Contract Researcher in Bioprocess Engineering and Bio-based Colorants

UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE COMPIEGNE; France; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 80 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading French technological university is seeking a full-time contractual researcher for the YaLiGreen project focused on sustainable dye production through bioprocesses. The role requires expertise in fermentation and dye extraction processes, along with strong communication skills in both French and English. The successful applicant will optimize production conditions and contribute to ongoing research efforts within the Industrial Process Engineering Department, ensuring the project's objectives are met. This is a fixed-term contract, expected to last 14 months.

Qualifications

• Experience in optimizing fermentation conditions using yeasts.
• Knowledge of dye extraction processes and analytical techniques.
• Excellent communication skills in French and English.

Responsabilités

• Optimize fermentation and dye extraction processes.
• Purify the dyes and develop analytical quantification techniques.
• Contribute to project reports and team meetings.

Connaissances

Microorganism handling methodology

Project management methodology

Oral and written presentation skills

Written and oral communication techniques

Formation

Master's degree in process engineering or related field

Outils

Chromatographic techniques (HPLC, TLC)

Description du poste

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE COMPIEGNE Department Industrial Process Engineering department Research Field Engineering » Process engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 18 Jan 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Université de technologie de Compiègne (Compiègne, France) is recruiting a contractual researcher in the Department of Industrial Process Engineering (GPI) – Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter laboratory (TIMR UTC – ESCOM) for the YaLiGreen project.

The YaLiGreen project (Multifunctional fabrics based on Yarrowia lipolytica yeast dyes) deals with the production of a green dye by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and its application in the textile field (project summary below).

This recruitment is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

Summary

One of the promising alternatives that can partially or completely replace dyes of fossil origin is their microbial production. Despite the multiple advantages compared to plant and animal dyes (e.g., non-competition with food, engineering of targeted molecules, etc.), microbial dyes still face less stability and higher production costs compared to synthetic dyes, which limits their industrial exploitation. In this context, the YaLiGreen project aims to produce a green dye (prodeoxyviolacein) by a modified strain of Yarrowia lipolytica, extract the dye, and use it for fabrics dyeing. The strategies that will be followed in this project consist of 1) boosting the prodeoxyviolacein biosynthesis pathway in the yeast Y. lipolytica, 2) developing a culture medium based on industrial by-products for fermentation, 3) extraction of prodeoxyviolacein using a single-stage process, and 4) its functionalization to obtain color-stable fabrics.

Mission

The successful applicant will be responsible for optimising the fermentation conditions for the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, optimising the conditions for the accumulation of the dye, its extraction, as well as its purification and analysis. The successful applicant will be responsible in particular for the tasks of WP3 of the project.

Activities

• Optimize fermentation conditions using Y. lipolytica with industrial by-products and compare production yields to synthetic media;
• Optimize dye extraction conditions using green solvents;
• Purify the dyes and develop an analytical technique for quantification;
• Contribute to data compilation and analysis;
• Write progress reports and promote the work through communications;
• Participate in project partner meetings and draft minutes;

Field of study: process engineering, bioprocesses.

Knowledge

• Microorganism handling methodology (fermentation, yeast metabolism) (required);
• Extraction processes for intracellular molecules from microbial biomass, cell lysis pretreatments (desired);
• Unit operations (pressing, membrane filtration) (desired);
• Chromatographic techniques (notably HPLC and TLC) (desired);
• Project management methodology;
• Written and oral communication techniques;
• Oral and written presentation skills;
• English language: B2 to C1 (European framework).

Operational skills

• Handle microorganisms and bioreactors (yeasts);
• Operate extraction processes for intracellular molecules, use cell lysis pretreatments;
• Manage a project;
• Write reports, publications, and summaries in English;
• Work as part of a team.;
• Proactiveness and autonomy;
• Organizational skills;
• Initiative and innovation;
• Listening and interpersonal skills.

Languages FRENCH Level Excellent

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Gross monthly salary

According to experience and funding

Additional comments

From 18 December 2025 to 18 January 2026

Type of contract and expected date of recruitment

Fixed-term contract - expected to last 14 months - recruitment sought in March 2026 - end date of employment contract no later than 31/12/2027

Hours worked

1,607 hours / year

Working environment and context

The activity is conducted within the Industrial Process Engineering Department at the TIMR UTC-ESCOM laboratory. TIMR aims to develop, validate, and implement knowledge and know-how dedicated to processes and reactions for transforming renewable matter. Research activities align with scientific and technological challenges and current societal issues related to optimizing resource use and renewing industrial processes in a sustainable development context (https://timr.utc.fr/ ). The laboratory is part of the Bioeconomy For Change (B4C) competitiveness cluster.

The YaLiGreen project is funded by ANR under the 2024 generic call for projects. The recruited person will primarily work in WP3 and report to the scientific manager of the YaLiGreen project, maintaining regular dialogue with him and close collaboration with all concerned stakeholders.