General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
2024-31982
Vacancy type
Mobility / Recruitment
Division description
CEA-Leti is a recognized global leader in miniaturization technologies.
CEA-Leti's teams are focused on developing solutions that will enable future information and communication technologies, health and wellness approaches, clean and safe energy production and recovery, sustainable transport, space exploration and cybersecurity.
Description de l'unité
Within CEA-Leti, the Department of Technologies for Health Innovation operates in the field of microtechnologies to adress societal challenges in biology and healthcare, with a 'One health' approach that considers the interconnected domains of human, animal and environmental health.
Position description
Socio-professional category
Executive
Contract duration (months)
36
Job description
Infertility affects 17.5% of couples of childbearing age. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), are costly and complex procedures that require state-of-the-art equipment and highly skilled labor. The successive manipulations of embryos are sources of stress that can affect the quality and viability of embryos. However, developmental abnormalities and miscarriages are primarily caused by chromosomal abnormalities so-called aneuploidies. These can be detected through preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). However, PGT-A, which requires embryo biopsy, remains complex and invasive.
In this context, the Department of Technologies for Healthcare Innovation (DTIS) at CEA-LETI in Grenoble, in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Preimplantation Diagnosis Center (CP-DPI) at the Grenoble University Hospital (CHU), proposes a PhD thesis that will explore the following questions:
- How to improve embryo survival and viability over time using microfluidics
- How could temporal monitoring allow better tracking of the evolution of specific biomarkers related to embryonic quality?
The project will focus on automating embryo manipulations while minimizing mechanical stress, as well as extracting extra-embryonic fluid for biomarker analysis.
The doctoral research will lead to the development of a non-invasive microfluidic platform for hosting and characterization of embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization.
Applicant Profile
The applicant should have a solid academic background, as well as proven proficiency in physics, engineering, and fluid mechanics. Prior experience in microfluidics and a genuine interest in biology are highly appreciated. A strong aptitude for experimental methods is mandatory.
In addition to these technical competencies, we are looking for an individual with good interpersonal skills, capable of working in a team and demonstrating a proactive attitude. The ability to engage in interdisciplinary projects and adapt to diverse research environments would be a plus.
Position location
Site
Grenoble
Location
Grenoble
Requester
Position start date
02/09/2024
Person to be contacted by the applicant
Camille LAPORTE (camille.laporte@cea.fr)
Remco DEN DULK (remco.dendulk@cea.fr)
Please send a CV, a cover letter, and grades after high school
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