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🧬 PhD Position in Physical Chemistry / Bio-Inspired Soft Matter | University of Bordeaux & CNRS
Institution: University of Bordeaux / CNRS
Research Teams: BioPhysicalChemistry Team – Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CRPP) & SPECIMA Team – CBMN
📍 Location: Bordeaux / Pessac, France
💼 Position: PhD Researcher / Doctoral Position
🎓 Program: PhD in Physical Chemistry / Bio-Inspired Soft Matter
🔬 Research Area: Synthetic Cells | Bio-Inspired Soft Matter | Physical Chemistry | Biochemistry | Synthetic Biology | Micro-Compartments | Bioenergy
The Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CRPP) and the Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nano-objects (CBMN) are recruiting a highly motivated PhD candidate for an interdisciplinary project focused on designing energy-active micro-compartments for synthetic cells.
The project aims to develop artificial systems capable of reproducing selected functions of living cells by engineering coacervate-based micro-compartments containing bioenergy-producing machinery. The research sits at the interface of soft matter, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and synthetic biology.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
Synthetic Cell Engineering
Develop artificial micro-compartments that reproduce selected functions of living systems and explore strategies for creating more autonomous synthetic cells.
Energy-Active Micro-Compartments
Engineer coacervate droplets capable of sustaining internally generated bioenergy by incorporating bioenergy-producing machinery.
Coacervate Formulation
Develop and characterize micrometer-sized coacervate compartments formed through liquid-liquid phase separation under biologically relevant conditions.
Enzyme & Organelle Encapsulation
Investigate the mechanisms controlling the encapsulation and spatial organization of enzymes and organelles within synthetic compartments.
Stability & Molecular Exchange
Develop strategies to stabilize coacervate droplets while preserving molecular exchange with their surroundings.
Advanced Characterization
Combine fluorescence microscopy and quantitative physicochemical characterization to understand the structure, organization, and function of synthetic micro-compartments.
🎯 Your Role
The selected PhD researcher will be responsible for:
- Designing and developing energy-active coacervate micro-compartments.
- Preparing and optimizing coacervate formulations.
- Studying liquid-liquid phase separation and micro-compartment formation.
- Investigating the encapsulation of enzymes and organelles.
- Studying the spatial organization of biomolecular components within droplets.
- Developing strategies to maintain compartment stability.
- Investigating molecular exchange between synthetic compartments and their surroundings.
- Incorporating bioenergy-producing machinery into synthetic micro-compartments.
- Characterizing micro-compartments under biologically relevant conditions.
- Performing fluorescence microscopy experiments.
- Applying quantitative physicochemical characterization techniques.
- Working with microfluidic approaches for synthetic cell development.
- Analyzing and interpreting experimental data.
- Contributing to the development of general principles for designing functional bio-inspired micro-compartments.
- Preparing scientific reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
- Collaborating with chemists, biochemists, physical chemists, and physicists across the two research teams.
🧪 Research Focus
The PhD project focuses on developing synthetic cells with internally sustained bioenergy production.
The major areas of work include:
- Synthetic cell engineering
- Bio-inspired soft matter
- Physical chemistry
- Coacervate droplets
- Liquid-liquid phase separation
- Energy-active micro-compartments
- Bioenergy production
- Enzyme encapsulation
- Organelle encapsulation
- Spatial organization of biomolecules
- Molecular exchange
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Microfluidics
- Quantitative physicochemical characterization
- Biochemistry
- Synthetic biology
A central objective is to move beyond passive compartments and develop autonomous systems capable of sustaining activity through internally generated bioenergy.
👨🔬 Ideal Candidates
Applicants should have:
- A Master’s degree or equivalent in Physical Chemistry, Soft Matter, or a related field.
- Strong interest in biochemistry.
- Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research.
- Interest in the interface between chemistry and biology.
- Good organizational and experimental skills.
- Enthusiasm for working across multiple scientific disciplines.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
Candidates with backgrounds or interests in physical chemistry, soft matter, biochemistry, synthetic biology, physicochemical characterization, or related areas are particularly encouraged to apply.
⭐ Preferred Research Background
Experience or interest in the following areas would be valuable:
- Physical chemistry
- Soft matter
- Biochemistry
- Synthetic biology
- Biomolecular condensates
- Coacervates
- Liquid-liquid phase separation
- Microfluidics
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Quantitative microscopy
- Physicochemical characterization
- Synthetic cell engineering
- Bioenergy systems
- Molecular organization within compartments
🏢 Research Environment
The PhD candidate will work across two research teams in Pessac, France:
Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CRPP)
The BioPhysicalChemistry team at CRPP will provide expertise in physical chemistry, soft matter, and biomolecular systems under the supervision of Dr. Nicolas Martin.
CBMN – Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nano-objects
The SPECIMA team at CBMN will provide complementary expertise under the supervision of Dr. Stéphane Arbault.
Together, the two laboratories bring expertise from chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, and physics, providing an interdisciplinary research environment with access to advanced facilities and expertise ranging from molecular synthesis and sample preparation to microfluidics, advanced microscopy, and quantitative characterization of soft materials.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Opportunity to pursue a PhD in Physical Chemistry / Bio-Inspired Soft Matter.
- Hands-on experience in synthetic cell research.
- Training in coacervate and micro-compartment engineering.
- Practical exposure to liquid-liquid phase separation.
- Experience with enzyme and organelle encapsulation.
- Exposure to bioenergy-producing systems.
- Hands-on experience with fluorescence microscopy.
- Training in microfluidic approaches.
- Experience in quantitative physicochemical characterization.
- Opportunity to work across chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and synthetic biology.
- Access to state-of-the-art shared research facilities.
- Experience developing bio-inspired functional micro-compartments.
- Opportunity to contribute to the development of synthetic cells with internally sustained bioenergy production.
💶 Funding & Allowance
The PhD position provides an allowance of approximately:
~€2,300 gross/month
The position is funded for a 3-year PhD project.
💼 Position Details
Position: PhD Researcher / Doctoral Candidate
Institution: University of Bordeaux / CNRS
Research Teams: BioPhysicalChemistry – CRPP & SPECIMA – CBMN
Location: Pessac, Bordeaux, France
Duration: 3 Years
Starting Date: November 2026
Allowance: Approximately €2,300 gross/month
Degree: PhD
Research Field: Physical Chemistry / Bio-Inspired Soft Matter
Research Area: Synthetic Cells | Energy-Active Micro-Compartments
Key Areas: Coacervates | Soft Matter | Biochemistry | Synthetic Biology | Bioenergy
Techniques: Fluorescence Microscopy | Microfluidics | Quantitative Physicochemical Characterization
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the CNRS Portail Emploi.
Applicants are required to upload:
- Cover Letter
- CV
- Two References
The application should demonstrate the candidate’s motivation for interdisciplinary research and interest in the interface between chemistry, soft matter, biochemistry, and biology.
Application Portal: CNRS Portail Emploi
📅 Key Dates
Application Status: Open / Recruiting
Starting Date: November 2026
Duration: 3 Years
Location: Pessac / Bordeaux, France
Monthly Allowance: ~€2,300 gross/month
Application Deadline: Not specified
📌 Job Details
Institution: University of Bordeaux / CNRS
Research Teams: BioPhysicalChemistry – CRPP | SPECIMA – CBMN
Position: PhD Researcher
Location: Pessac, Bordeaux, France
Duration: 3 Years
Start Date: November 2026
Qualification: Master’s Degree or equivalent in Physical Chemistry / Soft Matter
Preferred Interest: Biochemistry
Research Focus: Designing Energy-Active Micro-Compartments for Synthetic Cells
Research Areas: Physical Chemistry | Soft Matter | Biochemistry | Synthetic Biology | Synthetic Cells
Key Techniques: Fluorescence Microscopy | Microfluidics | Quantitative Physicochemical Characterization
Core Concepts: Coacervates | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation | Enzyme Encapsulation | Organelle Encapsulation | Bioenergy Production
Allowance: ~€2,300 Gross/Month
Application Mode: Online
Application Portal: CNRS Portail Emploi
Required Documents: Cover Letter | CV | 2 References
Research Environment: Interdisciplinary | Collaborative | Chemistry | Biochemistry | Physics | Synthetic Biology
Category
PhD Position | Fully Funded PhD | Physical Chemistry | Soft Matter | Synthetic Biology | Synthetic Cells | Biochemistry | Bio-Inspired Materials | Coacervates | Microfluidics | Fluorescence Microscopy | Bioenergy | University of Bordeaux | CNRS | France PhD Positions | Research Jobs
🏷️ Tags
#PhD #PhDPosition #UniversityOfBordeaux #CNRS #PhysicalChemistry #SoftMatter #SyntheticCells #SyntheticBiology #Biochemistry #Coacervates #BioInspiredMaterials #Microfluidics
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