PhD Student in Polymer Chemistry and Materials Science for Project CAPTURE (PRISM programme, MSCA COFUND) ESPCI Paris - PSL University in France

PRISM programme – PhD project CAPTURE: Development of Smart Materials for Reversible Low-Energy CO2 Capture

This fully funded PhD position is part of the PRISM (PhD Research Programme for International Training in Sustainable Soft Matter) programme at ESPCI Paris - PSL University in France. The project is hosted by the C3M laboratory (Laboratoire Chimie Moléculaire, Macromoléculaire, Matériaux, UMR7167), a research unit known for expertise across molecular synthesis, macromolecular chemistry, and the physical chemistry of soft matter.

The doctoral project, CAPTURE, focuses on the design of smart polymeric hydrogel materials for reversible, low-energy CO2 capture under wet conditions. The research addresses an important challenge for carbon capture technologies: how to create nonvolatile sorbents that can work efficiently in humid environments and be regenerated at low temperatures. The project builds on the lab’s expertise in functional polymeric materials and aims to introduce synergistic functional groups to enhance CO2 uptake and reversibility.

The work will involve synthesis of new hydrogel particles via controlled radical polymerization, followed by extensive characterization of their physicochemical, thermomechanical, rheological, and morphological properties. A key part of the project will be measuring pKa variations of pendant groups as a function of composition and temperature, and conducting reversible CO2 capture/release experiments to benchmark material performance. The topic sits at the intersection of polymer chemistry, materials science, soft matter physics, and carbon capture engineering.

The project is strongly connected to both academic and industrial environments. It will benefit from collaboration with TotalEnergies through the PICTE joint laboratory (PhysIcoChimie pour la Transition Energétique) and related work on adsorbent material shaping for CO2 capture. The PhD candidate will also undertake an international secondment of at least one month in the laboratory of Dr. Daniele Parisi at the University of Groningen, with a focus on coupled rheological and rheo-Raman techniques. These collaborations are designed to support interdisciplinary training and strengthen the translation of the research toward industrial applications.

The programme is part of the EU-funded Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND scheme and offers up to 14 fully funded PhD fellowships. Doctoral candidates receive an approximate net monthly salary of €2,200, with additional family and mobility allowances available for eligible fellows. The position starts on 1 March 2027.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent that qualifies them to begin a doctorate, preferably in molecular chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, or polymer chemistry. Strong motivation for multidisciplinary research is important, and prior practical experience in chemistry laboratories or with CO2 capture characterization is advantageous. A minimum English level of C1 is required for applicants from non-English-speaking countries, and no French language skills are required. The MSCA mobility rule applies: applicants must not have spent more than 12 months in France during the three years before the deadline.

Application deadline: 31 October 2026 at 23:59 Paris time. Applications must be submitted in English via the PRISM website. Candidates are encouraged to contact the supervisors before applying to discuss the project and research direction.