Postdoctoral Research In Bioprocess Development H/F - Nantes Université

Nantes Université is currently seeking an enthusiastic and motivated postdoctoral researcher with a PhD related to bioprocess engineering development to join the "Bioprocess Applied to Microlgae" team at the GEPEA Laboratory.

The successfull candidate will contribute to the development of a microfluidic system for the culture and processing of human organoids used in biomedical research. Currently, organoid dissociation and homogenization rely on time-consuming and poorly reproducible manual procedures, representing a major bottleneck for scale-up, inter-laboratory comparability, and automation of organoid preparation and culture workflows.

The proposed microfluidic process, designed to be readily scalable, will enable gentle and controlled organoid fragmentation, ensuring a homogeneous size distribution while preserving cell viability. Experimental studies will be conducted in close collaboration with the Nantes Organoid Infrastructure (UMS BioCore-ION), which specializes in human organoid cultures, to identify optimal hydrodynamic operating conditions and evaluate the impact of the treatment on organoid size, viability, and cellular functionality.

Candidate's tasks and research activities:

The candidate will be responsible for designing, setting up, and operating the laboratory-scale experimental platform.

The candidate will conduct the experimental work required to demonstrate the proof of concept of the developed microfluidic system.

To achieve these objectives, the candidate will benefit from the facilities, equipment, and technical resources available at the GEPEA Laboratory, as well as from the project budget allocated to specific project needs.

In addition, the candidate will be responsible for project reporting activities, including the preparation of technical reports, supporting documentation, and project deliverables.

More generally, they will contribute to the day-to-day management and coordination activities necessary for the successful implementation of the project:

- Contribute to reporting tasks and present progress and results at consortium meetings and other relevant events, including international scientific conferences.

- Work closely with the project manager on both scientific and cross-functional activities, ensuring effective coordination and communication within the project team.

Laboratoire GEPEA (UMR CNRS 6144), CRTT, 37 Bd de l'Université, 44600 Saint-Nazaire, France
Expected level of qualification: PhD or equivalent. The candidate must hold a PhD in bioprocess engineering, biotechnology, microbiology, or in a field closely related to microalgae and sustainable production processes.

Expertise in the field of bioprocesses applied to microalgae would be an additional asset.

The application must include the following elements:

A cover letter detailing the candidate's interest in the project, their skills, and experience related to the proposed tasks.
An updated CV with information on education, professional experience, and relevant technical skills.
Research paper and publications related to the field of study, as well as any other relevant scientific or technical contributions.
Academic or professional references that can support the application, including former supervisors or research collaborators, will be appreciated.

Skills and qualifications required: Adaptability, autonomy, ability to cooperate, ability to research and evaluate information.
Specific skills: Culture or co-culture of microorganisms. Ability to culture in bioreactors. Experience in designing experimental systems is welcome.

Languages: French and a good level of English (B2-C1)
Research experience: 1 to 4 years