PhD in Biohydrogels and Composites for Toxic Metal Remediation
Develop advanced biopolymer-based biohydrogels and AI-driven models for sustainable water remediation.
Best for:Best for chemistry, physics, or materials science graduates with an interest in environmental innovation and machine learning applications.
Overview
This doctoral position at Université Paris Cité focuses on designing innovative biohydrogels and composites for removing toxic metals from aquatic environments within a circular economy framework. The research combines materials science, polymer chemistry, and artificial intelligence to enhance mechanical strength, adsorption performance, and microstructural analysis. The successful candidate will synthesize and characterize advanced materials, evaluate adsorption efficiency under controlled and industrial conditions, and build predictive models using neural networks. The project involves multidisciplinary collaboration, including international partnerships for advanced spectroscopic techniques.
What you'll do
- Design, synthesize, and functionalize biopolymer-based biohydrogels using chitosan, alginate, and compatible fillers.
- Characterize advanced materials using cutting-edge techniques such as FTIR, XPS, SEM, and TEM.
- Evaluate adsorption performance under controlled environmental conditions and test complex industrial effluents.
- Perform morphological and structural analyses using AI-based image processing, U-Net neural networks, and SAXS.
- Develop predictive models linking hydrogel microstructure to heavy metal adsorption capacity.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree or equivalent in physics, chemistry, or materials science
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English or French proficiency as required by the host institution and doctoral school
Instruction: English / French
- Solid academic background in physics, chemistry, or materials science
- Proven hands-on experience in materials synthesis and characterization
- Demonstrated interest or experience in data analysis, statistics, or artificial intelligence
- Open to candidates holding or completing a relevant Master's degree meeting doctoral school entry criteria
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-12-21
Prepare a comprehensive CV and academic transcripts, then submit your application through the official recruitment portal before the deadline.
- CV
- Academic transcripts
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