PhD Student in Flow Chemistry for Project POAT-CO2-V (PRISM programme, MSCA COFUND) École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris in France

The PRISM programme at Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL) University is offering a fully funded PhD position in Flow chemistry for Project POAT-CO2-V: Plasma-driven Oxygen Atom Transfer for CO₂ Valorisation. The PhD will be hosted at the Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris (IRCP) within the 2PM group at Chimie ParisTech-PSL / IPGG, a research environment known for work at the interface of non-thermal plasma chemistry, microfluidics, and continuous-flow chemistry.

This project sits within the broader PRISM initiative, a sustainable soft matter PhD programme co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND. PRISM supports interdisciplinary and international training focused on ecological transition, circular economy, renewable energies, and carbon capture and valorisation. The selected PhD candidate will receive a competitive salary and access to secondments, training courses, and professional development opportunities.

The scientific goal of POAT-CO2-V is to explore plasma-assisted oxygen atom transfer reactions in segmented gas-liquid flow microreactors, targeting challenging transformations such as epoxidation, C-H hydroxylation, and catalyst-free esterification. The project combines plasma activation, reactor design, hydrodynamics, analytical chemistry, and sustainable process development. It also benefits from strong links to industrial spin-offs and innovation pathways, including collaboration with ENERGO and Plaskimia, creating an environment where frontier research can translate into industrially relevant technology.

A compulsory international secondment of at least one month will take place at the University of Amsterdam, in the group of Prof. Daniel Bonn, where the PhD student will study gas-liquid flow hydrodynamics using ultra-high-speed imaging. The project also includes exposure to conferences, joint publications, and potential industrial secondments, making it highly suitable for a student interested in both academic research and technology transfer.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in organic chemistry or chemical engineering. Experience with GC, GC-MS, and NMR is expected, and prior work in flow chemistry or microfluidics would be an advantage. No prior plasma experience is needed, as full training will be provided. Strong English skills are required, and French is not necessary. The project is experimentally intensive and especially suited to candidates who enjoy laboratory work, instrumentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The application deadline is 31 October 2026, and the PhD is scheduled to start on 1 March 2027. Applications must be submitted through the PRISM website.