Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will play a central role in the scientific coordination and integration of the project's activities. Responsibilities include:
• Data synthesis and integration across spatial and temporal scales, combining experimental, ecological, and geochemical data from multiple work packages;
• Development of data transformation workflows and interoperability tools to ensure consistency across diverse datasets (fire experiments, biodiversity surveys, soil chemistry, paleoarchives, LiDAR point cloud);
• Analysis of ex-situ fire experiments, particularly regarding nutrient losses and vegetation functional responses;
• Field participation in forest plots (sample collection, vegetation surveys, fire parameter measurements);
• Coordination of soil chemistry analyses, including pre- and post-fire nutrient assessments using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and other methods;
• Collaboration with partner laboratories and participation in scientific visits to develop advanced skillsets and ensure data harmonization;
• Contribution to project outputs, including the development of indicators and synthetic indices to assess cumulative fire effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning;
• Dissemination of research through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences.

Activités

The FEVER project aims to understand how fire affects biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and biogeochemical cycles in Mediterranean forests. Combining experimental (in-situ and ex-situ) approaches with analyses of natural archives (lakes, peatlands, marine cores), the project investigates short- and long-term impacts of fire on vegetation, soil chemistry, and nutrient dynamics (P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ti). Four key forest types in southern France—Aleppo pine, Black pine, Downy oak, and Holm oak—serve as focal points for the research.
The project addresses key ecological questions on vegetation flammability, nutrient fluxes after fire, and long-term ecosystem resilience across six well-documented Mediterranean sites.
This position is part of the Research Priority Programme (PEPR) Forest Resilience (FORESTT – https://www.pepr-forestt.org/
), funded by the French Plan d'Investissement d'Avenir (PIA) France 2030. FORESTT aims to support the transition of forest socio-ecosystems in both temperate and tropical regions in the context of global change, by bringing together the entire French scientific community. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to integrate into and contribute to the activities of the FORESTT programme, as well as to the MONITOR and RESILIENCE projects to which they are affiliated.

Compétences

• Experience in processing and analyzing environmental or ecological data, especially spatial datasets;
• Strong analytical and statistical skills (preferably in R or Python); ability to analyse spatial data (with GDAL/PDAL via R or Python) ;
• Solid background in fire ecology, ecosystem functioning, or soil–vegetation interactions;
• Familiarity with experimental and interdisciplinary approaches (field, lab, satellite imagery);
• Fieldwork experience and ability to work in collaborative, multi-institutional teams
• Strong organizational skills and scientific autonomy;
• Proven ability to synthesize data and write scientific papers;
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and French.

Contexte de travail

AMAP UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche) is an interdisciplinary research unit focused on acquiring fundamental knowledge on plants and vegetation, with the aim of predicting ecosystem responses to environmental drivers. This includes impacts on species distribution and conservation, biodiversity, agricultural crop production, carbon storage in plant biomass, environmental protection, and ecosystem services.
This position falls within a sector subject to the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore, in accordance with regulations, your appointment requires prior authorization from the competent authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

• Travel is expected to study sites (Mediterranean France) and to partner laboratories at the national level;
• Scientific supervision by a multidisciplinary team, with access to analytical facilities and experimental platforms at AMAP and partner institutions;
• Laboratory work involving exposure to X-ray radiation sources.