Materials chemistry

Presentation

This program offers training that allows students to specialize or acquire new skills in the fields of materials chemistry and its interfaces for research or in industrial sectors related to sustainable development, energy, health, and the environment. The program introduces the concepts and tools used in the design and development of various types of materials, their characterization, and applications in the above-mentioned fields. The training received allows students to integrate both academic and industrial research.

Objectives

You will be trained for careers in industry and research related to materials and process chemistry in the fields of sustainable development, health, and the environment. The materials chemistry program offers a wide range of courses over two years, with a gradual and chronological acquisition of knowledge, including inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials, and nanomaterials, providing a high-level, multidisciplinary specialized education. Courses will be taught by experts in the field (fundamental and applied) of chemistry and materials in order to provide an understanding of fundamental principles and experimental concepts and to acquire scientific and technical knowledge, working methods, and communication tools. The aim is also to gain cutting-edge practical experience through a wide variety of customized study projects. To tailor your expertise, you can choose between two specializations.

Materials for sustainable development and the environment

This specialization places particular emphasis on the study of materials used in activities that respond to societal demand and current environmental constraints: energy storage, conversion, and clean production; environmental control and pollution control; green chemical production: materials derived from renewable resources. Students will thus acquire the knowledge they need to develop materials that are as respectful as possible of people and the environment, thanks to a sustainable chemistry approach.

(Nano)materials for health

This specialization allows students to specialize in the field of health through the development, design, and characterization of inorganic, organic, and biological materials and nanomaterials, as well as the study of their properties and uses, including implants, contrast agents for various types of imaging, and therapeutic agents for various pathologies. Students will acquire knowledge of issues in the health sector, giving them a comprehensive overview of materials currently on the market and in development, as well as learning about the tools for innovation and design of new (nano)materials and the prerequisites for their applications.

Know-how and skills

Upon completion of this training, you will have the scientific and technical skills to:

• Have a solid understanding of the essential concepts, theories, and experimental methods of research and development on materials and nanomaterials.
• Know the different types of materials and nanomaterials and be able to apply and adapt theories and experimental methods to new problems in both fields (sustainable development and health) and critically evaluate the work of other scientists.
• Be able to communicate information in both areas (sustainable development and health) to expert colleagues and the general public.

You will also gain an in-depth understanding of:

• Modern methods for synthesizing and characterizing materials (inorganic, polymeric, or hybrid) from the nanoscale to the macroscale.
• Modification, structure, and properties of materials and nanomaterials (inorganic, polymeric, hybrid).
• Industrial applications of research on materials and nanomaterials.
• Prerequisites for applying these materials and nanomaterials in the fields of sustainable development and health.

Depending on the specialization, more specific skills will be acquired.

Materials for sustainable development and the environment

• Acquire solid knowledge of the development, characterization, and application of organic and inorganic materials.
• Design, synthesize, and characterize materials for the development of products with specific properties that can be used in the fields of the environment, energy storage, and energy conversion.
• Design, develop, and characterize new materials and nanomaterials for the development of products with defined properties.
• Acquire new skills to design and synthesize materials in a clean and sustainable manner
• Have a general understanding of issues in the field of sustainable development: eco-design, life cycle analysis

(Nano)materials for health

• Have an understanding of health-related issues and the prerequisites for (nano)materials in this field.
• Design, develop, and characterize new materials and nanomaterials for healthcare (implants, contrast agents for imaging, therapeutic agents, theragnostics, etc.).
• Innovate by proposing ways to improve performance (e.g., improved physical, mechanical, and pharmacokinetic properties, reduced toxicity, addition of another functionality) leading to the development of new materials and (nano)materials for healthcare applications.
• Being able to propose new functional and multifunctional complex materials and nanomaterials applicable in the field of health

Organization

The program is spread over four semesters of 30 ECTS credits in accordance with the European system. Assessment is carried out for each teaching unit (TU) in the form of a final written exam, either in the form of continuous assessment or in the form of a written assignment and an oral presentation for internship teaching units. In each semester, teaching units can be compensated for, and an average of 10/20 or higher for the entire semester is required for validation. Semesters cannot be compensated for between each other.

Program

List of teaching units here

Internships and supervised projects

• M1 – Semester 1: Professional Projects – Project Monitoring (8 ECTS)
• M1 – Semester 2: Communication and Professional Integration (2 ECTS)
• M1 – Semester 2: 2- to 4-month internship in a laboratory or company, preceded by a bibliographic report (10 ECTS)
• M2 – Semester 3: Project Management – Business Law – Innovation and Intellectual Property (4 ECTS)
• M2 – Semester 4: Bibliographic Project / Scientific Information (3 ECTS)
• M2 – Semester 4: 4- to 6-month internship in a laboratory or company (25 ECTS)

TARGET AUDIENCE AND PREREQUISITES

• Target audience for admission to M1: Holders of a bachelor's degree (L3) in chemistry, physical chemistry, or equivalent. Validation of prior learning by a jury for other scientific bachelor's degrees.
• Target audience for admission to M2: Selection based on application; holder of a Master 1 degree in chemistry, physical chemistry, or equivalent. Validation of prior learning by a jury for other scientific master's degrees.
• Required prerequisites: Skills in chemistry or physical chemistry
• Recommended prerequisites: Skills in solution chemistry and materials chemistry / Fluency in French and English is an additional asset.

Continuing education

Professional integration

You will be able to work in a variety of companies and sectors involved in the design, synthesis, and development of materials and nanomaterials used in the fields of sustainable development, health, the environment, and energy. You will be able to work as a manager in all research activities in a large company, an SME, or a public research organization. You will also be able to carry out research assignments (fixed-term contracts, thesis contracts, etc.) in public or private laboratories. In addition, you will also be able to pursue a career in secondary education in a private school. The types of jobs available are:

• Chemical engineer, materials chemist, or process chemist responsible for production, analysis, quality control, or project management
• R&D engineer in a design office or in the chemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, recycling, environmental, medical device, or contrast agent industries
• Researcher/R&D or research engineer (after completing a PhD, which this program prepares students for): conducting scientific studies and implementing technological projects