Job post

We are seeking a candidate to start a PhD thesis within the PROSE unit at INRAE(French Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment). The PROSE unit is dedicated to the development of environmental biotechnologies aimed at addressing key challenges in sustainable development and the bioeconomy. As part of this dynamic research environment, the PhD project will focus on the study and modeling of a microbial electrochemical process, an innovative technology with great potential for sustainable applications. Further details about the topic are provided below.
Context: Advancing Bioelectrochemical Systems for a Sustainable Future
The transition to a low-carbon, circular economy requires innovative biotechnologies that harness nature’s ability to convert waste into valuable resources. Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) are at the core of this revolution. By driving redox reactions in bioelectrochemical systems (BES), these microorganisms enable sustainable conversion of waste into energy and high-value molecules [1, 2].
BES operate by leveraging microbial metabolism to drive electron transfer processes. Despite significant advances in understanding EAM metabolism, key knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding how EAMs allocate energy between growth and electron transfer, and how process conditions affect this balance. These gaps hinder predictive modeling and optimization, slowing down the large-scale deployment of BES [3].
This highly interdisciplinary PhD ...