M/F Thesis offer on the fabrication of Multifunctional organic PEDOT:PSS microelectrode arrays for adaptive neuromodulation: recording, stimulation, and controlled neuromodulator release.

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Bioelectronic interfaces have become a major challenge for understanding, recording, and modulating neuronal network activity, ranging from in vitro cellular models to implantable neurotechnological applications. In the long term, these technologies could enable the development of intelligent therapeutic devices for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, treatment-resistant depression, and certain forms of schizophrenia associated with hallucinations. They may also enable the restoration of lost sensory functions (vision, hearing, touch), the advanced control of neural prostheses, and more broadly the emergence of brain–machine interfaces capable of bidirectional communication with the nervous system. In addition, they open new perspectives for personalized medicine, for the understanding of complex brain circuits, and for the development of new neuro-on-chip platforms for pharmacological screening and the modeling of neurological diseases. In this context, conventional metallic microelectrode arrays (MEAs) enable electrophysiological recording and electrical stimulation but remain limited by their mechanical rigidity, their relatively poor compatibility with biological tissues, and the absence of integrated active functionalities allowing local chemical modulation. Organic conducting polymers, and in particular PEDOT:PSS, represent a major technological breakthrough. Thanks to their mixed ionic–electronic conductivity, low impedance, transparency, high charge injection capacity, and mechanical modulus closer to that of biological tissues, these materials significantly improve the electrode–cell coupling while opening the way toward multifunctional neural interfaces. Beyond their role as simple electrodes, PEDOT:PSS can act as an active platform capable of storing and releasing bioactive molecules upon electrical stimulation.
This PhD project will be carried out within the framework of the CDP LOOP program (Initiative of Excellence of the University of Lille) and the ANR GNEURO project, which aim to develop a new generation of organic microelectrode arrays integrating four key functionalities simultaneously: electrophysiological and optical recording (calcium imaging), local electrical or optical stimulation, and electrically triggered on-demand release of neuromodulators. The overall objective is to establish an adaptive neuromodulation platform capable of monitoring neuronal activity and dynamically acting on it through synchronized electrical and chemical stimuli. In this context, the project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of closed-loop neural interfaces capable of integrating multiple modalities for activity readout (electrical and optical) and intervention (electrical/optical stimulation and chemical delivery) within a single integrated bioelectronic device. This project lies at the intersection of materials science, micro- and nanofabrication, organic electrochemistry, and experimental neuroscience. It will contribute to the development of intelligent neural interfaces that go beyond the current paradigm of passive electrodes, paving the way for adaptive neuromodulation technologies with potential applications in fundamental neuroscience, bioelectronic medicine, and organ-on-chip platforms for pharmacological screening and personalized medicine.

Your Work Environment

The project will be carried out at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (IEMN), located in Villeneuve d'Ascq, in the Hauts-de-France region. IEMN is a research institute founded by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), two universities, and an engineering school from the Nord region. Its facilities for the design, fabrication, and characterization of micro- and nano-devices are among the best in Europe. The institute has a total staff of around 500 people, including 109 professors and associate professors, 45 CNRS researchers, 100 engineers and administrative staff, about 150 PhD candidates, as well as 30 postdoctoral researchers and visiting professors. The laboratory is highly open to international collaborations, with more than 100 foreign scientists from 20 different countries currently working at IEMN. The scientific activities of IEMN cover a broad range of fields, from materials physics and nanostructures to microwaves, telecommunications, and acoustic instrumentation.

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