Postdoctoral Fellow (M/F) – Vegetation and Fire Risk Modeling using LANDIS-II

Job Description

Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will be recruited as part of an ANR-funded project aimed at simulating vegetation dynamics and fire risk in the Landes de Gascogne forest region from the late Holocene to the year 2100.
The scientific objective of the project is to understand how forest landscapes that have not been transformed by land use influence wildfire risk under climate change, compared with the current system dominated by maritime pine plantations.

The project relies on the use of the LANDIS-II forest landscape and disturbance dynamics model, parameterized using paleoecological vegetation and fire data.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the simulation of past and future vegetation dynamics and fire regimes, in order to assess the impact of land-use changes on the flammability of forest landscapes

Activity

The recruited postdoctoral researcher will have the following main responsibilities:
-Develop and parameterize simulations of vegetation and fire dynamics using the LANDIS-II model
- Reconstruct past vegetation and fire dynamics based on paleoecological data
-Assess the impact of land-use changes on the structure and flammability of forest landscapes
-Compare different climate and forest management scenarios
-Develop the vegetation layers and fire parameters required for the simulations
-Conduct spatial and statistical analyses of simulation outputs
-Collaborate closely with the project team, including a PhD student responsible for producing paleoecological data
-Contribute to the scientific dissemination of results (peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations)

Your Profil

Skills

Knowledge
Forest ecology, fire ecology, or ecosystem ecology
Vegetation dynamics and ecological disturbances
Ecological or landscape modeling
Understanding of climate–vegetation–fire interactions

Skills / Technical Expertise
Experience in ecological or ecosystem modeling
Spatial analysis skills (GIS)
Scientific programming (R, Python, or equivalent)
Statistical analysis and environmental data processing
Experience with LANDIS-II or other vegetation models is an asset

Soft Skills
Ability to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
Autonomy and initiative
Strong analytical and synthesis skills
Ability to work collaboratively

Your Work Environment

The postdoctoral researcher will be recruited at the University of Montpellier and integrated into the ENEX team, under the supervision of Adam A. Ali.
The project is conducted in collaboration with the Earth Systems Ecology Lab at the University of New Mexico (USA), led by Matt Hurteau. In this context, the researcher will spend approximately half of their working time at the University of New Mexico laboratory to develop simulations and collaborate with the team specializing in ecosystem modeling.
The project involves an international team of eight researchers and two PhD students working on climate–vegetation–fire interactions

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

from 3071€ gross per monh, 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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