Postdoctoral researcher M/F - Holocene summer temperature inferences in Québec : a data-model approach.

Job Description

Missions

The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting subfossil chironomid analyses on two lacustrine sediment records as part of the RETROPEST project (https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-24-CE02-6823), one located in the area of Monts-Valin National Park and the other in the Gaspé Peninsula. They will then apply the most recent chironomid transfer functions to reconstruct quantitative summer temperature records, which will directly contribute to Work Package 5 (WP5).
The second objective of this postdoctoral appointment will be to compare these empirically reconstructed temperature data with outputs from the high-spatial-resolution CHELSA-TraCE21k climate model. The aim is to improve the simulation of high-frequency climate variability (e.g., the Medieval Climate Anomaly, the Little Ice Age, etc.), which is a key component of the paleo-modelling approach developed within WP5.

Activity

- Extraction and identification of subfossil chironomids. As part of this work, the successful candidate may supervise one or more Master's (M2) students.
- Quantitative reconstruction of Holocene summer temperatures.
- Data–model comparison and evaluation.
- High-resolution spatial reconstruction of paleoclimatic data.
- Publication of Holocene paleoclimate reconstructions and of data–model comparison results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Your Profil

Skills

- PhD in paleoecology, paleoclimatology, or a closely related field.
- Knowledge of quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction techniques, as well as climate and paleoclimate modelling.
- Proficiency in numerical data analysis and processing using tools such as R, Python, and related software.
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to collaborative research projects.

Your Work Environment

This postdoctoral research position is part of the ANR-funded RETROPEST project, “Wildfires & Insect Outbreaks in Boreal Forests: A Combined Approach Using Paleoecology, Sedimentary DNA and Modelling”(2025–2029; PI: D. Rius). The overall objective of the project is to better characterize the interactions between these two disturbance regimes in response to past, present, and future climate change, and to assess their impacts on forest vegetation dynamics in Quebec across the same temporal scales.

The project is based on a regional network of study sites comprising both short sediment cores (ca. 2,000 years) and long sediment cores (ca. 8,000–9,000 years, i.e., since deglaciation; WP1). It will integrate quantitative reconstructions of summer temperatures (WP2), as well as reconstructions of vegetation dynamics (pollen) and paleofire activity (charcoal; WP3) throughout the Holocene. Spruce budworm (SBW) outbreaks will be reconstructed from sedimentary DNA preserved in lake sediment cores.
The successful candidate will be supervised by the project Principal Investigator and by Laurent Millet, coordinator of WP2.

The position will be based at the Chrono-Environnement Laboratory within the DYNABIO research team (“Biodiversity Dynamics and Functional Ecosystem Trajectories”), one of whose three main research themes focuses on the spatio-temporal trajectories of ecosystems in response to global environmental change.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

3000 € 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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