General information
Offer title : Postdoc in Statistical Ecology (M/F) (H/F)
Reference : UMR5175-OLIGIM-009
Number of position : 1
Workplace : MONTPELLIER
Date of publication : 06 October 2025
Type of Contract : Researcher in FTC
Contract Period : 24 months
Expected date of employment : 1 January 2026
Proportion of work : Full Time
Remuneration : Between €3021,50 euros and €3451,51 euros gross per month, depending on experience
Desired level of education : Doctorate
Experience required : Indifferent
Section(s) CN : 29 - Biodiversity, evolution and biological adaptations: from macromolecules to communities
Missions
The recruited person will be responsible for developing a modeling framework for species distribution in the Occitanie region, with the aim of explaining and predicting these distributions, and applying the approach to the identified species.
Activities
The objectives will be as follows:
Conduct a critical review of existing approaches for modeling and predicting species distributions based on non-standardized data, with the possibility of integrating data from scientific protocols.
Develop a generic methodological framework to explain and predict species distributions in the Occitanie region.
Test the approach extensively through simulations.
Propose a prototype and apply it to a set of target species.
Deploy the approach across all identified species and produce distribution maps.
Disseminate the results through scientific publications.
Skills
This position is intended for a rigorous researcher with solid expertise in species distribution models. Critical thinking, autonomy, and open-mindedness are essential qualities.
Work Context
Research environment
The recruited candidate will join the HAIR team at the Centre for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CEFE) in Montpellier, led by Olivier Gimenez. The team has recognized expertise in statistical ecology.
Research project
The PEP-BIOccIA or GAIA PREDICT project aims to improve medium- and long-term biodiversity conservation planning in the Occitanie region. The project will lead to the development of a software tool providing access to annually updated maps of natural habitats, as well as information on the probable distribution of species across the entire region, both today and in 2050.
The PEP-BIOccIA project has two main objectives:
To produce an annually updated mapping of natural habitats, based on satellite image analysis and the standard European EUNIS habitat classification, specifically tailored to regional biodiversity conservation needs.
To provide maps predicting species presence in different habitats across the region, including “white zones” with no field observation data, using AI-based models. In addition, the project will simulate species distributions in 2050, taking into account the expected impacts of climate change on natural habitats. The recruited postdoctoral researcher will focus primarily on this second objective.
Led by the Occitanie Region, the PEP-BIOccIA project brings together OPenIG (the regional geographic data platform), TerrOïko, and CNRS through CEFE (research laboratory) and Data Terra (digital research infrastructure). The project was selected under the call for proposals “Frugal AI demonstrators for the ecological transition of territories”, coordinated by Ecolab/Greentech Innovation, the Ministry of Ecology, and the Banque des Territoires.
Constraints and risks
None.