PhD offer

Development of analytical methods for characterization of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds emitted by pest infested plants.

Company : Chromatotec, Val de Virvée (33240) - For more than 40 years, Chromatotec Group has designed and manufactured a full range of automatic gas and liquid chromatographs for continuous and online monitoring. These innovative analyzers are 100% made in France and allow tracking of ppt/ppb/ppm and % concentration levels.
Academic laboratory : CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515).
Context : One of the ambitious goals of the Farm2Fork strategy is to reduce the use of pesticides in the EU by 50%. The expected increase in plant pests due to climate change and the intensification of food production systems offsets this target. The need to control new pest invasions and established pests may mean an increase in the use of pesticides. Hence, new tools and methods are needed to prevent new pest entry into Europe, and to use pesticides more efficiently for established pests. According to the current plant health regulation of the EU, most agricultural and forest plants or plant products that are entering the EU must have a phytosanitary certificate guaranteeing that they are properly inspected. This should reduce the risk of new pests entering Europe. However, several international and regional reports from the EU/EEA region on invasion of quarantine or priority pests have shown that the restriction and elimination of these pests have not been satisfactory. Currently established pests are managed by broad field applications of pesticides based on expert knowledge. This approach leads to excessive use when pesticide application is performed at the wrong time and to areas in the field where there are no pest attacks. Both challenges are rooted in the fact that pests are hard to detect and existing methods for detection are costly and unreliable.
Goal of the project : The main objective of the European project PurPest is to control serious plant pests during import and to manage them in the field by developing a unique concept enabling pest detection in a timely and non-invasive manner. In this project, Chromatotec will lead the design, integration and manufacturing of analytical systems that allow in-field characterization of emitted biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). The first stage of the project is the evaluation of already existing analytical systems which are manufactured by Chromatotec for the characterization of BVOCs. The main goal of the PhD student will be the characterization of BOVS by GC-FID/MS, microGC, GC-PID, HPLC and microfluidic systems using specific calibration systems. This will be performed in collaboration with an academic laboratory of the University of Strasbourg. The doctoral student will share his/her time between the two sites and will also regularly present his/her work in English to members of the European project consortium.
Candidate profile : Master’s degree or engineering degree in analytical chemistry or physical-chemistry or instrumentation (Average marks above 12/20). Good level of English required.
Supervision : Internship will be cosupervised by Damien Bazin (Analytical Department Manager at Chromatotec) and Stéphane Le Calvé (Research Director at CNRS/University of Strasbourg).
Material and financial conditions : The student will benefit from all the experimental facilities available in Chromatotec company and ICPEES laboratory CNRS/university of Strasbourg. The net monthly salary is estimated at 1900 euros for three years. The costs of the missions will be covered by Chromatotec.
Thesis registration : University of Strasbourg - Doctoral School of Chemistry
Contacts : damien.bazin@chromatotec.com, slecalve@unistra.fr
Application : by email to the two contacts mentioned above with a full CV, cover letter and transcripts.

TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER - AMERICAS

We are seeking a Technical Sales Manager with an engineering background in any ofthe following areas : instrumentation, automation, chemistry, HSE, or air qualitymanagement in the petrochemical industry to develop our business in the Americas,to represent our company core values and expertise, and to grow our portfolio into aniche market (gas and liquid analysis).

About the role :
As a Technical Sales Manager, you will be responsible for growing the company’sfootprint in terms of sales and managing all relationships with technical departments,end customers, partners, and distributors.
Communication and leadership will be key to succeed in this role as you will bemanaging and coordinating a whole network of distributors, initiating new clientrelationships, and dealing with current end clients.
This role requires excellent technical expertise to understand the chromatographysolutions and to be able to train distributors, and integrators, and answer any technicalquestions of clients.

Scope of work :

1. Prospection & client relationship management :
   

• Water management and gas industry continuous analysis and monitoring
  
• Analyze clients’ needs and propose adequate analytical solutions
  
• Write technical specifications sheets for the client’s project
  
• Answer and prospect call for projects
  
• Nurture existing client relationships and be aware of new potential projects
  
• Follow up invoicing with the finance department
  
• Manage and train a large network of distributors to our products
  
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with all partners in the businessmodel
  
• Project follow up with support team
  
• Ensure proper client meeting reports
  
• Ensure interface with headquarters in France
  

 2. Promotion and trade shows

• Ensure company’s branding and communication on trade shows
  
• Participate to trade shows within your territory
  
• Train and support our distributors and clients during seminars or videoconferences
  
• Update any technical product-related information on our website
  
• Able to write a technical article for specialized magazines
  
• Review any marketing material with the office assistant
  

 3. Product demonstration

• Ensure the follow up of demo machines
  
• ability to run a demo in front of distributors or clients
• approved client’s chromatography installation
  

Profile :

• A Master’s degree with a background in chemical industry required
  
• Proven commercial skills
• Self-starter and entrepreneurial mindset
• Customer-oriented
  
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• At ease in an international environment
• Past experience in a French company is a plus
• Spanish and/or French language is a big plus
  

About the company :
Present for 40 years in the gas analysis market, this family-owned company isrecognized worldwide for its advanced technology, the quality of its products, and itsexpertise in the field of chromatography. Thanks to constant investments in researchand development and teams passionate about technology, the Group has todaybecome one of the world leaders in its sector and has set up partnerships withuniversities and research centers in France as in the rest of the world.
Our group is very internationally oriented and it has offices in China and in Houston,Texas, the United States since 2001.

Interested and qualified candidates should send resume to : French American Chamber of Commerce Houston - Lea Catanzano - lea.catanzano@facctexas.com