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Post-doc position – bioengineering microalgae

Multiscale microalgae bioprocessing: from the microfluidics scale to the bioreactor


Keywords: mechanofluorochromic sensing, surface functionalization, microfluidics, microalgae, bioenergy
Duration: 24 months
Host institution: ENS Paris-Saclay, Institut d’Alembert, within a laboratory in physics LuMIn.
Location: 4 Avenue des Sciences, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91190
Date of start: from September 2024


In the context of a pluridisciplinary research project at ENS Paris-Saclay (laboratory Lumin, Institut d’Alembert), this postdoctoral study proposes to evaluate microalgae culturing with a focus on growth and
lipid productivity at different scales, from the single-cell scale to the population scale within a bioreactor. A microfluidic device will be designed and fabricated to evaluate at a high throughput the microalgae cells growth and lipid accumulation.
The project will be conducted in collaboration with the team members of the BIOMIS group (LUMIN laboratory, ENS Paris-Saclay). The group is specialized in microfluidics and microalgae processing. The work conducted by the postdoc will be linked to modelling and microscopic techniques developed by two PhD
students of the team. The project will be conducted in the research platforms of the Institute d’Alembert at ENS Paris-Saclay. Cleanroom and microfluidics facilities will be available for the microdevice fabrication and culturing and microscopic platforms for the study of microalgae cultures.
Tasks: The tasks of this post-doc researcher will include the design and fabrication of the microfluidic device, integrating micro-chambers for the culturing of microalgae cells. The optimization of the microfluidic system will be conducted depending on the outcome of preliminary results. Once the microfluidic devices are obtained and evaluated for microalgae culturing under various conditions, experiments will be performed at higher scales (flasks and photobioreactor). For the characterization of microalgae growth, various techniques will be used such as fluorescence microscopy and spectrophotometry. Biomass dry weight and lipid content will also be evaluated.


Competences:

microalgae culturing and cell characterization techniques, photobioreactor culturing. A background in microfluidics, in fluorescence microscopy and/or in modelling will be appreciated.


Contact:
Sakina Bensalem: sakina.bensalem@ens-paris-saclay.fr

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job offer microalgue

Post-doc position – mechanosensing microalgae

Development of a microfluidic device integrating mechanofluorochromic molecules for the
characterization of single cells


Keywords: mechanofluorochromic sensing, surface functionalization, microfluidics, microalgae, bioenergy
Duration: 12 months (with a possibility to extend)
Host institution: ENS Paris-Saclay, Institut d’Alembert, within a laboratory in physics LuMIn. The project will be conducted in collaboration with a research team from the PPSM laboratory at ENS Paris-Saclay.
Location: 4 Avenue des Sciences, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91190
Date of start: from September 2024


In the context of a collaborative pluridisciplinary research project at the Institut d’Alembert, a microfluidic device was designed and fabricated to evaluate the mechanical properties of microalgae cells. The device is composed of a series of microchannels which were functionalized with molecules sensitive to the mechanical
stress (mechanofluochromic molecules). Our preliminary results showed a dense coating with a good fluorescence signal after mechanical stimulation. Through the present project, we will improve the grafting reaction conditions of these molecules on the sensing surfaces of the microfluidic channel. The resulting microfluidic chips will be tested with the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
The project implicates two research teams from ENS Paris-Saclay: a team, specialized in microfluidics and microalgae processing (within BIOMIS group, LUMIN), and PPSM team, specialized in the synthesis and studies of mechanofluorochromic molecular materials.
Tasks: The tasks of this post-doc researcher will include the fabrication of the microfluidic device, the culturing of microalgae cells and the optimization of the grafting procedure of the microfluidic channels. Once the microfluidic devices are obtained, experiments on microalgae will be performed, comparing MFC molecule readout to nanoindentation analysis on microalgae on the one hand and to AFM (atomic force microscopy) coupled to fluorescence microscopy experiments on the mechanofluorochromic coatings on the other hand.
Competences: physico-chemistry, photophysics, surface functionalization. A background in microfluidics, in
fluorescence microscopy and/or in AFM will be appreciated.
Contact:
Sakina Bensalem: sakina.bensalem@ens-paris-saclay.fr
Clémence Allain: clemence.allain@ens-paris-saclay.fr

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