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
2025-38587
Position description
Category
Micro and nano technologies
Contract
Postdoc
Job title
Advancing Nanomechanical Sensors for Biomanufacturing and Personalized Medicine
Subject
The biomanufacturing of next generation biopharmaceuticals is experiencing significant growth, particularly with the emergence of lipid nanoparticles ( used as vectors for messenger RNA in vaccines (e g COVID 19 vaccines) or as drug delivery systems for oncology and gene therapies Ensuring the quality control of these nanovectors is essential to guarantee therapeutic efficacy and safety, while also optimizing
manufacturing processes to reduce production costs.
In parallel, the fight against sepsis and antibiotic resistance represents a global medical emergency.
Current approaches to antibiogram still largely rely on classical microbiology methods.
While robust, these methods are time consuming (24 to 48 hours) and delay the implementation of effective treatment, which is critical in the case of sepsis.
To address these two major challenges, CEA LETI is developing innovative solutions based on nanomechanical sensors integrated into microfluidic devices.
Contract duration (months)
24
Job description
The project relies on a new generation of Suspended Nanochannel Resonator sensors and their extension microbial SNR (mSMR) manufactured at CEA-Leti and resulting from a long term collaboration with the MIT (USA).
These devices enable the individual weighing of nanoparticles or microorganisms in flow with unparalleled precision, offering a new way to finely characterize their biophysical properties (size, nucleic acid charge).
This postdoctoral position is part of two ambitious projects:
- DIAPASON Project in Biomanufacturing (CEA-Leti): characterization of LNPs for quality control and optimization of biopharmaceutical production
- IHU SEPSIS Project (the world's first center integrating research, training, and care to overcome sepsis), of which CEA-Leti is a partner: use of mSMR technology for rapid
antibiotic screening on live bacteria and early identification of resistant strains.
Missions
You will participate in the implementation and experimental validation of these nanomechanical sensors in these two application contexts:
- Year 1: focus on LNPs (quality control in biomanufacturing).
- Year 2: extension to antibiotic screening on bacteria (rapid AST, clinical application).
The missions include:
- Preparation and handling of nanoparticle and biological samples (LNPs, bacteria).
- Designing microfluidic experiments for the introduction and upstream preparation of these samples (filtration, storage chambers, mixing), and analytical measurement with the downstream SNR/ mSMR sensors.
- Validation and interpretation of the biophysical measurements obtained.
- Comparison with reference analytical techniques:
- NTA (Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis), DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering), capillary electrophoresis for LNPs,
- standard microbiological methods for antibiotic resistance.
- Participation in the development of robust, reproducible, and relevant protocols for industrial and medical challenges.
- Close collaboration with academic and clinical partners (IHU Sepsis, partner biology laboratories).
Applicant Profile
- PhD in physics, micro nanotechnologies, microfluidics, or scientific instrumentation
- Expertise in physical measurements using integrated sensors and/or microfluidic devices
- Experience in characterization of nanoparticles (LNPs, exosomes, inactivated viruses) or in experimental biology (microbiological systems, bacterial manipulation) would be a strong asset
- Ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary collaborative environment
- Fluent English
Position location
Site
Grenoble
Job location
France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Isère (38)
Location
Grenoble
Candidate criteria
Languages
English (Intermediate)
Recommended training
PhD
Requester
Position start date
12/01/2026
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