PhD Position in Bio-inspired Polymer Chemistry (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Developing efficient and selective catalytic transformations based on abundant elements from the periodic table remains a major challenge for sustainable chemistry and energy conversion. Natural enzymes achieve remarkable catalytic rates and high selectivity by using these metals through precise control of the active site and the chemical environment in which they operate. Inspired by this principle, we propose to use polymer topology to create a tunable environment around an existing molecular catalyst. Anchoring an active site to the backbone of a polymer offers a fundamentally different level of environmental control. Steric crowding between densely grafted chains generates an intrinsically extended conformation, whose backbone length, grafting density, side-chain length, and chemical functionality can be independently varied. These structural parameters directly control the catalyst's environment.
The goal of this thesis will therefore be to synthesize polymers with programmable architecture and composition and to attach a catalytic group to them.

Your Work Environment

The PhD student will work at the Centre for Research on Plant Macromolecules (a CNRS research unit) located on the Grenoble university campus. Our laboratory is grounded in a strong culture of interdisciplinarity, bringing together expertise in chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, and materials science. This integrated approach has established the laboratory as a key international player in the field of sugars (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides)—specifically regarding their *in vivo* and *in vitro* synthesis, characterization, functions, and applications—addressing major societal challenges in human health, new energy sources, and future materials.
The work will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers and engineers from the DCM (Grenoble Department of Molecular Chemistry) who possess complementary expertise—spanning the production of inorganic catalysts, their structural characterization, and their catalytic activity in water and carbon dioxide reduction—as part of a project funded by CNRS Chemistry.

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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