PhD Position (M/F): Biomimetic Design of Microstructures for the Mechanobiological Investigation of Microplastic Phagocytosis in an Art–Science Research Project
New
- FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
- 36 month
- Doctorate
This offer is available in English version
This offer is open to people with a document recognizing their status as a disabled worker.
Offer at a glance
The Unit
Laboratoire d'analyse et d'architecture des systèmes
Contract Type
FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
Working hHours
Full Time
Workplace
31031 TOULOUSE
Contract Duration
36 month
Date of Hire
01/10/2026
Remuneration
2300 € gross monthly
Apply Application Deadline : 25 July 2026 23:59
Job Description
Thesis Subject
Microplastics have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants and are increasingly accumulating in living organisms. Their interactions with immune cells raise fundamental questions, not only about the biological mechanisms underlying their recognition and uptake, but also about how we perceive and understand this new relationship between living systems and human-made materials.
This PhD project is part of an original research-creation initiative combining engineering, life sciences and design. Its objective is to develop innovative experimental models to investigate the mechanical mechanisms governing microplastic phagocytosis while simultaneously exploring, through design, new approaches for representing, mediating and producing scientific knowledge.
The successful candidate will design and fabricate three-dimensional microparticles and microstructures with controlled geometrical and mechanical properties using advanced microfabrication technologies, including photolithography, 3D printing and multiphoton lithography, together with innovative biomaterials. These models will be used to investigate, through advanced microscopy and quantitative image analysis, how macrophages recognize, deform and internalize microplastics and other microparticles.
In parallel, the project will incorporate a design-driven research perspective exploring how forms, objects, images and artistic devices can make these otherwise invisible biological phenomena perceptible and stimulate new ways of questioning the relationships between matter, living systems and the environment. This dimension will be developed in close interaction with a second PhD project in research-creation hosted at LLA-CREATIS, fostering a continuous dialogue between science and design.
The PhD will be carried out at LAAS-CNRS under the supervision of Laurent Malaquin, with Elise Rigot (LLA-CREATIS, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès) as co-supervisor. The project will also benefit from a close scientific collaboration with the Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), which will provide expertise in macrophage biology, cell biology and the mechanobiology of phagocytosis.
Your Work Environment
The successful candidate will join the ELiA (Engineering for Life Sciences & Applications) research team at LAAS-CNRS, which develops innovative technologies at the interface of microphysiological systems, biomaterials, microfabrication and mechanobiology for life science applications.
The PhD project will be jointly supervised by Laurent Malaquin (LAAS-CNRS) and Elise Rigot (LLA-CREATIS, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès) as part of an original Art–Science research-creation project bringing together engineering, life sciences and design. This interdisciplinary framework will enable the candidate to develop innovative experimental models while engaging with design researchers to explore new ways of representing, mediating and producing scientific knowledge on the interactions between living systems and microplastics.
The project will also benefit from a close collaboration with the Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), which will provide complementary expertise in macrophage biology, the mechanobiology of phagocytosis and advanced cell imaging.
The successful candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary research environment and will have access to state-of-the-art technological platforms, including cleanroom microfabrication facilities, multiphoton lithography and stereolithography systems, laboratories dedicated to the development of photocrosslinkable biomaterials, advanced optical and confocal microscopy platforms, and quantitative image analysis tools.
Constraints and risks
The project involves highly interdisciplinary experimental research combining microfabrication, biomaterials engineering, cell culture, advanced microscopy and quantitative data analysis. The successful candidate will work at the interface of engineering, life sciences and design, within complementary research environments. The position therefore requires scientific curiosity, autonomy, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
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
| Offer reference | UPR8001-LAUMAL-027 |
|---|---|
| CN Section(s) / Research Area | Mathematics and mathematical interactions |
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.
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