Job Information
Organisation/Company: University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)
Research Field: Chemistry
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Positions: Postdoc Positions
Application Deadline: 15 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)
Country: France
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Offer Starting Date: 4 Jan 2027
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Project background:
Polyacrylic acids (PAAs), widely used in the detergent industry for their anti-scaling properties, are a family of water-soluble, non-biodegradable polymers that may be released into wastewater and accumulate in the environment. The development of bio-based and biodegradable alternatives is therefore an important challenge for the design of more environmentally friendly detergents.
The ANR PEPR B-BEST EXTRAPEC project aims to develop uronic acid polymers (UAPs) derived from plant-based resources as alternatives to PAAs. These natural polysaccharides, composed of sugar units bearing carboxylic acid functions, have significant potential to reproduce the antiscaling properties of PAAs while offering the advantage of biodegradability. Pectins, which consist of partially esterified polyuronic chains bearing rhamnogalacturonan side chains (RG-I and RGII), are therefore a promising source of UAPs. Sugar beet pulp (SBP), an abundant co-product of the sugar industry and a pectin-rich biomass, is particularly attractive as a feedstock for their production.
The project aims to develop the chemo-enzymatic extraction and purification of pectin-derived polygalacturonans from sugar beet pulp using reactive extrusion (REX). Reactive extrusion is an innovative technology that enables a wide range of operations, including the extraction and chemo-enzymatic modification of naturally derived materials, by combining thermomechanical energy with physicochemical and enzymatic transformations. In particular, the objective is to optimize the extraction of pectin from SBP by reactive extrusion and its chemo-enzymatic deconstruction into soluble acidic polysaccharides, using enzyme cocktails developed by the project's partner laboratories.
This project is carried out within a collaboration involving four public research laboratories (ICMR UMR CNRS 7312, BioEcoAgro UMRt INRAE 1158, UR INRAE BIA 1268, and BBF UMR AMU-INRAE 1163) and two industrial partners (Tereos and Coatex/Arkema). It is part of a broader approach to green chemistry and the valorization of agro-industrial co-products. Ultimately, the project aims to develop bio-based, water-soluble and biodegradable acidic polysaccharides capable of replacing synthetic PAA-type polymers in detergent formulations.
Responsabilities:
The successful candidate will be one of the key scientific contributors to the project. Their activities will cover the entire value chain, from pectin extraction to the evaluation of the physicochemical properties of the resulting products.
The candidate will contribute to three main scientific areas:
- Optimization of pectin extraction from sugar beet pulp by reactive extrusion.
- Structural, morphological and rheological characterization of the different products obtained, using techniques including NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC/SEC) and spectrometric methods.
- Evaluation of anti-scaling properties in collaboration with the industrial partner.
Where to apply
E-mail: christophe.bliard@univ-reims.fr
Requirements
Research Field: Chemistry
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Candidate profile:
- PhD in macromolecular chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science, or a related field.
- Strong expertise in reactive extrusion and/or chemical modification of polymers.
- Expertise in structural and physicochemical characterization techniques for polymers.
- Ability to work independently, scientific rigor, and an interest in working in an interdisciplinary research environment.
The successful candidat will work in close collaboration with the other academic and industrial partners involved in the project.
Internal Application form(s) needed: OFFRE DE POSTE_Postdoc EXTRAPEC-FR_EN.pdf (English) (123.14 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Selection process
Application:
Interested candidates are invited to submit a detailed curriculum vitae and a cover letter to:
- Christophe Bliard: christophe.bliard@univ-reims.fr
- Pauline Blyweert: pauline.blyweert@univ-reims.fr
Additional comments
Funding: ANR PEPR B-BEST, for a period of 18 months.
Research environment: The position if based at the ICMR (URCA, Reims, France), within a highly collaborative research environment equipped with state-of-the-art processing and characterization facilities, including UV-curing and photopolymerization platforms, thermo-mechanical characterization equipment, a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a cryoprobe, etc.
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims (ICMR - UMR CNRS 7312)
Country: France
City: REIMS
Postal Code: 51100
Street: Campus Moulin de la Housse Building 18
Contact
City: Reims
Website: http://www.univ-reims.fr/
Street: 2 avenue Robert Schuman
Postal Code: 51100
