Description du sujet de thèse

Microbial and Inorganic Material Interactions: Challenges and Approaches for PFAS Transformation and Removal
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread and persistent environmental contaminants of global concern due to their toxicity and resistance to degradation. This PhD project proposes a multidisciplinary strategy that combines microbiology and physico-chemistry to explore innovative remediation approaches.

Contexte de travail

The selected candidate will work in a collaborative environment between two research laboratories at the intersection of microbiology and material science. The doctoral research will be primarily based at the Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC, UMR 7360) in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, within the EMMA team, which specializes in microbial ecology and geochemistry—more information: https://liec.univ-lorraine.fr. Part of the experimental work related to material synthesis and analysis will be conducted at the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour les Matériaux et l'Environnement (LCPME, UMR 7564) in collaboration with the SIMAVI team, which specializes in materials elaboration, surface characterization, and environmental material science https://lcpme.ul.cnrs.fr .The successful candidate will be supervised by Asfaw Zegeye, Aurélie Cébron (LIEC), and Martine Mallet (LCPME), who will guide the project's scientific development and offer mentorship in a dynamic and collaborative research setting.

Contraintes et risques

We seek a motivated and multidisciplinary PhD candidate to join a cutting-edge project focusing on the environmental remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically PFOA, PFOS, and 6:2 FTOH. The project aims to explore synergistic strategies that couple adsorption on redox-active hybrid materials with microbial degradation under fluctuating redox conditions. The PhD project is structured around three interconnected components. First, the candidate will synthesize and characterize functionalized hybrid materials based on layered double hydroxides (HDLs) and nanomagnetite. These materials are chosen for their robust anion-exchange capacity, redox reactivity, and potential to adsorb and activate PFAS molecules. Characterization will involve advanced spectroscopic techniques along with surface and morphological analyses. Second, the candidate will conduct liquid enrichment experiments using contaminated environmental samples to isolate microbial consortia tolerant to different PFAS in various redox conditions. Bacterial diversity and functional biomarkers will be monitored with molecular tools (metabarcoding and qPCR). The third component will assess the degradation of PFAS adsorbed onto hybrid materials in the presence of selected microbial consortia to identify potential biotic/abiotic synergies in PFAS transformation.
We seek a candidate holding a Master's degree (or equivalent) with a robust background in microbiology and molecular biology, preferably with experience in enrichment culturing, nucleic acid extraction, and metabarcoding. A strong interest in or experience with physicochemical and materials analysis is essential, as the project entails synthesizing mineral materials and conducting surface characterization using physicochemical tools and techniques. Proficiency in R for bioinformatics, statistical analyses, and visualization would be a significant asset. A strong sense of scientific curiosity, enthusiasm, dynamism, and autonomy is expected, along with proficient skills in writing scientific reports and articles in English.