, in order to promote the application of research results and create synergies among the partners of the European project. The Lorraine Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry (L2CM) is located at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy campus. The work will primarily be carried out within the L2CM. As part of the project, the researcher will participate in the monthly progress meetings organized between the partners, during which they will present their results. If applicable, the researcher will also be required to participate in national or international conferences to present the results obtained during the contract and possibly in thematic schools. The researcher will be supervised by Dr. Robert Wojcieszak and Dr. Nadia Canilho (L2CM). Most of the equipment needed for the project is available on site.

Constraints and risks

No specific constraints or risks

Additional Information

Any