post doctorat at PMMH (M/F)

CNRS; France; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a project on heteroaggregation of microplastics with microorganisms in flows, at the PMMH laboratory in Paris. The role covers experimental design, data analysis, and dissemination of results through publications and conferences.

The project sits at the interface of fluid mechanics, soft matter physics, and environmental microbiology, with collaboration across French and Parisian research teams. English scientific writing is essential.

Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology or related field.
• Experience with biofilms and microplastics.
• Strong publication record in relevant areas.
• Fluency in English, excellent scientific writing.

Responsibilities

• Set up and optimize experimental protocols for microorganism culture under microfluidic flow.
• Perform heteroaggregation experiments and monitor biofilm formation via microscopy.
• Analyze and quantify biofilm structure and growth from imaging data.
• Analyze gene expression via RT-qPCR under various culture conditions.
• Contribute to data analysis, manuscript writing, and conference presentations.
• Support supervision and participate in lab scientific activities.

Skills

Microbiology

Biofilms

Microscopy

RT-qPCR

Python

Image analysis

Academic English

Education

PhD in Microbiology

Tools

PCR machines

Sequencing analysis tools

Confocal microscope

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Physique et mécanique des milieux hétérogenes Research Field Mathematics History » History of science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 13 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2027 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

The postdoctoral researcher will study in detail the heteroaggregation of microplastics with microorganisms in flows, quantifying the effect of microorganisms and hydrodynamic conditions on biofilm development and on the structure of the resulting aggregates. This work will rely on a microfluidic and acoustofluidic platform under development in the laboratory, enabling the culture, observation, and contactless manipulation of these objects. Particular attention will be paid to the biological composition and properties of the biofilms.

• Setting up and optimizing experimental protocols: culture of microorganisms (bacteria, micro-algae) under microfluidic flow, preparation and characterization of model microplastic suspensions
• Performing heteroaggregation experiments and monitoring biofilm formation by optical and fluorescence microscopy
• Analyzing and quantifying biofilm structure and growth (imaging, image analysis)
• Analyzing the expression of target genes (RT-qPCR) as a function of culture conditions (flow, presence of microplastics)
• Data analysis, writing scientific publications, and presenting results at conferences
• Contributing to supervision and to the scientific life of the laboratory

The postdoctoral researcher will be hosted at the PMMH laboratory (Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, UMR 7636 CNRS–ESPCI–PSL–Sorbonne Université–Université Paris Cité) in Paris (5th arrondissement), in Alice Pelosse's team. The project lies at the interface between fluid mechanics, soft matter physics, and environmental microbiology. It will be conducted in close collaboration with Olivier Espeli's team at the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en biologie, Collège de France, for all the aspects on microbiology (biofilms, bacterial genetics).

• Strong background in microbiology, microbial ecology and biofilm studies: culture of bacteria and/or micro-algae, classical characterization techniques (growth monitoring, optical and confocal microscopy, fluorescence staining) and biomolecular analysis (DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, sequencing analysis)
• Knowledge of microplastics and their interaction with microorganisms, advanced polymer characterization techniques
• Proficiency in image analysis and data processing tools (Python)
• Experimental rigor, autonomy, and ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the physics–biology interface
• Good scientific communication skills (fluent English, scientific writing)