Multi-Physics Modelling Researcher in Urban Environments (Heat Exposure and Air Pollution) (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

In the current context of anthropogenic climate change, heatwaves and extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense. Cities, as highly artificialized environments, exhibit specific climatic features (urban heat islands, urban microclimates, etc.) and a high concentration of population and activities, making them particularly vulnerable to such hazards.
The interdisciplinary ANR project CoolPath addresses the issue of urban populations' exposure to heat and air pollutants, taking into account their living patterns, practices, and mobility. The project brings together environmental sciences, engineering sciences, and social sciences to better characterize target populations and their cumulative exposure to heat and air pollution along their daily paths across different urban environments.
The objective is to develop innovative interdisciplinary methodologies based on measurements, population surveys, and modelling, using a reproducible multi-scale, multi-physics approach.
The consortium includes six 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 private company (SOLENEOS). The project is supported by Santé Publique France and Nantes Métropole to facilitate policy transfer and the development of concrete solutions.
The recruited researcher will be responsible for the “modelling” component of Task 3 (T3): “Multi-scale comfort along a pathway.”
The objective of this task is to model microclimate, air quality, and thermal comfort in heterogeneous outdoor environments across different districts of Nantes (T3.1), as well as inside various types of buildings (T3.2) encountered by individuals, taking into account their thermophysiological and sensory responses (T3.3) along real and spontaneous pathways (T3.4).
The selected candidate will primarily focus on microclimate and thermal comfort modelling, while air pollution modelling will be carried out by Air Pays de la Loire, in close collaboration. The candidate will ensure coordination with other tasks and partners and may co-supervise internships.
They will also collaborate with at least two other postdoctoral researchers or research engineers:
• One in charge of the “measurement” component, responsible for experimental campaigns during summers 2026 and 2027
• One in charge of Task 2 (T2): “Overheating and air quality: exposure and thresholds”, focused on developing new indicators and thresholds to assess exposure levels along pathways

Activity

The recruited researcher will be responsible for:
• Conducting a state-of-the-art review of existing models (microclimate, building, pollution, thermophysiology, thermal comfort), including their characteristics, capabilities, validation levels, and granularity; identifying strengths and limitations for pathway-based exposure assessment
• Performing a benchmark of models, including defining and documenting a comparison and validation protocol, to select relevant models (microclimate, thermophysiology, thermal comfort)
• Identifying and implementing necessary developments, couplings, or model chaining to build a final model adapted to various urban environments
• Applying the models to experimentally studied pathways for validation using collected data; describing the methodology and computing multi-physics indicators developed in Task 2
• Formatting simulation results and computed indicators, sharing them in a data repository, and writing a scientific article presenting the methodology and results

Your Profil

Skills

Scientific Skills:
• Expertise in microclimate, thermal, or multi-physics modelling, as well as programming and numerical development
• Interdisciplinary knowledge in urban physics, building thermal engineering, and air pollution
Technical Skills:
• Project management (meeting organization, planning, monitoring)
• Strong written and oral communication skills in both French and English (reports, scientific articles, presentations)
• Data processing and programming (Python, C)
Soft Skills:
• Teamwork, responsiveness, and active listening
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary contexts
• Proactive, dynamic, and autonomous mindset
• Practical approach and strong interest in modelling and research

Your Work Environment

The host institution is a CNRS research federation (FR2488), the Institute for Research in Urban Sciences and Techniques, which brings together around twenty teams in western France working on interdisciplinary urban research.
The recruited researcher will be based on-site at Centrale Nantes. Travel within Nantes and remote meetings with partners are expected.
They will be primarily supervised by the project's scientific coordinator (Cerema) and will collaborate with researchers from the University of Bordeaux, La Rochelle University, and Institut Agro Rennes-Angers EPHor. Interdisciplinary exchanges with Air Pays de la Loire on air pollution are also expected.
The initial contract is for 12 months and may be extended depending on the candidate's experience.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

de 3 021€ à 4 208€ gross per month, depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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