Research Engineer (M/F) in hydrometeorological data processing for watershed hydrological modeling

Job Description

Missions

The Transfers in Continental Hydrosystems (TrHyCo) team at the Strasbourg Institute of Earth and Environment (ITES) develops the NIHM hydrological model in-house. This model describes all transfer processes within watersheds and is used to model the quantitative evolution of surface and groundwater bodies. The research engineer will work within the framework of the Innov'Eau EAU-SPRA project, funded by ADEME, and will have the primary mission of developing a unique and optimized environment/interface using QGIS and Python. This environment will handle the entire chain of data collection, processing, and formatting for the model's input. The input data consists mainly of georeferenced data from various sources, which define the system boundaries, the evolution of meteorological variables, and the characteristics of vegetation, soil, and groundwater. It also includes measured data—river flow rates or piezometric levels—which are necessary for evaluating the model's performance. Work on a post-processing chain for the model results is also necessary.

Activity

The Transfers in Continental Hydrosystems (TrHyCo) team at the Strasbourg Institute of Earth and Environment (ITES) has been developing the NIHM hydrological model in-house for about ten years. This model describes all transfer processes in watersheds and is primarily used to model the quantitative evolution of surface and groundwater bodies. It comprises two modules: the first determines recharge by performing water and energy balances in surface compartments, and the second describes flows in groundwater and the hydrographic network. It has been applied to several real-world systems. The NIHM model is developed and applied, in particular, within the framework of the Innov'Eau EAU-SPRA project, funded by ADEME. The objective of this project – conducted in collaboration between ANTEA Group, Mines ParisTech, and the Strasbourg Institute for Earth and Environment (ITES) – is to develop a platform based on the results of several hydrological models to allow managers and major users to visualize, in a relatively simple way, the quantitative evolution of water bodies in their territory. Several doctoral theses have recently begun within the framework of this project at ITES, notably focusing on the quantification of uncertainties and the automatic parameterization of the NIHM model. More specifically, this will involve: - Collecting, organizing, qualifying, and formatting hydrometeorological data (climate variables, river flows, piezometric levels, etc.) and characteristic data for a given watershed. - Processing, structuring, and formatting this data using QGIS. - Generating all the NIHM input files automatically. - Harmonizing and optimizing the post-processing tools for the NIHM model outputs. - Documenting the operation of the created interface and training users on its implementation. Completing these tasks will require prior familiarization with the existing tools and an understanding of the model's overall structure.

Your Profil

Skills

Essential technical skills: - Strong skills and experience in GIS: spatial data management, projections, raster and vector processing, Python under QGIS - Proficiency in Python for data processing, automation, and data analysis (pandas, numpy, geopandas, xarray, etc.) Desired skills: - Knowledge of hydrometeorological and geospatial data formats - Basic knowledge of geosciences (hydrology, climatology, geomorphology, or related fields) - Experience in modeling - Experience with documentation and version control (Git)

Your Work Environment

The Strasbourg Institute for Earth and Environment (ITES) is a Joint Research Unit (UMR-7063) under the joint supervision of the CNRS, the University of Strasbourg, and ENGEES. This UMR focuses on four disciplinary pillars to study the Earth and its surface environment: hydrology, geochemistry, geology, and geophysics. ITES comprises six research teams. Located on the city center campus, the unit is easily accessible by public transportation. Partial reimbursement of public transport costs, a nearby staff restaurant with subsidized rates, and access to the company's employee benefits program are among the advantages associated with the position. The recruited research engineer will be integrated into the TrHyCo team at ITES, will be involved in the EAU-SPRA project on research and development work around the NIHM model, and will collaborate with all people involved in the EAU-SPRA project, at ITES but also with other partners.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

3175 à 3437 € brut depend of 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

The research professions