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