Missions

-In the current context of increasing anthropogenic climate change, heatwaves and high temperatures are occurring more frequently and intensely in the territories of contemporary societies. Corresponding to the most urbanized areas, cities exhibit specific climatic features (urban heat islands, urban microclimates, etc.) and have a high concentration of populations and activities, making them particularly vulnerable during heatwaves and extreme heat events. As a result, cities represent areas of significant stakes for both fundamental and applied research. The interdisciplinary ANR CoolPath project addresses the issue of urban populations' exposure to heat and atmospheric pollutants, focusing on inequalities through the perspective of city inhabitants, their living conditions, practices, and mobility in a fundamental research context aimed at applied research outcomes.
The ANR CoolPath project combines various disciplines from environmental sciences and human and social sciences to provide a better characterization of target populations and their cumulative exposure to heat and air pollution across spontaneous urban pathways, through different urban environments. The goal is to develop innovative, interdisciplinary methodologies based on measurements, surveys with populations, and modeling, using a reproducible multi-scale, multi-physics, and interdisciplinary approach. The consortium consists of 6 academic partners (Cerema-BPE, Institut Agro Rennes-Angers EPHor, Nantes Université-ESO, La Rochelle Université-LaSIE, Université de Bordeaux-I2M, Nantes Univ.-Eiffel-LEE), Air Pays de la Loire (association), and a company (SOLENEOS). The project is supported by Santé Publique France, which implements monitoring systems to characterize and assess the impact of heatwaves on health. It is also supported by Nantes Métropole to ensure transfer to public policies and the development of concrete solutions.

Task
The recruited person will be scientifically supervised by Géraldine Molina. They will conduct the survey work and project management for the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) component, particularly for Task 1, in connection with the issues of the other tasks.
Task 1, "Target Population and Pathways," serves as the common foundation necessary for all tasks. It involves conducting qualitative research to define the study areas, select representative resident profiles in Nantes, and identify their adaptive strategies and spontaneous routes taken during periods of extreme heat.
Description of the Reference Task for the ANR Coolpath Project Recruitment
This task is divided into three sub-tasks:
T1.1 - State of Knowledge
This sub-task involves exploring the study areas, populations, and potential pathways for the project's next phases in collaboration with Nantes Métropole and metropolitan departments (Delegated Directorate for Social Cohesion, General Directorate for Health and Ecological Transition), while relying on existing heat island and comfort maps.
The first step requires conducting a detailed review of the available scientific knowledge to understand the differences in vulnerability among individuals and social groups to extreme heat and air pollutants. A secondary analysis of previous research results obtained by ESO, along with a more in-depth literature review on vulnerability and social adaptation, will be conducted. This will specifically involve putting into perspective findings on "inhabitants' adaptive strategies," "refuge spaces" used during extreme heat, and the characteristics of residents' profiles and ways of inhabiting the city of Nantes.
The objective is to examine the key determinants of vulnerability inequalities (exposure, sensitivity, adaptation capacity), adaptive strategies, and the distinguishing factors between highly vulnerable and more protected profiles during heatwaves. This work will help define selection criteria for residents, spaces, and mobility dynamics to build the sample for the survey.
This task delineates the project's scope by defining the target populations and zones in Nantes, the pilot city where the consortium is conducting its research.
T1.2 - Identification of Zones and Selection of Resident Profiles
This sub-task involves developing a methodological protocol implemented by the consortium to analyze the pathways of selected residents based on their profiles (gender, age, life cycle stage, health status, etc.). Surveys on a sample of the population will be conducted to describe individuals and groups (specific typologies such as “young people in apartments,” “working tenants,” “elderly women in apartments,” etc.), their living conditions, mobility strategies, and both routine and exceptional daily routes within Nantes.
T1.3 - Identification, Analysis, and Description of Residents' Pathways
This sub-task focuses on an in-depth, interdisciplinary description of residents' spontaneous routes during extreme heat and pollution peaks, contextualizing them within the broader framework of the adaptive strategies they employ. The objective is to index all observations (geographical, environmental, social, etc.) across time and space while documenting the population's spontaneous behaviors and practices.

Activités

To successfully fulfill their mission, the recruited person will be responsible for the following activities:
• Completing the literature review provided by the supervision team.
• Project management (organization and facilitation of meetings, seminars, planning, project monitoring, communication with partners) for the ESO component of Task 1, in connection with other tasks and partners.
• Analyzing existing data to identify a population sample.
• Conducting qualitative fieldwork in Nantes and analyzing socio-spatial data to study:
o The relationship between residents and climate, their profiles, past experiences, ways of living, and socio-spatial practices during extreme heat events.
o Their exposure to air pollution, adaptive strategies, and mobility patterns within and outside the city during heatwaves.
• Analysis and visualization of results: creating typologies, mapping (GIS using software like QGIS), graphical representations, and illustrations of findings.
• Dissemination of results and deliverables:
o Presentations at team seminars.
o Writing two co-authored scientific articles based on the research: one for an international journal, one for a French-language journal.
o Presenting at an international conference.
o Writing a summary report.
These outputs will also help the recruited researcher in advancing their career (e.g., for competitive exams, future projects).

Compétences

Required Degree and Training:
• PhD in Social Sciences and Humanities (geography, sociology, etc.), with demonstrated ability to work with natural sciences and engineering disciplines
OR
• PhD in Engineering Sciences, with strong competencies in social sciences and humanities.
Scientific Skills Required:
• Project management (organization and facilitation of meetings, planning, project monitoring).
• Interdisciplinary expertise.
• Fieldwork and socio-spatial data analysis.
• Strong writing skills (report writing, scientific articles).
• Mapping and GIS skills (e.g., using QGIS) and graphical representation tools.
Desired Professional Experience:
• Experience in doctoral research (PhD-level work).
Other Skills:
✅ Technical skills:
• Report and scientific article writing.
• Statistical analysis of census and survey data.
• Use of statistical software with programming capabilities (e.g., R).
✅ Soft skills:
• Communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team, responsiveness, active listening.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Constructive mindset.
The recruited person commits to adhering to the ethical guidelines outlined in the guide Pratiquer une recherche intègre et responsable, jointly approved by the CNRS and the Conférence des Présidents d'Universités (CPU). This guide details the principles set forth in the National Charter of Research Ethics, signed in 2015 by the majority of French research organizations and the Conférence des Présidents d'Universités (CPU).

Contexte de travail

-The hosting unit is a CNRS research federation (FR2488), bringing together around twenty teams from the Grand Ouest region to conduct interdisciplinary research on the theme of "City."
The recruited person, hired on a fixed-term contract (CDD), will be based on-site at the Institute's premises at École Centrale and will work in person. Occasional travel and virtual meetings with project partners are expected.
The recruited person will be supervised and report to Géraldine Molina.CNRS researcher at ESO (UMR 6590) – IRSTV (FR CNRS 2488) The ANR CoolPath project is coordinated by Auline Rodler (researcher at Cerema Ouest), with expected collaboration with Sophie Herpin Institut (MCF Insititut Agro Rennes Angers) to ensure interdisciplinary articulation and coordination with other tasks.

Contraintes et risques

--• At least one external mission related to research dissemination (e.g., participation in international conferences).
• Fieldwork required at various sites in Nantes.