PhD offer - Design of Multifunctional Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers by Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly (FastNanoPISA) (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Precision nanomedicine requires multifunctional drug delivery systems capable of combining targeted delivery, controlled drug release, multimodal therapeutic payloads, and real-time imaging within a single platform. Despite major advances, integrating all these functionalities into robust and scalable polymeric nanocarriers remains one of the major challenges in nanomedicine, limiting the development of effective combination therapies against cancer, inflammatory diseases, and complex infections.
This PhD project aims to develop a new generation of multifunctional polymeric nanocarriers using Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA). Unlike conventional nanoparticle fabrication methods, PISA combines polymer synthesis, nanoparticle formation, drug encapsulation within a single reaction process, providing an efficient and scalable route towards advanced nanomedicines.
The doctoral candidate will design polymer vesicles capable of encapsulating active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). These nanocarriers will be engineered to incorporate targeting ligands, stimuli-responsive polymer blocks (responsive to pH, temperature, or reactive oxygen species), enabling controlled drug release at diseased sites, together with fluorescent probes for theranostic imaging and in vitro/in vivo tracking.
A central objective of the project is to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing nanoparticle formation and drug compartmentalisation during PISA. To achieve this, the project combines advanced polymer chemistry with operando characterization and data-driven materials discovery.
The research will exploit the FastNano Liquid platform, allowing real-time monitoring of nanoparticle formation through Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Raman spectroscopy. Automated sampling during polymerisation will enable complementary ex situ analyses including SEC, NMR and HPLC to correlate polymerisation kinetics, macromolecular architecture, morphological evolution and drug encapsulation mechanisms.
Beyond experimental work, the project will integrate machine learning approaches to accelerate formulation discovery. Experimental data will be organised into a comprehensive database and analysed using statistical learning and Bayesian optimisation, establishing a closed-loop framework capable of predicting optimal PISA formulations and significantly reducing experimental screening efforts.
The successful candidate will receive multidisciplinary training spanning polymer chemistry, nanomedicine, advanced characterization techniques, synchrotron science, automation, and artificial intelligence for materials discovery. The project will establish quantitative process-structure-property relationships for multifunctional polymer nanomedicines and contribute to the development of accelerated, data-driven formulation strategies.
The project is funded within the PEPR DIADEM (https://www.pepr-diadem.fr/) programme and addresses major challenges in advanced materials and precision medicine.

The degree-awarding institution is the University of Paris Est-Créteil.

Your Work Environment

The doctoral candidate will benefit from a unique interdisciplinary environment combining the expertise of CNRS-ICMPE and CEA-NIMBE in polymer chemistry, soft matter, advanced characterization, and data-driven materials discovery.
The candidate will be hosted within the Molecular Chemistry and Macromolecular Materials (C3M) department at CNRS-ICMPE, a multidisciplinary research environment dedicated to the design and synthesis of advanced functional materials. Research activities focus on controlled polymer synthesis, macromolecular engineering, polymer self-assembly, nanoparticle design, and the development of stimuli-responsive polymer systems for biomedical applications, with particular expertise in Polymerisation-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA) and nanomedicine.
The project will also involve research activities at CEA-NIMBE, a leading institute in materials science and advanced characterization. The candidate will have access to the FastNano Liquid platform, enabling operando monitoring of PISA processes through SAXS and Raman spectroscopy, combined with automated sampling and complementary physicochemical analyses. This collaboration will provide advanced training in the correlation between polymerisation, self-assembly mechanisms, nanoparticle structure, and function.
This position is located within an area subject to the French Protection of Scientific and Technical Potential (PPST) regulations. Consequently, in accordance with French legislation, the successful candidate's appointment is subject to authorization by the competent authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).

Constraints and risks

Eligibility conditions:
• Master's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related fields.
• Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree.
• Excellent academic record.
Required skills:
• Experience in polymer chemistry or organic synthesis (e.g. polymerisation techniques), ideally demonstrated through Master's thesis work or research internships.
• Familiarity with nanoparticle synthesis or self-assembly processes and physicochemical characterisation techniques (e.g. DLS, TEM, SEC, spectroscopy) would be beneficial.
• Prior exposure to biomaterials research is an advantage.
• Proficiency in the English language is required, as well as good communication skills, both oral and written. Successful candidates will need to provide an English test (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English). You may be exempt if you are a national of a majority native-English speaking country, or have qualifications / degree that has been taught and assessed in English. The supervisor may also confirm that a candidate has the required level of English.

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

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