Chemical networks mimicking properties of living systems as new clues for the emergence of life

5 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285 – Université de Poitiers

Research Field

Chemistry

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

France

Application Deadline

4 Feb 2024 – 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

4 Mar 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

In 1952, Stanley Miller conducted the first experiments that demonstrated the synthesis of organic molecules, including some components present in known living organisms, from inorganic constituents in a prebiotically plausible scenario. Ever since then, several studies reported the prebiotic synthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, nucleotides and core metabolites found in living systems. More recently, researchers started to focus on life’s chemical processes rather than just making their constitutive components. Within this framework, we propose the study of novel chemical networks composed of simple molecules potentially present on the early Earth. These latter will be programmed to evolve toward increased complexity through autocatalytic cycles and interconnected prebiotic reaction pathways, with the aim to mimic some properties of living systems.

Funding category: Contrat doctoral
ANR / PEPR Origins
PHD title: Doctorat de Chimie
PHD Country: France

Requirements
Specific Requirements

The candidate must have a Master 2 in either organic chemistry or chemical biology.

Good skills and knowledge are recommended for:

– Multistep synthesis of organic compounds

– Full characterisation of organic compounds (NMR, SM, IR…)

– Analysis of dynamic molecular network (UPLC-HRMS)

– Fundamental interest in prebiotic chemistry and systems chemistry

– Editorial quality, ability to publish and promote research work

– Aptitude for teamwork and supervision of trainees

– Good english level

 

The PhD student will design and study dynamic molecular networks to provide new clues to the emergence of life on Earth. In particular, he will investigate autocatalytic processes in aqueous media programmed to produce building blocks of life and their corresponding polymers. He will be responsible of the preparation and full characterisation of organic precursors of the chemical networks. The PhD student will also synthesis all the key intermediates that will be necessary to elucidate the behaviour of the chemical networks.

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285 – Université de Poitiers

Country

France

City

Poitiers

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.abg.asso.fr/fr/candidatOffres/show/id_offre/119217

Contact

Website

https://ic2mp.labo.univ-poitiers.fr/

STATUS: EXPIRED