진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

La Rochelle Université is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher or research engineer on a fixed-term contract for a period of 24 months, within the LIENSs Laboratory.

Project context

La Rochelle University is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to take part in the ANR OPTIMIC research project, an interdisciplinary project aimed at developing innovative strategies for Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP), optimized through the use of biopolymers for applications in heterogeneous porous media.

MICP is a biogeochemical process whereby metabolically active microorganisms induce the precipitation of carbonate minerals, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), in their immediate environment. This precipitation results from microbial metabolic reactions, such as urea hydrolysis, which locally alter the pH and chemistry of the environment, thereby promoting carbonate crystallization. The formation of CaCO₃ can lead to grain cementation, reducedporosity, and increasedmechanical properties of materials. Owing to these properties, MICP is now a promising, sustainable, and low-impact approach for applications such as the rehabilitation of old wells, soil stabilization, permeability reduction, and groundwater protection. However, the efficiency of MICP remains strongly limited by the difficulty of controlling the distribution of bacteria and reagents in naturally heterogeneous porous media.

The OPTIMIC project aims to overcome this scientific obstacle by assessing the contribution of biopolymers to improve the transport of bacterial and nutrients, limit preferential flows, and better control the location and morphology of carbonate precipitates. The project is based on an integrated approach combining microbiology, geosciences, materials chemistry, and numerical modeling, in collaboration with national and international partners (two French partners, BRGM (Orléans) and BIAM (University Aix-Marseille), and one German partner).

Working environment

The position will be based at La Rochelle University, within the LIENSs laboratory (BCBS Team: https://lienss.univ-larochelle.fr/BCBS-Biotechnologies-and-Chemistry-applied-to-Bioresources-for-Health), in close collaboration with the LaSIE (TDVM team: https://lasie-prod.univ-larochelle.fr/equipes-recherche/transferts-degradation-et-valorisation-des-materiaux/). Both research units are recognized for their work on microbial biocalcification, marine and coastal environments, and granular materials. The postdoctoral researcher will work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative scientific environment (the two teams have been collaborating for over 15 years). Occasional travel to partner laboratories in France and abroad is expected.

Description of scientific tasks

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the study of individual bacterial mechanisms involved in MICP and the characterization of biomineralization products.

He/she will be involved in the selection, isolation, and characterization of biocalcifying bacterial strains, originating from natural environments (soils, cements, rocks) and from existing collections. The growth, survival, and biomineralization capacities of these microorganisms will be investigated under conditions representative of the application environments, including variations in pH, viscosity, and modified atmospheres.

Particular attention will be paid to the interactions between bacteria and biopolymers, both in terms of biological compatibility and their impact on the kinetics, location, and morphology of carbonate precipitation. The postdoctoral researcher will also investigate the ability of the developed MICP systems to consolidate granular substrates (sands and fine soils) using appropriate experimental setups.

The postdoctoral researcher will perform thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), total and inorganic carbon measurements, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman microspectroscopy techniques, in order to characterize the nature of the mineral phases formed, their morphology, and interactions at the bacteria–biopolymer–substrate interfaces. Depending on the results, he/she may also contribute to advanced characterization campaigns in collaboration with the project partners.

More broadly, the postdoctoral researcher will participate in the analysis and promotion of results, the drafting of international scientific publications, and the dissemination of results at conferences. Involvement in the operational management of the ANR OPTIMIC projectat La Rochelle University will be highly appreciated, particularly for the coordination of local scientific activities and the monitoring of deliverables. As the position is part of a highly collaborative environment, the postdoctoral researcher will maintain regular interactions with the numerical modeling teams in order to support and interpret the project’s multi-scale simulations.

Type of recruitment

• • Category: A
• • Assignment: Littoral Environment and Societies Laboratory (LIENSs) UMR 7266
• • Type: Fixed-term contract for 24 months starting on1September 2026

If the candidate obtained their doctorate less than three years ago, a postdoctoral contract may be offered. Beyond three years, an equivalent contract will be offered, in line with those offered to research engineers.

• • Working hours: full-time
• • Remuneration: Between €2,569 and €2,800 gross monthly salary depending on profile and experience, in accordance with La Rochelle Université’s contractual staff management charter.

Recruitment open to anyone with RQTH status