Fully Funded PhD in Chemical Engineering / Green Chemistry: Eco-Responsible Valorization of Biomass with Supercritical Processes and Bio-based Solvents Université de Lorraine in France

Fully funded PhD opportunity in Chemical Engineering / Green Chemistry at Université de Lorraine, hosted by LRGP – Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés in France.

The project is titled Toward Eco-Responsible Valorization of Biomass: Supercritical Processes and Bio-based Solvents. It focuses on sustainable biomass valorization, especially the extraction and selective recovery of phenolic compounds and lignin derivatives from lignocellulosic biomass. The research combines supercritical fluids, deep eutectic solvents (DES), and COSMO-RS modeling to identify promising solvents and improve extraction selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability.

Research activities include biomass pretreatment with supercritical CO2 (studying pressure, temperature, and treatment time), followed by selective extraction using DES. The work also includes process optimization, solvent selection, extraction kinetics, and the influence of particle size and water content. This is a strong fit for candidates interested in modeling and simulation as well as experimental research.

Eligibility: applicants should hold a Master’s or engineering degree in Chemical Engineering or Physical Chemistry, and show interest in both computational and laboratory work.

Funding: the position is fully funded through an MESR grant (French Ministry of Higher Education and Research) for 3 years, starting November 1, 2026.

Application deadline: May 30, 2026.

How to apply: send a CV and cover letter to [email protected] and [email protected].