PhD– Plasma–Catalytic Methane Valorisation, INSA Toulouse / Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, France

Summary

A fully funded 36-month PhD opportunity is available at INSA Toulouse / Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, France, within the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network PRIME LEAP. The project focuses on using prospective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and sustainability science to evaluate emerging low-fossil-carbon chemical pathways and compare plasma–catalytic methane valorisation with fossil and bio-based alternatives.

PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Environmental Performance of Plasma–Catalytic Methane Valorisation

Designation

Doctoral Candidate (PhD) – PRIME LEAP Doctoral Network, DC11

Research Area

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Environmental sustainability
• Process engineering
• Plasma chemistry
• Catalysis
• Chemical engineering
• Prospective modelling
• Low-carbon chemical processes
• Methane valorisation
• Industrial ecology
• Process and systems modelling

Location

INSA Toulouse / Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, Toulouse, France

Duration

36 months

Eligibility / Qualification

Applicants should have:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in:
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Process Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Industrial Ecology
  • Energy Systems
  • Applied Chemistry
  • Applied Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Or a closely related discipline
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research.
• Curiosity, scientific rigour, and willingness to learn.

Desirable Skills

Experience with any of the following will be considered an asset:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Prospective modelling
• Python
• Brightway
• openLCA
• ecoinvent
• Uncertainty analysis
• Process modelling

MSCA mobility rules apply.

Job Description

The selected doctoral candidate will work on the project:

“Drivers of Environmental Performance in Low-Fossil-Carbon Chemical Pathways: Prospective LCA Methods to Compare Plasma–Catalytic Methane Valorisation with Fossil and Bio-Based Alternatives.”

The research will investigate the environmental performance of emerging plasma–catalytic processes for methane valorisation and compare them with conventional fossil-based and bio-based pathways.

The candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary research environment combining life cycle assessment, process engineering, plasma chemistry, catalysis, modelling, and industrial applications.

The PhD is part of the PRIME LEAP Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network, providing opportunities to collaborate with researchers and industrial partners across Europe.

Research Network

The doctoral network involves researchers including Gianvito Vilé, Annemie Bogaerts, Gerard van Rooij, Christophe Coperet, Carlo Cavallotti, Matteo Salvalaglio, Livia Giordano, and the host research team.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application by email to:

hamelin@insa-toulouse.fr

Email subject: PRIME-LEAP DC11 application

Applicants should consult the official/enclosed position document for the complete application requirements and required documents.

Last Date to Apply

30 August 2026

Applications received by 30 August 2026 will be guaranteed full consideration.

Key Highlights