PhD Position in Chemical Engineering on Membrane Fouling Mechanisms, Univ Rennes, France

PhD Position in Chemical Engineering on Membrane Fouling Mechanisms, Univ Rennes, France

We would like to announce a PhD Position on Membrane Fouling Mechanisms in Microfiltration/Ultrafiltration in Non-Aqueous Media at the University of Rennes in France .

Location : Chemistry and Process Engineering Team of ISCR at Univ Rennes, France

Start : October 2026

How to apply : Apply to the position through the following link ( do not apply via email ). Please submit a detailed CV, cover letter, transcript of Master diploma and 1-2 contact references.

For more information, please contact Patrick Louerague by email

Project Description : Separation processes in industry account for 10 to 15% of global energy consumption and up to 60–80% of total costs. There is therefore a major incentive to develop energy-efficient and low-cost separation techniques. In this context, membrane filtrations techniques have become the state-of-the art tools for sustainable separations in aqueous media (water treatment, biotechnology, etc.). To date, these techniques are also emerging for applications in non-aqueous media, particularly in the fields of biorefineries, fine chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

Fouling, i.e., the decline in separation performance during filtration, remains the main bottleneck of membrane technologies leading to increased energy consumption and reduced membrane lifespan. While fouling mechanisms have been widely studied in aqueous media, they remain largely unknown in non-aqueous environments. This PhD project therefore aims to investigate to what extent fouling mechanisms identified in aqueous media can be transposed (or not) to non-aqueous systems, thereby enabling the optimization of separations in these media.

Your work, primarily experimental, will be positioned at the interface between membrane process engineering and the physical chemistry of solutions and membrane materials. The research will be conducted in three interdependent phases: (1) studying membrane behavior in the selected media, (2) carrying out filtration experiments (microfiltration/ultrafiltration) using model foulants (particles, macromolecules), and (3) investigating fouling in a case representative of an industrial application (to be defined together during the PhD). To this end, you will rely on various characterization techniques for model foulants and membranes (dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, electron microscopy, etc.), combined with the analysis of global filtration parameters (permeability, hydraulic resistance, specific resistance, etc.).

You will be responsible for generating fundamental advances to improve understanding of the role of solvent/foulant/membrane interactions in fouling mechanisms in non-aqueous media.

Candidate profile : We are looking for candidates with a Master’s degree in chemical engineering , physical chemistry , or a related field .

You enjoy hands-on experimental work and are motivated by multidisciplinary topics and academic research. Experience with membrane processes is a plus. You are comfortable communicating in English in a scientific context (writing and presenting at international conferences).