PhD position in organic chemistry / chemical engineering, funded by the French government (Fran[...]

Organisation/Company Universite de Montpellier Department Human Resources Research Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Engineering » Process engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Engineering » Water resources engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 20 May 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number 2026-D0026 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

- work environment: The doctoral contract will be established by the University of Montpellier, and the host laboratory will be the European Membrane Institute -IEM- (ENSCM, UM, CNRS UMR5635)which is an internationally recognized laboratory in the field of membrane materials and processes. Its research objectives are based on a multidisciplinary and multiscale approach focusing on:i) the development and characterization of new membrane materials;ii) their implementation in membrane processes, particularly for applications such as wastewater treatment, gas separation, and biotechnologies related to food and health sciences.

The PhD project is part of the NANOPHIL project,whose objective is to develop a new “loose” nanofiltration (NF) polymer membrane, with controlled pore size achieved through the mastery of fabrication parameters and the use of specific copolymers. This aims to overcome the limitations of current NF membranes available on the market for micropollutant removal in drinking water production or in tertiary or even quaternary wastewater treatment processes.

- main mission: The PhD will focus on the fabrication of hollow fiber polymer membranes for nanofiltration at the laboratory scale using phase separation techniques. This research aims to understand the mechanisms governing pore structure formation and the resulting functionalities, in relation to formulation and fabrication parameters.

The main tasks will include: conducting a literature review, designing an experimental and methodological plan related to the topic, carrying out experiments, collecting and analyzing data, disseminating results both in written and oral form within the NanoPhil consortium, and writing a PhD thesis manuscript.

- activities:

• Using polymers provided by an industrial partner of the NanoPhil consortium, develop and characterize hollow fiber membranes at laboratory scale using a lab-scale spinning line (filtration surface: 0.025 m²).
• Study the effect of formulation and fabrication parameters on membrane properties and characteristics → understanding the mechanisms of nanostructuring in hollow fibers (complemented by microscopic observation of phase separation kinetics).
• Characterize membranes produced at laboratory and pilot scale by a membrane manufacturer within the NanoPhil consortium: morphology and structure of hollow fiber membranes; mechanical properties; surface properties; separation and permeation performance.

The gross monthly salary is €2,300

Contract duration: 3 years

Contract date from 01/09/2026 to 31/08/2029

Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Process engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

With a Master’s degree (MSc, M2) or an engineering degree in organic chemistry and/or process engineering, you have a strong interest in research and possess technical and scientific skills in the following areas:

• Knowledge in chemistry (particularly organic chemistry and/or polymer chemistry) and in chemical/process engineering. Knowledge of membrane processes would be a plus.
• Characterization techniques for polymer materials.
• Interest in applied research and environmental issues.

Personal qualities: autonomy, scientific rigor, analytical skills, ability to work in a team and interact with academic and industrial partners, strong written and oral communication skills in both French and English.

Additional Information

Selection process

The application must include the following documents: