PhD Position in Biohydrogels for Toxic Metal Remediation

The University of Paris invites applications for a 36-month doctoral position within the Matter and Complex Systems Laboratory (MSC). The project focuses on designing reinforced biohydrogels and composites for the removal of toxic heavy metals from aquatic environments in line with circular economy principles. The candidate will synthesize and characterize innovative biopolymer networks, evaluate adsorption performance under industrial conditions, and apply neural networks to analyze morphological properties. The successful applicant will work in a multidisciplinary environment combining materials science, polymer chemistry, and data analysis.

• Design, synthesize, and functionalize biopolymer-based hydrogels using biopolymers such as chitosan and alginate.
• Optimize cross-linking and reinforcement strategies using compatible functional fillers including graphene oxide, magnetic particles, and silica.
• Characterize synthesized materials using advanced techniques such as FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and rheology.
• Perform controlled-environment adsorption tests to evaluate heavy metal removal efficiency under varying conditions.
• Collaborate with external partners to apply laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for adsorption homogeneity analysis.
• Process and analyze morphological images using AI-based image processing and U-Net neural networks to establish structure-property correlations.