Missions

The aim of this 2-year postdoctoral fellowship (with a possible 2-year extension) is to develop experiments that will advance our understanding of enzyme adsorption and activity at liquid interfaces of bubbles (or drops) and foams (or emulsions). The use of these foams (emulsions) will be explored in the context of important environmental and medical issues. The postdoc will be part of a larger interdisciplinary project at the interface of soft matter physics and biochemistry, with the possibility of playing an important role in coordinating several PhD students. More detailed information will be provided at a more advanced stage of the hiring process.

Activities

* Developing/setting-up of experimental techniques to characterise the adsorption and activity of enzymes at liquid interfaces
* Characterising foam/emulsion stability
* Characterising thin liquid films stabilised by enzymes
* Measuring interfacial tension and interfacial rheology (dilational and shear rheology)
* Characterisation by confocal-, infrared and electron microscopy (and their correlation)
* Coordinating work done by PhD students of the project

Skills

The candidate has to hold a PhD in physics or physical chemistry in soft matter science. He/she will possess some or all of the following skills. If not yet present, training will be provided.
* Characterisation of liquid interfaces and foams/emulsions containing interfacially active substances (ideally proteins or enzymes)
* Characterisation of enzyme activity at interfaces and in foams/emulsions
* Characterisation by confocal- and electron microscopy
* Characterisation by UV-vis, fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy
* Curiosity and capacity to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
* Independence
* Good communication skills (including written and oral English, level B1 minimum)
* Supervision of students
* Capacity and desire to get involved in the coordination of interdisciplinary scientific activities

Work Context

The postdoc is part of a major interdisciplinary project at the interface between soft matter physics, physical chemistry and biochemistry, involving different partners from Strasbourg, Paris and Le Mans. The postdoc will be based at the Institut Charles Sadron in Strasbourg with regular exchanges with the other partners. He/she will be be hosted by the MIM team (Mechanics of Interfaces and Multiphase systems) of the ICS, interacting closely with PhD students/researchers and engineers in other research teams (PECMAT, M3, TSP) and platforms (InCa, Plamics, Carmac). Depending on the postdoc's desire and capacity, he/she will take over an important part of the project coordination, with the possibility of a 2-year contract extension. The starting date is somewhat flexible.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

NA