PhD Thesis - Polymer synthesis (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Synthetic digital polymers represent a valuable alternative to natural macromolecules like DNA for data storage at the molecular scale, especially thanks to a higher versatility and coding capacity. Our original approach relies on an optical encoding and sequencing, through the development of fluorescently-encoded synthetic polymers, in combination with a detection technique for a fast decoding of their controlled sequence.
The objective of this PhD thesis is to set up the tools enabling a controlled and modular synthesis as well as an efficient characterization of the fluorescently-encoded polymers. In addition, the candidate will actively participate to the evaluation of these polymers by a various techniques based on nanopores and optics, in close collaboration with different physics partner teams involved in the project.

Activities:
- Polymer synthesis
- Fluorescence labeling of the polymers
- Purification of the polymers and physico-chemical characterization using a wide range of analytical tools (NMR, liquid and size-exclusion chromatography, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy,..)
- Bibliography survey
- Keep a laboratory notebook
- Regular written and oral reporting, participation to meetings within an interdisciplinary consortium
- Write scientific articles
- Participate to (inter-)national conferences

Competences:
- Background in polymer chemistry. Experience in controlled radical (photo-)polymerization is a plus
- Knowledge about UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies
- Good communication skills at least in English (meetings, written and oral reporting, interdisciplinary exchanges with the project partners…).
- Team work
- Rigor, organization and autonomy
- Master the numerical tools and image processing softwares.

Please provide a CV, motivations, available marks obtained in the last 3 years and potential recommendation letters

Your Work Environment

The laboratory Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères (Polymer Materials Engineering) - IMP -UMR CNRS 5223 (www.imp-umr5223.cnrs.fr) is dedicated to fundamental and applied research in polymer science. It is a mixed research unit (UMR) of CNRS with 3 other institutions: INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Université Jean Monnet of Saint-Etienne. IMP laboratory gathers around 200 people including more than 80 permanent researchers as well as 110 PhD students and post-docs. Thanks to Institut de chimie of Lyon it has access to many technological platforms for characterizations.
The thesis will mainly take place in its building located at the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, campus de La Doua in Villeurbanne. It will also involve regular exchanges with the different partners of this interdisciplinary project financed by a French priority research program.

Constraints and risks

Follow general safety rules
Practical work in chmistry lab.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

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

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.

CNRS

The research professions