Postdoctoral Researcher (M/F) in Polymersome Formulation

CNRS; France; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS's Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO, UMR 5629) in Bordeaux area invites applications for a First Stage Researcher (R1). The project focuses on designing light-responsive polymersomes that can release cargo via an optically triggered osmotic rupture.

The successful candidate will formulate and optimize polymersomes from amphiphilic block copolymers, characterize them with DLS, electron microscopy and confocal imaging, and study photoactivation, release kinetics, and

Responsibilities

• Formulating and optimizing light-responsive polymersomes from amphiphilic block copolymers.
• Characterizing their physicochemical, structural, and membrane properties using DLS, electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy.
• Investigating the mechanisms of photoactivation, osmotic swelling and rupture, and release kinetics.
• Evaluating the biological performance of the formulations, including cytocompatibility, cellular interactions, and delivery efficiency.

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire de chimie des polymères organiques Research Field Chemistry Physics » Chemical physics Physics » Biophysics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 5 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 15 Nov 2026 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 project aims to develop light-responsive polymersomes capable of releasing their contents through a controlled osmotic rupture mechanism. The objective is to design innovative delivery systems in which membrane destabilization and the release of bioactive molecules can be triggered by light irradiation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• - Formulating and optimizing light-responsive polymersomes from amphiphilic block copolymers.
• - Characterizing their physicochemical, structural, and membrane properties using DLS, electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy.
• - Investigating the mechanisms of photoactivation, osmotic swelling and rupture, as well as release kinetics.
• - Evaluating the biological performance of the formulations, including cytocompatibility, cellular interactions, and the efficiency of bioactive molecule delivery.

The project will be carried out at the Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO, UMR 5629), a joint research unit of the CNRS, the University of Bordeaux, and Bordeaux INP, located on the Pessac campus in the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
LCPO is internationally recognized for its expertise in macromolecular chemistry, functional polymers, self-assembly, and polymeric materials for biomedical applications.
The successful candidate will join a research team specializing in the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers, the development of functional polymersomes, the controlled delivery of bioactive molecules, and the design of biomimetic systems.
The candidate will benefit from an interdisciplinary research environment and access to state-of-the‑art facilities for polymer synthesis and characterization, light scattering, microscopy, and fluorescence/confocal imaging.
The project focuses on fundamental research aimed at understanding and exploiting externally triggered membrane destabilization mechanisms, with potential applications in nanomedicine and biomimetic systems.

The project lies at the interface of polymer physical chemistry, nanomedicine, and controlled drug delivery, with the aim of developing innovative systems for the spatiotemporally controlled release of therapeutic molecules.