Some adhesives produced by animals, such as some crustaceans and arthropods, are composed exclusively of proteins. These proteins can self-assemble onto the surface of the materials, leading to the adhesion process. The composition and functioning of these adhesive proteins are a source of inspiration for the development of new biomimetic and biocompatible adhesive products.
In the laboratory, we produce and purify recombinant proteins inspired by these adhesives found in nature. We are seeking to understand how proteins change conformation and how material surfaces influence the behaviour of these proteins. To do this, we are studying these proteins in the presence of model materials (glass, polymers) and surfaces synthesised at the Materials and Physical Engineering Laboratory (LMGP).
The intern, recruited within the LMGP laboratory, will be in charge of the study of the self-assembly (formation of fibres and aggregates) of the recombinant proteins in contact with these surfaces. They will use techniques involving biochemistry, spectroscopies (infrared and fluorescence), and imaging (atomic force microscopy).
Internship: January 2026-August 2026