CENTRALE LYON - PhD Eco-design of thick films based on chitosan: from formulation to fabrication for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) applications

ECL and Laboratory presentation

Founded in 1857, École Centrale de Lyon is one of the top 10 engineering schools in France. It trains more than 3,000 students of 50 different nationalities on its campuses in Écully and Saint-Étienne (ENISE, in-house school): general engineers, specialized engineers, masters and doctoral students. With the Groupe des Écoles Centrale, it has three international locations. The training provided benefits from the excellence of the research carried out in the 6 CNRS-accredited laboratories on its campuses, the 2 international laboratories, the 6 international research networks and the 10 joint laboratories with companies. Its excellent research and high-level teaching have enabled it to establish double degree agreements with prestigious universities and advanced partnerships with numerous companies. With its focus on sobriety, energy, the environment and decarbonization, Centrale Lyon intends to respond to the problems faced by socio-economic players in the major transitions.

Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL) is a joint research unit developing world-leading multidisciplinary research in the areas of micro and nanotechnologies and their applications (electronic, energy, photonic, health, environment). The Institute is supported in its work by the Nanolyon Technology Platform. Nanolyon consists of ~1500m² of technological facilities and related infrastructures (including 825m² of ISO5-ISO7 cleanroom, a L2 lab for biotechnologies and a living Lab) located at campus Lyon-Tech La Doua and at Ecully Lyon-Ouest.

The LTDS (Laboratory of Tribology and Systems Dynamics) is a French academic laboratory from CNRS, ECL and ENTPE (UMR CNRS 5513). It gathers around 350 people that works on mechanics, physics and chemistry of surfaces and interfaces. With about 120 PhD students, the LTDS is one of the main lab in science and engineering from CNRS. Organized in four research teams, its domain of research concerns the tribology and physical-chemistry of surfaces and interfaces, the dynamics of systems, the processes of surface manufacturing and the civil engineering. The research activities of LTDS allow to propose solutions, for example, to reduce the energy consumption of mechanical parts, to increase the durability of systems, to improve the biocompatibility of prosthetic implants…

Research field presentation :

The recruited PhD candidate will be integrated in the “Devices for Health and the Environment” team (DSE team) of INL which focuses on the design and development of microsystems and sensors to provide new tools in the medical, life sciences and the environmental monitoring fields. More specifically, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of micro/nanofabrication processes, the develepment of “green processes” has emerged.

The recruited PhD candidate will also be integrated in the « Tribology, Physical-Chemistry and Interface Dynamics » team (TPCDI team) from LTDS wich focuses on the friction properties of surfaces and interfaces and in their consequences on the systems involved. In the frame of this PhD, the PhD candidate will be involved in the Biomimicry and Surface Engineering collective.

Description of the activities

The PhD project is « Eco-design of thick films based on chitosan: from formulation to fabrication for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) applications ». The aim of this PhD project is to pursue a previous research into the manufacture of LOC made from chitosan, in order to propose a fully eco-responsible manufacturing process and to explore the possibility to use other natural polymers such as alginate and dextran. The PhD work will be divided into 4 main objectives:

1-      Eco-friendly formulation and manufacturing process of polysaccharide thick films

2-      Femtosecond laser texturing for the creation of micrometer-scale patterns with controlled geometry (channels, spirals, pillars, etc.) while minimizing the thermo-mechanical effects on polymer films.

3-      Develop an eco-friendly method for sealing LOCs to replace the current method, which uses a petroleum-based resin.

4-   Study the biodegradability and recyclability of the films and devices produced with life cycle analysis

Work context / environment_______________________________

The recruited PhD candidate will work at Centrale Lyon-Ecully campus, between 2 research labs: INL and LTDS. He/she will benefit from the support of the Nanolyon technology platform. The fabrication of chitosan films, their characterization, and the evaluation of LOCs will be carried out at the Health Bioengineering Center and the Micro-Nano-Fabrication Facility.

The recruited PhD student will undergo LCA training in collaboration with the UTOPII research unit.

The PhD student will be trained on the LTDS femtosecond laser texturing system. He/she will also have access to the LTDS’s surface wettability characterization equipment.

Required skills / qualifications________________________________

Diplomas : Master degree or equivalent (engineering diploma) in physical chemistry of interfaces, materials science, organic chemistry, or polymers/polysaccharides science.

Experience : 6 months in research lab

Knowledge required: Chemistry, polymers/materials science, characterization techniques (IR, microscopy, spectroscopy)

Operational skills : autonomy, strong interest for experimental research, capacity to restitute information and obtained results. Qualities in oral and written redaction in French and in English

Behavioural skills : strong interest for teamwork, highly motivated to work in a pluridisciplinary environment

Recruitment timetable: Application deadline: May 7, 2026

Selected candidates will be interviewed until May 26, 2026

Ranked list of candidates proposed to EEA doctoral school : May 29, 2026

Validation of the ranked list of candidates: June 12, 2026