Nantes Université MSCA-PF 2024 - hosting offer at the GEPEA

Anthony MASSE is senior lecturer from the GEnie des Procédés Environnement – Agroalimentaire (GEPEA) at Nantes Université is looking for postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) in 2024.

• Key words

Photobioreactor, Microalga, Filtration, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning Algorithms

• What is a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship?

MSCA Postdoctoral fellowships support the career development of researchers for enhancing their individual competence diversification in terms of skills at multidisciplinary level and intersectoral experience. The MSCA-PF grant provides a competitive salary plus mobility and family allowances if applicable, as well as research, training and networking costs. This call to interest concerns the European Postdoctoral Fellowships (12 to 24 months of duration in Europe + optional placement in private sector in Europe of 6 months). For more information: MSCA-PF.

• Team description

The GEPEA laboratory (Food Environment Process Engineering - JRU CNRS 6144, Nantes Université) brings together teams from the Nantes Université, the Mines Telecom School and ONIRIS (École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation de Nantes-Atlantique). The GEPEA laboratory received an A+ rating from the national evaluation committee (AERES). It has about 220 people who develop process engineering in the areas of food, environment and marine bioresources. Among them, the team “Bioprocesses Applied to Microalgae” (around 40 persons) work on microalgal valorisation (photobioreactors engineering, algorefinery, extraction and purification).

• Profile of the supervisor

Anthony MASSE defended his doctoral thesis (2001-2004) at INSA Toulouse on the subject of "Submerged membrane bioreactor". His research work in the GEPEA laboratory's Bioprocesses and Separation in Marine Environments division focuses on Coupling and integration of membrane processes for bio-production or refining of micro and macro-algae. The aim of his research is to find the best operating conditions for: - the implementation of membrane photobioreactors to improve the growth of micro-algae and the continuous extraction of metabolites, - the recycling of micro-algae culture medium, - the separation of biomolecules as well as the concentration, purification and fractionation of compounds coming from micro or macrolagae.

See also https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-mass%C3%A9-712a151a9/

• Research project / potential research themes for the project

One interesting strategy of microalgae refining is to cultivate this biomass so that it directly secretes the high value-added compounds to be upgraded into its environment, i.e. the culture medium, rather than or in addition to the grinding of cells followed by a difficult step of separation of molecules. So, the objective of this project is to set up an integrated and intensified process allowing simultaneously (i) the culture of microalgae as well as (ii) the extraction and the purification of extracellular compounds (EXT-C). A hybrid membrane photo-bioreactor (MPBR) will be set up. A membrane (porous material) will be directly submerged to the culture in order to suck the extracellular compounds through the membrane, while biomass will be retained on the other side.

Several works already carried out at the GEPEA laboratory (bioprocesses applied to microalgae team) showed that MPBRs allow obtaining productivities and concentrations of cells and extracellular compounds never seen before (Rossignol et al. 2000, Gargouch et al. 2022, Pedron et al. 2023). Thus, in addition to the valorization of the cells themselves as in the classic bio-refining pathway, it will also be possible to valorize the extracellular compounds. Nevertheless, mastering its operation and optimizing it, remain difficult. The reproducibility and repeatability of the integrated cultivation and extraction are difficult to guarantee. Thus, the objective of this project is to optimize a robust and reliable MPBR able to produce microalgae’s cells and extracellular compounds which will have standardized compositions and properties.

Based on a characterization of (i) cells of microalgae (composition, physiological state), (ii) biological environment (culture medium) and (iii) the state of the membrane (degree of fouling), it should be possible to adapt/optimize the way in which the process is to be conducted. Nevertheless, it is difficult, if not impossible, to do this on a human scale and in a rigorous manner given the large number of characterization datasets and operating conditions. Proposing an integrated process such as MPBR allows for the intensification of the cultivation and extraction (energy saving, minimum space, less risk of contamination and low environmental impact (eco-extraction)) but complicates the process management; a change of one operating condition related to the filtration will also induce a change in the characteristics of the culture and vice versa.

Therefore, Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA), that means, cutting-edge tools, will allow offering innovative strategies for assessing, predicting, and regulating uncertainties for the operations on the MPBR. These tools will allow better process management in nominal/established conditions (steady state conditions of cultivation of microalgae) but could also be very useful when there is a desire to impose stress or disturbance on the microalgae culture or filtration. The objective is therefore to control (custom manner) the operations on the MPBR, by linking Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithm tools to the experimental characterization of culture and filtration. 

To conclude, the implementation of a MPBR and the characterization of a microalgae culture are things regularly done at the GEPEA laboratory. This expertise can therefore be shared with the post-doctorate. On the other hand, expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms are sought and will have to be brought by the post-doctorate.

Rossignol N. et al. (2000) Bioprocess Eng. 23, 495–501

Gargouch N. et al. (2022) Algal Research, 350, 126922

Pedron E. et al. (2023) Algal Research, 75, 103285

• What are the eligibility criteria?

Candidates must hold a PhD at the call deadline (11 September 2024) and have 8 years maximum of full-time research experience after the PhD.

“Mobility rule”: candidates must NOT have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

Candidates can be from any nationality.

Although not an eligibility criterion, a good track record is recommended.

• What’s in it for me?

1. Selected candidate will have access to online training programme and one-to-one proposal preparation sessions with our experienced European Officers.
2. Selected candidate will have the opportunity to come to Nantes for two days in the beginning of July to meet his supervisor and to start working on the writing of the project. The grant awarded for this stay will cover travel, hotel and subsistence expenses for 2 days and 3 nights (up to 1000€ for the EU countries and up to 2000€ for the non-EU countries). Nantes Université does not cover the visa fees.

• I’m interested. What should I do?

If you are interested and have the required background, apply by sending the application form to the European office (europe.drpi@univ-nantes.fr)

More information on the dedicated webpage

Registration for this scheme does not imply automatic funding. Applications will be examined in the light of the MSCA PF evaluation criteria, both by your potential supervisor and by the experienced European Officers. Selected candidates will be ranked and the short-stay grant will be distributed among them within the limits of the available budget.

You should expect feedback for your application by May 31^st.

• Brief description of Nantes Université

Nantes Université is a higher education and research institution created in 2022. This new institution has adopted a new University model unprecedented in France by bringing together a university, a university hospital (CHU de Nantes), a technology research centre (IRT Jules Verne), a public scientific and technological institute (Inserm) and higher education establishments (Centrale Nantes, École des Beaux-Arts Nantes Saint-Nazaire, École d’Architecture de Nantes).

Nantes Université is a sustainable and committed institution and one of the driving forces behind societal development. With a global and outward-looking culture, it promotes innovativeness and openness: open science, open research, open education, open innovation. Nantes Université has received the HR Excellence in Research Award and is already involved in various European projects, notably MSCA actions.