New routes to design lignocellulosic nanofibrous materials for air filtration

Organisation / Company CNRS Alsace Laboratory Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l’Energie, l’Environnement et la Santé (ICPEES) Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Keywords: electrospinning ; lignin ; cellulose ; air filtration ; advanced characterization ; life cycle assessment ; chemical modification ; deep eutectic solvent

Offer description: This topic proposes to address the development of new air filtration systems made from biobased and biodegradable lignocellulosic biomass. As the most abundant renewable resource, it represents a highly promising feedstock for sustainable filtration materials to develop nanofibrous media using sustainable processing routes. The resulting media should meet the requirements for HVAC system applications. The project aims at developing multi-layered media involving at least one nanofibrous electrospun layer made from lignin or cellulose derivatives deposited onto a cellulosic foam substrate. To meet the targeted specifications, the investigations could consist on the optimization of the medium at different scales (from fibers to macroscopic assembly) with a particular focus on the thickness and porosity of each layer and of the assembly, and how to assemble the layers. The development of innovative sustainable processing routes could be addressed by reducing processes steps and energy consumption, as well as chemical components use. The candidate could also address the question of life cycle assessment of this new biobased layer and of circular economy of air filtration media.

The PolyFun team, that will host the project, has an active research area on electrospinning, including especially the structuration and microstructuration of nanofibers, the development of green electrospinning techniques and the surface functionalization of nanofibers. The team has recently developed an electrospinning platform, with semi-industrial pilots to obtain large samples and design new kind of nanofibrous composites. Dr. E. Lobry research activities focus on development of sustainable electrospinning strategies, especially by using green solvent, emulsion or suspension strategies and on reactive electrospinning. The project will benefit from a consortium between different French labs in France enabling to test different lignocellulosic support media and currently working on the development of advanced characterization methods at local scale (GEPEA, Nantes and LGP2, Grenoble).

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality who:

• Have completed a PhD or will complete it at the date of the call deadline (September 2026).
• Have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research at the time of the call deadline.
• Have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.

Beware that applicants who have applied to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 call and received an evaluation below 80% are not eligible for an application in 2026.

How to apply?

We encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest to the supervisor’s e-mail address before 24th April 2026.

Your application shall include:

• a CV (5 pages max)
• a cover letter outlining your research background and its synergies with the supervisor’s field and/or the proposed research topic.

Estimated timetable:

• Deadline for sending an expression of interest: 24th April 2026
• Selection of the applicant: May 2026 at the latest