Research Engineer in chemistry (catalytic oxidation for water treatment)

Université Marie et Louis Pasteur; France; On-site; EUR 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Université Marie et Louis Pasteur in France seeks a First Stage Researcher to develop catalytic materials for removing organic contaminants from water. You will design synthesis protocols for single-atom catalysts and thoroughly characterize them using a suite of techniques.

The role requires hands-on synthesis, detailed data analysis, and collaboration across disciplines, with outputs shared via publications and conferences. Proficiency in English and French is essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in materials chemistry or catalysis.
• Experience in heterogeneous catalysis and materials synthesis.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English and French.

Responsibilities

• Designing and optimizing synthesis protocols for single-atom catalysts.
• Characterizing materials using diverse physicochemical techniques.
• Investigating structure–property–activity relationships.
• Evaluating catalyst performance for degradation of organic contaminants in water.
• Identifying degradation products and elucidating reaction mechanisms.
• Proposing improvements to catalyst formulations based on results.
• Disseminating findings through publications and presentations.

Skills

English

French

Education

Master/MSc in Materials Chemistry or Catalysis

PhD in Materials Chemistry or Catalysis

Tools

XRD

Raman

XPS

TEM/STEM

ICP-OES

ICP-MS

BET

UV-Vis

FTIR

TPD

HPLC

GC-MS

Job description

Organisation/Company Université Marie et Louis Pasteur Research Field Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 15 Jan 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35:00 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 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 successful candidate will contribute to the development of innovative catalytic materials for the degradation of organic contaminants in water.

The main responsibilities include:

• Designing and optimizing synthesis protocols for single-atom catalysts.
• Characterizing the synthesized materials using a range of physicochemical techniques (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TEM/STEM, ICP-OES or ICP-MS, BET surface area analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TPD, HPLC, GC-MS, etc.).
• Investigating structure–property–activity relationships.
• Evaluating catalyst performance for the degradation of organic contaminants in aqueous media, including PFAS (particularly trifluoroacetic acid, TFA) and endocrine-disrupting compounds.
• Identifying degradation products and elucidating reaction mechanisms.
• Proposing improvements to catalyst formulations or reaction processes based on experimental results.
• Contributing to the dissemination of research findings through scientific publications and presentations.

Requirements

Research Field Chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Master's degree (MSc) or a PhD in Materials Chemistry, Catalysis, or a closely related field.

Previous research experience in either an academic or industrial laboratory is desirable.

Scientific knowledge: heterogeneous catalysis, materials chemistry, surface chemistry, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), knowledge of PFAS chemistry would be an advantage.

Technical skills: materials synthesis, physicochemical characterization techniques, liquid and/or gas chromatography, experimental data analysis.

Transferable skills: scientific rigor, ability to work independently, initiative and problem-solving skills, good organizational skills, ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment, excellent written and oral communication skills in both French and English, ability to present research results at scientific meetings.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages FRENCH Level Excellent

Research Field Chemistry

Additional Information

Net monthly salary: €2,100–2,400

Eligibility criteria

Applicants should hold a Master's degree (MSc) or a PhD in Materials Chemistry, Catalysis, or a closely related field.

Previous research experience in either an academic or industrial laboratory is desirable.