EXPERIENCED RESEARCHERS IN
COSMETICS
– COSMETOSCIENCES PROGRAMME – ARD 2020
(Two positions available – See scope of work and eligibility criteria below)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMME
In the framework of the European Union Smart Specialisation regional strategy, LE STUDIUM Institute for Advanced
Studies - http://lestudium-ias.fr - proposes a new fellowship as part of its SMART LOIRE VALLEY Programme. This
programme is targeting international experienced researchers who embody, in their profile, the three key words
that drive the research values of LE STUDIUM: Curiosity, Imagination and Intuition. As a LE STUDIUM Research
Fellow the successful candidate will be part of an outward looking and highly stimulating pluridisciplinary scientific
and cultural environment.
In this programme, synergies between disciplines and links with the industrial world are cultivated. The aim of the
SMART LOIRE VALLEY fellowship programme is to build cross-disciplinary teams with an international reputation to
create a scientific value chain, leading to the emergence of new innovative collaborative research activity. The aim of
this expertise will be to generate significant socio-economic impacts for region Centre-Val de Loire, France.
CONTEXT OF THE MISSION
a) Scientific programme
Based on a special research and training partnership of more than 20 years' standing between the University of
Orléans and an internationally renowned cosmetic group in the region Centre-Val de Loire, and together with the
Cosmetic Valley competitiveness cluster in conjunction with the cosmetic industry defined a road map to create the
Centre of Expertise for the Cosmetics Industry. Located at the very heart of the territory covered by Cosmetic Valley,
the centre's mission will be to support business growth in the perfume and cosmetics sector with research, training
and development activities and services specifically aimed at very small and medium sized enterprises (VSEs and
SMEs). The centre will focus on three complementary developmental axes based in Orleans, region Centre-Val de
Loire, France: 1) Cosmétopée and Sustainable Cosmetics, 2) Glycochemistry and Glycobiology and 3) Innovation in
Formulation, Cellular Tools and Technologies.
1) Cosmétopée and Sustainable Cosmetics: The growth of plant chemistry is undeniably a key area in the economic
transformation of the chemical industry. As a consequence, natural molecules now occupy an increasingly important
place in pharmaceutics, agri-food and cosmetics. Traditional extraction methods are often time-consuming,
expensive and environmentally unfriendly. The latest research focuses on finding extraction methods to minimise
the use of solvents, scaling-up manufacturing processes and producing cost-effective, high quality extracts. The goal
LE STUDIUM ® Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies
1, rue Dupanloup- 45000 Orléans, France
Tél. 33 (0)2 38 21 14 82 – e.mail : contact@lestudium-ias.fr
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is to compete in a global market and to find solutions, which address environmental protection issues and comply
with health regulations. The European Union regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of
Chemicals (REACH), which came into force (1 June 2007) has imposed restrictions on some of the ingredients used in
cosmetic preparations that require changes in the composition of many cosmetic products on the market causing
industry to demand technological innovation to remain competitive. As a result, increasingly natural plant molecules
have attracted the interest of researchers in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors.
2) Glycochemistry and Glycobiology: The knowledge of the structure and biology of the skin has recently expanded
into the field of glycobiology research. Glycosylated molecules and their receptors, naturally present in the skin, play
an active part in maintaining the structure of skin tissue as well as in its homeostasis. Glycoconjugates, on the other
hand, have significant potential for the formulation of dermo-cosmetic products. These new avenues of research and
development are of increasing interest to companies in the dermo-cosmetics industry that are already incorporating
glycobiology into their development strategies for new skincare products (skin protection, anti-ageing, etc.).
3) Innovation in Formulation, Cellular Tools and Technologies: The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the
skin, is the main obstacle in the delivery of cosmetic products. This is why much of the current research of the
cosmetic industry focuses on its composition and, in particular, on complex lipids and the diffusion of water through
this outer skin layer. Exploiting the knowledge of the stratum corneum should allow the development of intelligent
transporters with the ability to offer better delivery of active ingredient to the target location together with
improved stability. Any development involving active ingredients requires the development of relevant and reliable
testing processes taking into account current ethical and safety regulations. Recently, the implementation of
complex 3D models achieved through in vitro skin-tissue engineering is revolutionising the cosmetics sector.
The mission of the researchers in Cosmetosciences will be to propose and implement an advanced research
project in one or more of the above research axes that will involve an industry partner linked to the
competitiveness cluster, Cosmetic Valley. The possibility of translating new or existing research knowledge into
socio-economic benefits for industry and the region Centre-Val de Loire are desired outcomes.
b) Academic and industry players implicated or concerned

Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry (ICOA) UMR 7311 CNRS - University of Orléans

Centre for Molecular Biophysics (CBM) UPR 4301 CNRS – Orléans

Interfaces, Confinement, Materials and Nanostructures (ICMN) UMR 7374 CNRS - University of Orléans

Energy and Ionised Environments Research Group (GREMI) UMR 7344 CNRS - University of Orléans

Laboratory of Woody Plants and Crops Biology (LBLGC) EA 1207 - University of Orléans

Laboratory of Experimental & Molecular Immunology & Neurogenetics (INEM) UMR 7355 CNRS - University
of Orléans

Laboratory of Vegetal Biomolecules and Biotechnologies (BBV) EA 2106 – University François-Rabelais Tours

Laboratory of nanodrugs and Nanoprobes (NMNS) EA 6295 – University François-Rabelais Tours
In addition, 45 industrial partners are prepared to be involved the Cosmetosciences Programme.
MISSION OF THE RESEARCH FELLOWS
The Cosmetosciences Programme opens two fellowship positions to experienced researchers.
The aim for the research fellows will be to collaborate with laboratory researchers and with industry to facilitate
development in the above three research axes domains.
LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies
1, rue Dupanloup- 45000 Orléans, France
Tél. 33 (0)2 38 21 14 82 – e.mail : contact@lestudium-ias.fr
http://www.lestudium-ias.fr
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This collaboration may be modulated in any other way than a direct contribution of research. One proposal is the
organization of seminars for industry, training or conferences, ways to open other opportunities for collaborations
that are not limiting for the candidate researcher. Industrial collaboration may not be limited to industry in the
region Centre-Loire Valley, however, a regional action should be implemented. Research with industry will be
implemented through interaction with the competitiveness cluster Cosmetic Valley.
Applicants are invited to propose an innovative and ambitious research project that fits with one of the three
research axes of the Cosmetosciences Programme. The selected fellows will be welcomed in a host laboratory in
region Centre-Val de Loire in order to implement their proposed research project and engage with enterprises.
These interactions with industry will be defined in a second step, after the selection, with the competitiveness
cluster Cosmetic Valley.
The research fellows will benefit from a rich framework for networking, exchange of knowledge and expertise and
able to successfully contribute to advance the research in cosmetic sciences.
These fellowships open up the opportunity to work in a well-resourced multi-disciplinary network of research
laboratories and preferably to collaborate with motivated industrial partners within the University of Orléans, the
CNRS and the University François-Rabelais of Tours, in the region Centre-Val de Loire.
Successful candidates will benefit from being part of the animation and networking activities of LE STUDIUM
international faculty of research fellows and more broadly from the international scientific environment of the
region Centre-Val de Loire. They will be responsible for the recruitment, together with the host researcher, of a postdoc researcher working in their project.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

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Senior researcher profile with;
o publications and significant international networks;
o previous research that has shown the ability to mobilize the literature and to build a testable
hypothesis;
o research experience in the field of study, able to innovate and interact with diverse stakeholders
including industry;
Proven ability to control the whole chain of research from the definition of the problem to the communication
of results, both for academic, industrial R & D and non-academic audiences;
Experience and motivation for team work and ability to establish fruitful scientific exchange with researchers
and actors of different technical and scientific cultures;
The scientific working languages are French and English.
SELECTION & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Two positions are available each for a period of one year.
The fellowships are intended to attract experienced researchers that are in possession of a doctoral degree and have
at least five years of full-time research experience.

Applicant researchers must be international or long-term resident in a country other than France.
Long-term residents are researchers who spent a period of full-time research activity of at least 5 consecutive
(without breaks in research) years in a country other than France.
In addition applicant researchers must also comply with the following mobility rule: applicants must not have resided
or carried out their main activity (work, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to
LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies
1, rue Dupanloup- 45000 Orléans, France
Tél. 33 (0)2 38 21 14 82 – e.mail : contact@lestudium-ias.fr
http://www.lestudium-ias.fr
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the deadline for submission of proposals. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not
taken into account.
 A selection committee working according to European Union Charter for Researchers will independently
assess applications.
 The quality and originality of the research project presented by the candidate will be a key selection factor.
The proposed project will be externally evaluated and reviewed by the selection Scientific Committee.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Researchers will be welcomed into the Cosmetosciences team network and LE STUDIUM faculty of foreign research
fellows in the region Centre-Val de Loire. Researchers will be provided with the necessary means of work (laboratory
facilities, office, telephone, internet, access to databases, computer tools, etc ...). They will be responsible for the
recruitment, together with the host researcher, of a post-doc researcher working in their project.
Entitlements detailed in the French contract of employment for each position include:
 a personal salary
 rental costs of a fully furnished apartment for the applicant and her/his family. Utilities (water, heating,
electricity, tax) have to be paid by the fellows.
 Affiliation to the French social security protection scheme and a contribution to a private medical
protection scheme for all health costs complementing the French basic social security protection
 Working hours, vacation and travelling expenses are bound by the same regulation as those effective for
the personnel of the hosting laboratory
 Access to administrative assistance by a member of LE STUDIUM operational team.
The appointed fellows will participate in the activities of LE STUDIUM Faculty of Fellows, which are present in the
region Centre-Val de Loire.
APPLICATION
Online application via LE STUDIUM platform: Apply section
The deadline for application is 15th January, 2016. Applications will be reviewed as they come in. Positions are
expected to be filled in the second quarter of 2016.
The application will consist of FOUR elements:
 A completed online LE STUDIUM application form with personal information, details of track record and
research project that the applicant proposes to carry out;
 A proposal outline, less than two pages in length;
 A curriculum vitae of 2 pages including information not in the online application;
 A motivation letter.
Upload documents as pdf files.
CONTACT
For scientific and technical questions:
Dr Aurélien Montagu - Scientific Relations Manager
aurelien.montagu@lestudium-ias.fr
+33 238 211 486
LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies
1, rue Dupanloup- 45000 Orléans, France
Tél. 33 (0)2 38 21 14 82 – e.mail : contact@lestudium-ias.fr
http://www.lestudium-ias.fr
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