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
SL-DRF-26-0582
Direction
DRF
Thesis topic details
Category
Technological challenges
Thesis topics
Optimising the enzymatic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA) to produce biohydrogen (BioH2) through photofermentation.
Contract
Thèse
Job description
This thesis project presents a novel method of producing biohydrogen (BioH2) through the enzymatic breakdown of polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic which is challenging to recycle. The aim is to optimise the hydrolysis of PLA into lactic acid, which can be metabolised directly by purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) to produce BioH2 in anoxic conditions. The work will entail selecting high-performance esterases in collaboration with Génoscope CEA, expressing them in soluble form in model hosts such as E. coli, yeasts and PNSB, and optimising reaction conditions such as pH, temperature and concentration to maximise lactic acid production. The second phase will focus on enhancing photofermentation in a photobioreactor (PBR) with advanced control systems (LED, AI and CFD). Funded by the CEA and PUI Grenoble Alpes, this project is part of a circular economy approach, aiming to develop a scalable process for converting PLA waste into renewable energy in line with the challenges of the energy transition.
University / doctoral school
Chimie et Sciences du Vivant (EDCSV)
Université Grenoble Alpes
Thesis topic location
Site
Grenoble
Requester
Position start date
01/10/2026
Person to be contacted by the applicant
PERARD Julien
julien.perard@cea.fr
CNRS
LCBM / BEE
LCBM/ IRIG/CEA/Grenoble
0438784451
Tutor / Responsible thesis director
CAVAZZA Christine
christine.cavazza@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRIG//CBM
17, avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9
(+33) (4) 38 78 91 10
En savoir plus
https://www.cbm-lab.fr/en/BEE