Open PhD position: Understanding and preventing toxic Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) formation in commonly used plastic parts

    CEMEF 2021 PhD THESIS: Understanding and preventing toxic Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) formation in commonly used plastic parts

    Global objective of work

    Financed by Agence Nationale de la Recherche, the goal of the present project is to process three major, well-characterised polymers with their most common additives in order to understand how NIAS are formed, evaluate their toxicity, see if their occurrence can be decreased by modifying processing parameters.

    Context

    Thermoplastics polymers are always compounded with additives. These additives, sometimes with interactions with impurities present in the polymer, are reacting during the compounding and processing steps used to produce a material. These unwanted chemical reactions lead to many toxic Non-Intentionally Added Substances, called NIAS. The presence of NIAS is known, but their occurrence is only measured in the limited case of food-grade products. The current published literature on NIAS is studying industrial polymer-based products, having thus no knowledge of the exact chemical composition of the additives used and of the processing conditions.

    Detailed presentation

    The role of the PhD student is to (a) demonstrate how NIAS are formed, even in very classical and simple conditions, with only a few additives used, (b) show that by modifying processing conditions, NIAS amount and danger can be decreased and (c) assess the safety of recycling.
    The project is highly interdisciplinary as it combines analytical and polymer chemistry, materials science and processing and toxicology. It will involve constant collaborations with another PhD student situated in Bordeaux and with the scientists of the project, specialists of other disciplines.
    The work is taking place in Nice and Sophia Antipolis (near Antibes).


    Candidate profile and skills

    Chemist with excellent theoretical and practical knowledge in polymer science, analytical chemistry and organic chemistry; with very solid know-how on chemical characterization to be able to work at the interface organic – macromolecular chemistry; fluent in English; highly motivated, pro-active, enthusiastic and dynamic researcher with scientific creativity and with very good communication skills; MSc thesis completed. The deadline for applications is September 15th 2021.


    Apply to this PhD offer

    General informations

    • Industrial field: Mechanics and Materials
    • Location: Nice and Sophia Antipolis, France
    • Keywords: Polymers, additives, NIAS, safety, recycling.
    • Cooperation: The thesis is financed by Université Côte d’Azur via ANR.
    • Duration: 3 years
    • Salary: 1700 euros net per month

    Contacts

    • Team: Biobased Polymers and Composites group
    • Supervisors: Prof Alice Mija (Alice.Mija@univ-cotedazur.fr) ; Dr. Patrick Navard (patrick.navard@mines-paristech.fr).

    To apply

    • papers requiered to apply:
    • your most recent CV
    • Detailed, official proof of your grades during your most recent studies(maximum 3)
    • One or more references from professors or heads of training programmes

    Information! Application only on the CEMEF website.
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