Job offer

Biological sciences » Nutritional sciences

Chemistry » Physical chemistry

Organisation/Company BEL Group Research Field Biological sciences » Nutritional sciences Chemistry » Physical chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 15 Jun 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101168870 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Doctoral Network “Edible Soft Matter” (ESM), funded by the European Union in the frame of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding programme is an international, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral network gathering leading experts in basic and applied soft matter and food sciences.
The objective of this 48-month project, starting from 1st March 2025 is to train and develop the employability of a new generation of young researchers, regulators, consultants and project leaders by providing them with a unique expertise in the design, production and quality assessment of innovative plant-based food products.
The consortium includes eleven Beneficiaries from seven countries (including three from the non- academic sector) who will each recruit at least one Doctoral Candidate and twelve Associated Partners (including four from the non-academic sector) with worldwide recognised and complementary expertise.
18 Doctoral Candidates will be recruited and trained in the frame of the ESM project. Through the implementation of an Individual Research Project (IRP) and the network-wide training activities, characterized by a strong involvement of the non-academic partners of the project, the Doctoral Candidates will develop the hard and soft skills needed to face the current challenges related to food and environmental transitions.

The ESM project is organised in seven work-packages (WP) including four research-based WP and three transversal WP dedicated respectively to Doctoral candidates training (WP5), Communication, dissemination & exploitation of the project results (WP6) and to Project management and coordination (WP7). The research-based WP unravel basic scientificquestions to address the essential food-related research objectives:Plant-based Ingredients(WP1),Assemblies and Interactions(WP2),Multiscale Structuring(WP3) andTowards Innovative Manufactured Foods(WP4). The scientific objectives of the project will be achieved through the implementation of 18 Individual Research Projects (IRP).

IRP14: PhD position in "Improving design of plant based ‘cheese’: impact of formulation and environmental conditions on the mechanical properties"

Supervision:

• Main supervisor: Dr. Peggy Thomar

Objectives:

Understand the thermodynamic and microstructure of complex mixtures containing starch/fibre/plant protein/salt that are currently used to mimic cheese and their impact on the thermomechanical properties of the resulting cheese. (ii) Establish phase diagrams to identify domains with different types of networks (interpenetrated, segregated, nanocomposite) at rest. (iii) Investigate the influence of temperature and shear to establish how the processing conditions impact the thermomechanical properties of formulations. (iv) Confront the learnings to more realistic situations – replacing model ingredients by raw ones (native starch, non-purified ingredients) and by adding plant-based fats

Expected results:

Structure/properties relationship for a complex ternary starch/fibre/plant protein at rest and under shear. (ii) Rationale for an optimised design of plant-based cheese with control of functionality thanks to the formulation and process. (iii) Establishment of a strategy of formulation/process to replace functionality of any additives by raw ingredients. (iv) Proof of feasibility for food application (stability, pilot scale and use as food ingredients).

Planned secondments

Research Field Biological sciences » Nutritional sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in food science or technology with a solid training in formulation, rheology, light scattering or microscropy applied to hydrocolloids and proteins.
• Scientific interest, dedication to research and career goal to work in food/dairy industry.
• Appreciation for interdisciplinarity and proactive drive to collaborate across fields
• Proficiency in English, good communication skill and social competence

Additional Information

The following amount are gross amount including all charges. The gross and net salary will therefore vary from one position to another depending on the partner hiring the Doctoral Candidate.

Living allowance (to be corrected by a country correction coefficient): 3400€

Mobility allowance: 600€

Family allowance (if applicable): 660€

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility rule: All researchers recruited must be Doctoral Candidate i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment and undertake transnational mobility (see the mobility rule below). Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

In addition to the respect of the eligibility and mobility rule, the selection criteria will be scientific excellence, motivation and suitability for the job. Special attention will be paid to gender and equal opportunity issues.

The ESM PhD positions are open to all candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background

Selection process

For each PhD position offered in the frame of ESM, a dedicated recruitment committee will pre-assess the applications and organise a face-to-face meeting when possible or an online interview with the selected applicants. The Equal Opportunities Officer will review the short list of candidates selected for interview to ensure that the principle of openness, transparency and merit-based only recruitment have been observed. In case of two candidates with equal qualifications, gender and equity aspects will influence the final selection. After validation of the recruitment decision at project scale, the selected candidates will be hired on a full-time basis with full social security coverage according to MSCA rules and national employment regulations.